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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
responsibilities placed upon them, of educating these children and
[191]
youth. They lack the higher education and training in themselves, and
they know not how to deal with human minds. There is the spirit of
their own insubordinate, natural hearts that is striving for the control,
and to subject the plastic minds and characters of children to such a
discipline is to leave scars and bruises upon the mind that will never
be effaced.
If a teacher cannot be made to feel the responsibility and the care-
fulness he should ever reveal in dealing with human minds, his ed-
ucation has in some cases been very defective. In the home life the
training has been harmful to the character, and it is a sad thing to repro-
duce this defective character and management in the children brought
under his control.—
Christian Education, 145 (1893).
(
Fundamentals
of Christian Education, 260, 261
.)
Responsibilities Not for the Inexperienced—The church school
in Battle Creek is an important part of the vineyard to be cultivated.
Well-balanced minds and symmetrical characters are required as teach-
ers in every line. Give not this work into the hands of young women
and young men who know not how to deal with human minds. This
has been a mistake, and it has wrought evil upon the children and
youth under their charge....
There are all kinds of characters to deal with in the children and
youth. Their minds are impressible. Anything like a hasty, passionate
exhibition on the part of the teacher may cut off her influence for good
over the students whom she is having the name of educating. And will
this education be for the present good and future eternal good of the
children and youth? There is the correct influence to be exerted upon
them for their spiritual good.—
Manuscript 34, 1893.
Counsel to a Quick-tempered Teacher—Every teacher has his
own peculiar trait of character to watch lest Satan should use him as
his agent to destroy souls by his own unconsecrated traits of character.
[192]
The only safety for teachers is to learn daily in the school of Christ,
His meekness, His lowliness of heart; then self will be hid in Christ,
and he will meekly wear the yoke of Christ and consider he is dealing
with His heritage.
I must state to you that I have been shown that the best methods
have not always been practiced in dealing with the errors and mistakes
of students, and the result has been that souls have been imperiled