Guiding Principles in Administration
113
Some of the most valuable qualities of mind and heart are chilled to
death, as a tender plant before the wintry blast.
Smile, parents; smile, teachers. If your heart is sad, let not your
face reveal the fact. Let the sunshine from a loving, grateful heart light
up the countenance. Unbend from your iron dignity, adapt yourselves
to the children’s needs, and make them love you. You must win their
affection, if you would impress religious truth upon their heart.—
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 68
.
The Power of Silence
Those who desire to control others must first control themselves.
To deal passionately with a child or youth will only arouse his resent-
ment. When a parent or teacher becomes impatient, and is in danger
of speaking unwisely, let him remain silent. There is wonderful power
in silence.
The teacher must expect to meet perverse dispositions and ob-
durate hearts. But in dealing with them he should never forget that
he himself was once a child, in need of discipline. Even now, with
all his advantages of age, education, and experience, he often errs,
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and is in need of mercy and forbearance. In training the youth he
should consider that he is dealing with those who have inclinations
to evil similar to his own. They have almost everything to learn, and
it is much more difficult for some to learn than for others. With the
dull pupil he should bear patiently, not censuring his ignorance, but
improving every opportunity to give him encouragement. With sensi-
tive, nervous pupils he should deal very tenderly. A sense of his own
imperfections should lead him constantly to manifest sympathy and
forbearance toward those who also are struggling with difficulties.
The Saviour’s rule,—“As ye would that men should do to you, do
ye also to them likewise,”—should be the rule of all who undertake
the training of children and youth. They are the younger members
of the Lord’s family, heirs with us of the grace of life. Christ’s rule
should be sacredly observed toward the dullest, the youngest, the most
blundering, and even toward the erring and rebellious....