Certain mental traits likewise are obviously handed down
from parents to child, such as strong will, memory for faces, musical
imagination, abilities in mathematics or the languages, artistic
talent. In these ways and many others children resemble their
parents. The same general law holds of likes and dislikes, of
temperamental qualities such as quick temper, vivacity, lovableness,
moodiness. In all traits, characteristics, features, powers both
physical and mental and to some extent moral also, children's
original nature, their stock in trade, is determined by their
immediate ancestry. 'We inherit our parents' tempers, our parents'
conscientiousness, shyness and ability, as we inherit their stature,
forearm and span,' says Pearson."
The teacher who would really appreciate the feelings and responses of a
boy in his class must be aware, therefore, that the boy is not merely
one of a dozen type individuals--he is a product of a particular
parentage, acting as he does largely because "he was born that way."
We shall point out in connection with environmental influences the
importance of a teacher's knowing the home condition of his pupils; but
it is important here, in passing, to emphasize the point that even
though a child were never to live with its parents it could be
understood by the teacher acquainted with the peculiar traits of those
parents.
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