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Under Discipline to Christ
Every teacher who has to do with the education of young students
should remember that children are affected by the atmosphere that
surrounds the teacher, whether it be pleasant or unpleasant. If the
teacher is connected with God, if Christ abides in his heart, the spirit
that is cherished by him will be felt by the children. If teachers enter
the schoolroom with a provoked, irritated spirit, the atmosphere
surrounding their souls will also leave its impression.
The teachers who work in this part of the Lord’s vineyard need
to be self-possessed, to keep their temper and feelings under control,
and in subjection to the Holy Spirit. They should give evidence
of having, not a one-sided experience, but a well-balanced mind, a
symmetrical character. Learning daily in the school of Christ, such
teachers can wisely educate the children and youth. Self-cultured,
self-controlled, under discipline to Christ, having a living connection
with the Great Teacher, they will have an intelligent knowledge of
practical religion; and keeping their own souls in the love of God,
they will know how to exercise the grace of patience and Christlike
forbearance. They will discern that they have a most important field
in the Lord’s vineyard to cultivate. They will lift the heart to God in
the sincere prayer, “Lord, be Thou my pattern;” and then, beholding
Christ, they will do the work of Christ.
Well-balanced minds and symmetrical characters are required
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of teachers in every line. The work of teaching should not be given
into the hands of young men and women who do not know how to
deal with human minds, who have never learned to keep themselves
under discipline to Jesus Christ, to bring even the thoughts into
captivity to Him. They know so little about the controlling power of
grace upon their own hearts and characters that they have much to
unlearn, and must learn entirely new lessons in Christian experience.
There are all kinds of characters to deal with in the children and
youth, and their minds are impressionable. Many of the children
who attend our schools have not had proper training at home. Some
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