Teacher and His Work
77
scholars. Teachers will become disqualified for their position if they
are not learners. They need freshness of ideas, fresh, wise plans, life,
tact, and spirit in their work. They must be apt to teach.
The teacher should not confine himself to the repetition of the set
words of the lesson, yet he wants to be perfectly familiar with the
words as well as the ideas. Every teacher, before he stands at the head
of his class, should have his plans distinctly laid out in his mind as to
what he wants to do for that day and on that occasion. Reciting a lesson
yourself before the class is not teaching it; you want simple words and
plainly, clearly stated ideas. Make sure that your scholars understand
you. If they cannot comprehend your ideas, then your labor is lost.
Do not skim the surface; work deep. The Bible is the rule and guide
of the life. Sound doctrine must be brought into actual contact with
the minds and hearts of your scholars; then it will produce fruit, for
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sound practice will be seen as the result of your labors.—
Testimonies
on Sabbath-School Work, 24
.
Long, Tedious Remarks
Those who instruct children should avoid tedious remarks. Short
remarks and to the point will have a happy influence. If much is to
be said, make up for briefness by frequency. A few words of interest
now and then will be more beneficial than to have it all at once. Long
speeches burden the small minds of children. Too much talk will lead
them to loathe even spiritual instruction, just as overeating burdens the
stomach and lessens the appetite, leading even to a loathing of food.
The minds of the people may be glutted with too much speechifying.
Labor for the church, but especially for the youth, should be line upon
line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Give minds
time to digest the truths you feed them. Children must be drawn toward
heaven, not rashly, but very gently.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School
Work, 107
.
What It Means to Be a Laborer With God
“Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things
showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncor-
ruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned;