Dear Reader,

Turin, Italy. Mid-nineteenth century. An English cabinet minister, guided by a priest, is visiting a boarding school. He observes the study hall through a window. About three hundred boys are working—at least in appearance—under the watch of a master. Finding that he is missing a book or a pen or suchlike, the master leaves the room. Remembering his school days at Eton, Winchester or Greyfriars, the Right Honourable Gentleman chuckles and awaits the talking, moving, launching of ink-pellets and general pandemonium. But it doesn’t come, the work (for such it turns out to be) continues as if nothing had changed, as if the master were still there. The Englishman turns to his clerical guide with a raised eyebrow and a question, if there is no supervisor, why are the boys acting as if there were one?

St. John Bosco—for he is the priest—answers. “There are two systems in education,” he explains, “the Repressive system consists in making the law known to the subjects, and afterwards watching for transgressors and inflicting the punishment deserved. The words and demeanor of the superior must always be severe and even threatening, and he must avoid all familiarity.”

The other system, that used by the saint, is full of the spirit of the Gospel. It is called the Preventive system. “It consists in making the rules known, and then being always with the pupils, so that the Rector or his assistants like loving fathers can converse with them, take the lead in every movement and in a kindly way give advice and correction. This system is based on reason and religion, and above all on kindness; it excludes all violent punishment and tries to do without even the slightest chastisement.”

The Minister pondered. “If the master has left the room,” he asked, “why are the boys still acting as if he were there?” “The Repressive system,” replied the saint, “aims at conformity, the children obey because of the fear of punishment; but once that fear is gone, everything goes haywire. The Preventive system on the other hand actually makes them good. The friendly relationship between the educator and the child engenders confidence. The one goal of the educator which is to develop in the child the habit of thinking, judging and acting in accordance with right reason and the Faith succeeds because confidence is the secret sauce of education.”

Protect from corruption, make prayer and the sacraments the foundation of all, and follow St. John Bosco’s advice. Your children will develop true virtue—even when you’re not there.

Fr. David Sherry