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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
to sacrifice the respect and dignity of others. This rule should be sa-
credly observed toward the dullest, the youngest, and most blundering
scholars.
What God shall do with these apparently uninteresting youth, you
do not know. God has accepted and chosen, in the past, just such
specimens to do a great work for Him. His Spirit, operating upon
the heart, has acted like an electric battery, arousing the apparently
benumbed faculties to vigorous and persevering action. The Lord saw
in these rough, uninteresting, unhewn stones precious metal that will
endure the test of storm and tempest and the fiery ordeal of heat. God
[199]
seeth not as man seeth, God judgeth not as man judgeth—He searcheth
the heart.—
Manuscript 2, 1881.
Dealing With the Dull Scholar—Teachers must consider that
they are dealing with children, not men and women. They are children
who have everything to learn, and it is much more difficult for some
to learn than others. The dull scholar needs much more encourage-
ment than he receives. If teachers are placed over these varied minds
who naturally love to order and dictate and magnify themselves in
their authority, who will deal with partiality, having favorites to whom
they will show preferences while others are treated with exactitude
and severity, it will create a state of confusion and insubordination.—
Christian Education, 154 (1893).
(
Fundamentals of Christian Educa-
tion, 269, 270
.)
Schoolroom Atmosphere Affects Students—The religious life
of a large number who profess to be Christians is such as to show that
they are not Christians.... Their own hereditary and cultivated traits of
character are indulged as precious qualifications when they are death-
dealing in the influence over other minds. In plain, simple words they
walk in the sparks of their own kindling. They have a religion subject
to, and controlled by, circumstances. If everything happens to move
in a way that pleases them and there are no irritating circumstances
that call to the surface their unsubdued, unchristlike natures, they are
condescending and pleasant and will be very attractive. When there
are things that occur in the family or in their association with others
which ruffle their peace and provoke their tempers, if they lay every
circumstance before God and continue their request, supplicating His
grace before they shall engage in their daily work as teachers, and
know for themselves the power and grace and love of Christ abiding