Punishment May Make Us Obey The Orders

The Delight We Experience When We Allow Ourselves To Respond To A Fairy Tale, The Enchantment We Feel, Comes Not From The Psychological Meaning Of The Tale (although This Contributes To It) But From Its Literary Qualities-the Tale Itself As A Work Of Art.

While Criticism Or Fear Of Punishment May Restrain Us From Doing Wrong, It Does Not Make Us Wish To Do Right. Disregarding This Simple Fact Is The Great Error Into Which Parents And Educators Fall When They Rely On These Negative Means Of Correction. The Only Effective Discipline Is Self-discipline, Motivated By The Inner Desire To Act Meritoriously In Order To Do Well In One's Own Eyes, According To One's Own Values, So That One May Feel Good About Oneself May "have A Good Conscience.

The Ability To Read Becomes Devalued When What One Has Learned To Read Adds Nothing Of Importance To One's Life.

This Is Exactly The Message That Fairy Tales Get Across To The Child In Manifold Form: That A Struggle Against Severe Difficulties In Life Is Unavoidable, Is An Intrinsic Part Of Human Existence -- But That If One Does Not Shy Away, But Steadfastly Meets Unexpected And Often Unjust Hardships, One Masters All Obstacles And At The End Emerges Victorious.

Play Permits The Child To Resolve In Symbolic Form Unsolved Problems Of The Past And To Cope Directly Or Symbolically With Present Concerns. It Is Also His Most Significant Tool For Preparing Himself For The Future And Its Tasks.