348 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EDUCATION. 
constantly bringing about right relationships. Even though the family 
circle be a limited one, it is brought into contact with an ever-increasing 
larger circle by force of natural and mutual needs. 
Family consumption as well as production weaves many threads in and 
ut between the various members and the head of the house, and again 
between the house-mother and the great outer world. Formerly it was 
customary to think of these relationships only from the standpoint of 
securing advantage to the family ; cheap labor for the home, close market- 
ing, even though at the sacrifice or suffering of others, was still recog- 
nized a mark of good housewifery. In the case of man’s choice of 
pccupation, the important consideration was whether it would bring safe 
provision. High wages were desirable, even though others struggled and 
suffered because of the discrimination. In the training of children, the 
most conspicuous principle was to preserve tnem from mistakes and trials, 
and, as was said, ¢“ care for them all as to their external needs.” 
As a consequence, the ego of the individuals reached no further than 
‘he ego of the family ; and the latter entered into no living conscious 
interchange, such as giving and taking, with the other factors of human- 
ity. The entire social structure supported the tendency of the ties ; many 
tamilies there were who remained forever untouched by outer social or 
solitical relationships. A change came, however, and Froebel clearly 
foresaw the coming condition. He recognized that the ever-increasing 
conflicts between classes and stations of humanity could not be remedied 
through external law. He saw that the bonds could only be released 
through spontaneous deeds of loving fellowship, to practice which the 
rue family environment must be reinstated as a unity, serving best when 
seeing itself a member of a still larger circle. In the family relationship, 
with its varied and responsive duties, is found the embryo of all phases of 
later development. Wherefore it is a firm fact that all organic life, from 
the smallest beginning, unfolds itself to the greater, however magnificent 
it is to become ; and this law of nature must be applied to the individual 
human life as well as to that of the whole human family. 
The training of the power of will rests upon a gradual exercise of the 
same, beginning with the young child. It is for this reason that efforts 
along intellectual and industrial lines, however progressive, have failed to 
bring the joy and satisfaction which they should, and which they do bring 
when knowledge and ability to execute are joined hand in hand with 
man’s ethical inclinations. 
Individual development must always be joined to an activity the fruit 
of which is consecrated to others. In this way only can be preserved to 
shild-natute room for the interest of others. The child may begin early 
to mediate and bring together such warring factors as self-support, self- 
assertion, simultaneous with self-giving, and so establish a harmony and 
equality.