Every child is totally depraved

The Quote below is from one John Angell James. I have found him to be quite helpful in things relating to church polity. His book The Church Members Guide was a great help to me over the years to come to a place of understanding God's plan for the church. The quote is from a different book, The Sunday School Teachers Guide. Imagine saying what he says to a group of Sunday School teachers in most churches today. You might not have a pleasant experience, which proves his point well.

It is important for you, in all your exertions (principally teaching children in Sunday School), to bear in mind the total and universal depravity of the human race.

By total depravity, I do not mean that people are as bad as they can be; for in general they lie under strong restraints--and most do not sin with reckless abandonment. I do not mean that they are all equally wicked; for some are less sinful than others. I do not mean that they are destitute of everything useful, and lovely in society; for their social affections are often strong and praiseworthy. I do not mean that their actions are always wrong; the contrary is manifestly true.

What I mean by total depravity, is an entire destitution in the human heart by nature--of all spiritual affection, and holy propensities. In this view, every child is totally depraved.

To change this state of the mind, and produce a holy bias; to create a new disposition; to turn all the affections into a new channel, and cause them to flow towards God and heaven, is the work of the omnipotent and eternal Spirit!

(J. A. James, "The Sunday School Teacher's Guide" 1816)