—In directing the activities of the young, society determines its
own future in determining that of the young. Since the young at a given
time will at some later date compose the society of that period, the
latter's nature will largely turn upon the direction children's
activities were given at an earlier period. This cumulative movement of
action toward a later result is what is meant by growth.
The primary condition of growth is immaturity. This may seem to be a
mere truism—saying that a being can develop only in some point in
which he is undeveloped. But the prefix "im" of the word immaturity
means something positive, not a mere void or lack. It is noteworthy
that the terms "capacity" and "potentiality" have a double meaning, one
sense being negative, the other positive. Capacity may denote mere
receptivity, like the capacity of a quart measure. We may mean by
potentiality a merely dormant or quiescent state—a capacity to
become something different under external influences. But we also mean
by capacity an ability, a power; and by potentiality potency, force.
Now when we say that immaturity means the possibility of growth, we are
not referring to absence of powers which may exist at a later time; we
express a force positively present—the ability to develop.
Our tendency to take immaturity as mere lack, and growth as something
which fills up the gap between the immature and the mature is due to
regarding childhood comparatively, instead of intrinsically. We treat
it simply as a privation because we are measuring it by adulthood as a
fixed standard. This fixes attention upon what the child has not, and
will not have till he becomes a man. This comparative standpoint is
legitimate enough for some purposes, but if we make it final, the
question arises whether we are not guilty of an overweening presumption.
Children, if they could express themselves articulately and sincerely,
would tell a different tale; and there is excellent adult authority for
the conviction that for certain moral and intellectual purposes adults
must become as little children.
The seriousness of the assumption of the negative quality of the
possibilities of immaturity is apparent when we reflect that it sets up
as an ideal and standard a static end. The fulfillment of growing is
taken to mean an accomplished growth: that is to say, an Ungrowth,
something which is no longer growing. The futility of the assumption is
seen in the fact that every adult resents the imputation of having no
further possibilities of growth; and so far as he finds that they are
closed to him mourns the fact as evidence of loss, instead of falling
back on the achieved as adequate manifestation of power. Why an unequal
measure for child and man?
Taken absolutely, instead of comparatively, immaturity designates a
positive force or ability,—the power to grow. We do not have
to draw out or educe positive activities from a child, as some educational
doctrines would have it. Where there is life, there are already eager
and impassioned activities. Growth is not something done to them; it is
something they do. The positive and constructive aspect of possibility
gives the key to understanding the two chief traits of immaturity,
dependence and plasticity. (1) It sounds absurd to hear dependence
spoken of as something positive, still more absurd as a power. Yet if
helplessness were all there were in dependence, no development could
ever take place. A merely impotent being has to be carried, forever, by
others. The fact that dependence is accompanied by growth in ability,
not by an ever increasing lapse into parasitism, suggests that it is
already something constructive. Being merely sheltered by others would
not promote growth. For (2) it would only build a wall around
impotence. With reference to the physical world, the child is helpless.
He lacks at birth and for a long time thereafter power to make his way
physically, to make his own living. If he had to do that by himself, he
would hardly survive an hour. On this side his helplessness is almost
complete. The young of the brutes are immeasurably his superiors. He
is physically weak and not able to turn the strength which he possesses
to coping with the physical environment.
