6
Christian Education
judgment, and will for his beast. A child may be so trained as to
have, like the beast, no will of his own. His individuality may even be
submerged in the one who superintends his training, and the will is, to
all intents and purposes, subject to the will of the teacher.
Children who are thus educated will ever be deficient in moral
energy and individual responsibility. They have not been taught to
move from reason and principle. Their will was controlled by another,
and the mind was not called out, that it might expand and strengthen
by exercise. They were not directed and disciplined with respect to
their peculiar constitution and capabilities of mind, to put forth their
strongest powers when required. Teachers should not stop here, but
give special attention to the cultivation of the weaker faculties, that
all the powers may be brought into exercise, and carried forward from
one degree of strength to another, that the mind may attain to due
proportions.
Children should be taught to respect experienced judgment, and
be guided by their parents and teachers. They should be so educated
that their minds will be united with the minds of their parents and
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teachers, and so instructed that they can see the propriety of heeding
their counsel. Then when they shall go forth from the guiding hand
of their parents and teachers, their characters will not be like the reed
trembling in the wind.
God never designed that one human mind should be under the
complete control of another human mind. And those who make efforts
to have the individuality of their pupils submerged in themselves, and
they be mind, will, and conscience for their pupils, assume fearful
responsibilities. These scholars may, upon certain occasions, appear
like well-drilled soldiers. But when the restraint is removed, there will
be seen a want of independent action from firm principle, existing in
them. But those who make it their object so to educate their pupils
that they may see and feel that the power lies in themselves to make
men and women of firm principle, qualified for any position in life,
are the most useful and permanently successful teachers. Their work
may not show to the very best advantage to careless observers, and
their labors may not be valued as highly as the teacher who holds the
will and mind of his scholars by absolute authority, but the future lives
of the pupils will show the fruits of the better plan of education.