Principles of Study and Learning
283
vantages of the school. They are to be patiently, kindly, and in love
brought up the ladder of progress, climbing step by step in obtain-
ing knowledge.—
Christian Education, 147 (1893).
(
Fundamentals of
Christian Education, 263
.)
Care in Suspending Students—Be careful what you do in the
line of suspending students. This is a solemn business. It should be a
very grave fault which requires this discipline.
Then there should be a careful consideration of all the circum-
stances connected with the case. Students sent from home a short
distance or a long distance, thousands and thousands of miles, are
away from, and deprived of, the advantages of home, and if expelled
are refused the privileges of school. All their expenses have to be met
by someone who has had hope and confidence in these subjects that
their money would not be invested in vain. The student enters into or
falls into temptation, and he is to be disciplined for his wrong. He feels
keenly that his record is marred, and he disappoints those who have
trusted him to develop a character under the influence of his training
in his scholastic life, which will pay all that has been invested in his
behalf.
But he is suspended for his foolish course of action. What will
he do? Courage is at the lowest ebb, courage and even manliness is
not cherished. He is an expense, and precious time is lost. Who is
tender and kind and feels the burden of these souls? What wonder
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that Satan takes advantage of the circumstances. They are thrust on
Satan’s battleground and the very worst feelings of the human heart are
called into exercise, and strengthen and become confirmed.—
Letter
50, 1893
.
Avoid Creating Feelings of Injustice—When you jostle against
the elements manifested by those who have no Bible religion but only
a profession, do not forget that you are a Christian. You greatly lower
your influence and mar your own Christian experience when you lose
your self-control and give them the least occasion to think that you
have ill-treated them. Leave not this impression upon their minds if
you can possibly avoid it. In this probationary time we are forming
our characters for the future immortal life; but that is not all, for in this
very process of character building we need to be extremely cautious
how we build, for others will build after the pattern we give them.—
Letter 20, 1892
.