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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
They may help their students, not by overlooking their defects, but by
faithfully correcting wrong in such a manner that the one reproved
shall be bound still closer to the teacher’s heart.
God has linked old and young together by the law of mutual depen-
dence. The educators of youth should feel an unselfish interest for the
lambs of the flock, as Christ has given us an example in His life. There
is too little pitying tenderness, and too much of the unbending dignity
of the stern judge. Exact and impartial justice should be given to all,
for the religion of Christ demands this; but it should ever be remem-
bered that firmness and justice have a sister, which is mercy. To stand
aloof from students, to treat them indifferently, to be unapproachable,
harsh, and censorious, is contrary to the spirit of Christ.
We need individually to open our hearts to the love of God, to
overcome selfishness and harshness, and to let Jesus in to take pos-
session of the soul. The educator of youth will do well to remember
that with all his advantages of age, education, and experience he is
not yet a perfect overcomer; he is himself erring and makes many
failures. As Christ deals with him, he should endeavor to deal with
the youth under his care, who have had fewer advantages and less
favorable surroundings than he himself has enjoyed. Christ has borne
with the erring through all his manifest perversity and rebellion. His
love for the sinner does not grow cold, His efforts do not cease, and
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He does not give him up to the buffeting of Satan. He has stood with
open arms to welcome again the erring, the rebellious, and even the
apostate. By precept and example, teachers should represent Christ in
the education and training of youth; and in the day of judgment they
will not be put to shame by meeting their students and the history of
their management of them.
Again and again has the educator of youth carried into the school-
room the shadow of darkness which has been gathering upon his soul.
He has been overtaxed and is nervous, or dyspepsia has colored every-
thing a gloomy hue. He enters the schoolroom with quivering nerve
and irritated stomach. Nothing seems to be done to please him, he
thinks that his scholars are bent upon showing him disrespect, and his
sharp criticisms and censures are given on the right hand and on the
left.
Perhaps one or more commit errors or are unruly. The case is
exaggerated in his mind, and he becomes unjust and is severe and