Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism

MariJo7 · 09-23-2014, 03:46 AM

Punitive parenting is nothing new. It is a long tradition of practices. When Pearl, Ezzo and Tripp are sufficiently refuted, new spanking experts will surface. They will do so, because the historical roots of the spanking movement lie so deep.

I have sometimes referes to Susanna Wessley, the mother of John and Charles Wessley, the founders of Methodism. She is also called The Mother of Methodism. I thought it might be interesting to see for ourselves how she wrote about child education, obedience and spanking. Here is a part of a letter she wrote to her son John on his request:

http://www.path2prayer.com/article/1...ising-thoughts

It is not my purpose to put Susanna Wessley down. She did not have an easy life herself, and not everything she says is bad. She was in favour of good education, also for the girls. Her "house bylaws" also show some attenpts to fairnes, like this:

"That no child should ever be chid (scolded), or beat twice, for the same fault; and that if they amended, they should never be upbraided with it afterwards."

Punitive and adversative she was, however. At the age of 1 year old or even before, her children "were taught to fear the rod, and to cry softly; by which means they escaped abundance of correction they might otherwise have had; and that most odious noise of the crying of children was rarely heard in the house; but the family usually lived in as much quietness as if there had not been a child among them."

But see for yourselves. Some things she says sound ashtonishingly familiar.

Hermana Linda · 09-23-2014, 05:52 AM

Yes, I found that out from the book, Gentle Firmness.

Posted from my mobile phone by Tapatalk

sweetpeas · 09-24-2014, 03:32 PM

Yes, we read a biography on her awhile back (for homeschool) and she certainly didn't have an easy life, but I also very much didn't walk away from it thinking "that's the ideal way to parent" (which I'd heard some people in homeschool circles imply). It did allow for some good discussion about such things with my girls though

MariJo7 · 09-25-2014, 03:02 AM

Certainly not the ideal way of parenting.

.

CelticJourney · 09-25-2014, 03:43 AM

There is 'nothing new under the sun' - there has always been the pull between gentleness and grace vs punitive and authoritarianism. Sad to see so clearly though.

*Wild Asparagus* · 09-25-2014, 08:49 AM

How disappointing

09-23-2014, 03:46 AM	#1
MariJo7 Rose Trellis Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 2,065	Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism Punitive parenting is nothing new. It is a long tradition of practices. When Pearl, Ezzo and Tripp are sufficiently refuted, new spanking experts will surface. They will do so, because the historical roots of the spanking movement lie so deep. I have sometimes referes to Susanna Wessley, the mother of John and Charles Wessley, the founders of Methodism. She is also called The Mother of Methodism. I thought it might be interesting to see for ourselves how she wrote about child education, obedience and spanking. Here is a part of a letter she wrote to her son John on his request: http://www.path2prayer.com/article/1...ising-thoughts It is not my purpose to put Susanna Wessley down. She did not have an easy life herself, and not everything she says is bad. She was in favour of good education, also for the girls. Her "house bylaws" also show some attenpts to fairnes, like this: "That no child should ever be chid (scolded), or beat twice, for the same fault; and that if they amended, they should never be upbraided with it afterwards." Punitive and adversative she was, however. At the age of 1 year old or even before, her children "were taught to fear the rod, and to cry softly; by which means they escaped abundance of correction they might otherwise have had; and that most odious noise of the crying of children was rarely heard in the house; but the family usually lived in as much quietness as if there had not been a child among them." But see for yourselves. Some things she says sound ashtonishingly familiar.

09-23-2014, 05:52 AM	#2
Hermana Linda Administrator "air-mannah Leen-dah" it means Sister Linda in Spanish Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 51,861	Re: Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism Yes, I found that out from the book, Gentle Firmness. Posted from my mobile phone by Tapatalk __________________ My pages: Why Not Train A Child? and the FB Page as well as @WhyNotTrain on Twitter Read about how my husband was Pulled From The River By God

09-24-2014, 03:32 PM	#3
sweetpeas Rose Trellis Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,318	Re: Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism Yes, we read a biography on her awhile back (for homeschool) and she certainly didn't have an easy life, but I also very much didn't walk away from it thinking "that's the ideal way to parent" (which I'd heard some people in homeschool circles imply). It did allow for some good discussion about such things with my girls though __________________ Busy Homeschooling Mom to 3 Sweetpeas: Lexie & Ashlyn 16 yr old twins and Lina, 9 Virtual Accountant and Bookkeeper in my "spare time"

09-25-2014, 03:02 AM	#4
MariJo7 Rose Trellis Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 2,065	Re: Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism Certainly not the ideal way of parenting. .

09-25-2014, 03:43 AM	#5
CelticJourney Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 34,568	Re: Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism There is 'nothing new under the sun' - there has always been the pull between gentleness and grace vs punitive and authoritarianism. Sad to see so clearly though. __________________ Elizabeth "Truth without love is divisive and hurtful & love without truth is anemic"--Pastor Estep Arise, cry out in the night...pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children..; Lamentations 2:19

09-25-2014, 08:49 AM	#6
Wild Asparagus On Suspension Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Home :-) Posts: 25	Re: Something very old: Susanna Wessley, the Mother of Methodism How disappointing __________________ Oh, take me to church. I've done so many bad things; it hurts. ... get me to church; (but not the ones that hurt; 'cause that ain't the truth and that's not what it's for) Please take me to church. -Sinead O'Connor

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