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Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
temptation. They do not make this life a success, and the same
deficiencies are seen in their religious life.
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Could the instructors of children and youth have the result of their
mistaken discipline mapped out before them, they would change
their plan of education.... God never designed that one human mind
should be under the complete control of another. And those who
make efforts to have the individuality of their pupils merged in
themselves, to be mind, will, and conscience for them, assume
fearful responsibilities. These scholars may, upon certain occasions,
appear like well-drilled soldiers; but when the restraint is removed,
there will be seen in them a want of independent action from firm
principle.
Those who make it their object so to educate their pupils that
they may see and feel that the power lies in themselves to make men
and women of firm principle, qualified for any position in life, are
the most useful and permanently successful teachers. Their work
may not show to the very best advantage to careless observers, and
their labors may not be valued as highly as are those of the teacher
who holds the minds and wills of his scholars by absolute authority;
but the future lives of the pupils will show the fruits of the better
plan of education.
There is danger that both parents and teachers will command
and dictate too much, while they fail to come sufficiently into social
relation with their children or scholars. They often hold themselves
too much reserved, and exercise their authority in a cold, unsympa-
thizing manner, which cannot win the hearts of their children and
pupils. If they would gather the children close to them and show that
they love them, and would manifest an interest in all their efforts and
even in their sports, sometimes even being a child among them, they
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would make the children very happy and would gain their love and
win their confidence. And the children would more quickly learn to
respect and love the authority of their parents and teachers.
Personal Qualifications of the Teacher
The habits and principles of the teacher should be considered
of even greater importance than his literary qualifications. If he is
a sincere Christian, he will feel the necessity of having an equal