- Father – The obligation of a father to educate and reprimand his children:[1]
The obligation to educate a child in Torah and mitzvah’s is specifically upon the father of the child. He is obligated to educate both his son and daughter in the negative and positive commands, and is likewise required to reprimand his child and stop him from performing any transgression, even Rabbinical.
If the father does not reprimand his child:[2] If the father does not reprimand his child from transgressing a Biblical command, then the father himself is to be reprimanded by the Beis Din. However, for not stopping his children from transgressing Rabbinical commands the father does not need to be chastised.
[1] Admur 343:2; 343:6 in parentheses regarding Rabbinical; Admur 616:4 “All of this applies to a minor who has not yet reached the age of education for the mitzvah of affliction. However, if he has reached the age of education, it is permitted to feed him, give him drink, anoint him, and wash him directly, in the manner explained above. If the minor performs any of these acts on his own, there is no need to protest, except for his father, who is required to protest and to educate his son in the mitzvot. His mother, however, is not obligated in this. Nevertheless, it is forbidden for her to place food before him, since doing so is considered as if she were feeding him directly.”; Hilchos Talmud Torah 1:1; Michaber 343:1; 37:3; Rambam Tzitzis 3:9; Chagiga 4a; Nazir 29a; Sukkah 42a; Erechin 2b; Bach 17; Biur Halacha 39; See Likkutei Sichos 35 p. 61; Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid p. 165 footnotes 47-48; Piskeiy Teshuvos 343:1
[2] Admur ibid; M”A 343:2; Taz 343:1; Beis Yosef 343 in opinion of Rambam Shabbos 24:11 and in name of his father in-law; Radbaz 1432; 1563 Olas Shabbos 343:2; Tosefes Shabbos 343:2; Kaf Hachaim 343:10, 12, and 28; Encyclopedia Talmudit Vol. 16 p. 196 footnote 532; Piskeiy Teshuvos 343:1 footnote 3