Many children have been ruined for life by urging the intellect and neglecting to strengthen the physical powers. Many have died in childhood because of the course pursued by injudicious parents and schoolteachers in forcing their young intellects, by flattery or fear, when they were too young to see the inside of a schoolroom. Their minds have been taxed with lessons when they should not have been called out, but kept back until the physical constitution was strong enough to endure mental effort. Small children should be left as free as lambs to run out of doors, to be free and happy, and should be allowed the most favorable opportunities to lay the foundation for sound constitutions. {3T 137.1}

(137) Mange børn er blevet ruineret i livet fordi forstanden anspores. Men fysiske kræfter bliver ikke brugt. Mange dør i barndommen fordi uforstandige forældre og lærere presser deres unge forstand, med smiger eller frygt, skønt de var for unge til at sidde inde i et skolelokale. Deres tanker er blevet belastet med lektier selvom de ikke burde være kaldt til skole, men holdt tilbage indtil deres fysiske organisme var stærk nok til at udholde åndeligt arbejde. Små børn burde lades fri som lam til at løbe udendørs og være frie og glade og bør få de bedste chancer til at lægge grunden for sunde legemer.