Ohhh - thank you, Harmony!  I did not know that it was a poem - thank you so much for that.  I think it is very true, what it says.

Jo

I had forgotten I knew that poem. Thanks for the reminder harmony. Not seen it in a long while. For the most part very true, memorable and not a half bad philosophy in which to raise children - not that I know much about that of course.

I suppose it is a more profound explanation of the old classic 'behaviour breeds behaviour'. I can certainly apply some of the negatives and opposites in it to my own childhood. It explains quite alot about my personality.

As always however there can be exceptions that prove the rule. I am thinking of the criminal cases over the years where the perpetrator, as far as can be discerned, seemed to have all the love, affection, support, encouragement  and advantages etc that a child could wish for - yet they still turn out monsters committing some heinous crimes. My, life and the human mind is complicated!

Cheers S76

I keep coming back to the TA and reading that poem and wondering why it is that creates a reaction in me.  For some reason it really grates and yet I don't know why.  I haven't heard the poem before - not a reference point in my life.

I wonder if I am reading it as an adult and reflecting on my childhood or because of my nature every line I read I can come up with several exceptions (people) that I know.  

It has the old brain juice slushing around.  One of the lines that I understand my own reaction to is " If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice."

This is the one that bothers me most.  How do we know that a person "learns justice" I don't know if I think that the world is so miserable that so many people have been treated without fairness that justice seems so hard to find in our communities.

I wonder if this is a romantic pedagogy for adults - I know from what people have said here they encountered the poem as children but it seems to be aimed at adults more so.  

i don't disagree that it is a fine sentiment - but I just don't think the world works this way.  Not in absolute or even regular terms in my way of thinking.  Off to deliberate further ......