School and the Teacher
153
The early education of youth generally shapes their character for
life. Those who deal with the young should be very careful to call out
the qualities of the mind that they may better know how to direct their
powers and that they may be exercised to the very best account.—
The
Review and Herald, July 14, 1885
.
Call Forth High Qualities of the Mind—The greatest care
should be taken in the education of youth to vary the manner of instruc-
tion so as to call forth the high and noble powers of the mind. Parents
and teachers of schools are certainly disqualified to educate children
properly if they have not first learned the lessons of self-control, pa-
[190]
tience, forbearance, gentleness, and love. What an important position
for parents, guardians, and teachers! There are very few who realize
the most essential wants of the mind and how to direct the developing
intellect, the growing thoughts and feelings of youth.—
The Review
and Herald, July 14, 1885
.
To Be Inspired by the Holy Spirit—Dealing with human minds
is the most delicate work that can be done, and teachers need to be
inspired by the Spirit of God, that they may be able to do their work
aright.—
Manuscript 8, 1899.
Coping With Misdoings—Never educate them by giving public-
ity to the errors and misdoings of any scholar, for they will consider
it a virtue in them to expose the wrongs of another. Never humiliate
a scholar by presenting his grievances and mistakes and sins before
the school: you cannot do a work more effectual to harden his heart
and confirm him in evil than in doing this. Talk and pray with him
alone, and show the same tenderness Christ has evidenced to you who
are teachers. Never encourage any one student to criticize and talk of
the faults of another. Hide a multitude of sins in every way possible
by pursuing Christ’s way to cure him. This kind of educating will
be a blessing, made to tell in this life and stretching into the future
immortal life.—
Manuscript 34, 1893.
Fully Qualified to Deal With Human Minds—Every teacher
needs Christ abiding in his heart by faith and to possess a true, self-
denying, self-sacrificing spirit for Christ’s sake. One may have suffi-
cient education and knowledge in science to instruct, but has it been
ascertained that he has tact and wisdom to deal with human minds? If
instructors have not the love of Christ abiding in the heart, they are not
fit to be brought into connection with children, and to bear the grave