In her book "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 252), "The entire purpose of true education is to make one not only know the truth but live it—to make one enjoy doing right, make one not work in the sunshine and run away in the storm, but work midst clouds of wrong, injustice, envy, hate; and wait on God, the strong deliverer, who will reward righteousness and punish iniquity." The truths set forth in this statement furnish a basis for the true discipline or training of children.
It is the responsibility of the Christian Scientist not to lose sight of the fact that the children who come under his care and discipline are in reality "the spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love" (see definition of "children" in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mrs. Eddy, p. 582). They reflect eternally the nature, law, and activity of the perfect Father-Mother, Mind.
One of the basic lessons for all to learn is obedience. Obedience to what? To divine Principle, God. Here are two of the helpful statements in the book of Proverbs concerning obedience (22:6): "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it," and (29:17), "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."
