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Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
I see some things here in Switzerland that I think are worthy of
imitation. The teachers of the schools often go out with their pupils
while they are at play and teach them how to amuse themselves and
are at hand to repress any disorder or wrong. Sometimes they take
their scholars out and have a long walk with them. I like this; I think
there is less opportunity for the children to yield to temptation. The
teachers seem to enter into the sports of the children and to regulate
them. I cannot in any way sanction the idea that children must feel that
they are under a constant distrust and cannot act as children. But let
the teachers join in the amusements of the children, be one with them,
and show that they want them to be happy, and it will give the children
confidence. They may be controlled by love, but not by following
them at their meals and in their amusements with a stern, unbending
severity.
Let me say here that those who have never had children of their
own are not usually the best qualified to manage wisely the varied
minds of children and youth. They are apt to make one law, from
which there can be no appeal. Teachers must remember that they
themselves were once children. They should adapt their teaching to
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the minds of the children, placing themselves in sympathy with them;
then the children can be instructed and benefited both by precept and
example.
May the spirit of Jesus come in to mold your hearts, to fashion
your characters, to elevate and ennoble your souls! Christ said to His
disciples: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” There is need of laying
aside these cast-iron rules, of coming down from these stilts, to the
humbleness of the child. Oh, that some of the spirit of severity may
change to a spirit of love, that happiness and sunshine may take the
place of discouragement and grief!
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