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Discipline
189
Teachers must expect to meet perverse dispositions and hard,
unrepenting hearts, but in dealing with them should never forget
that they themselves were once children in need of discipline. Even
[183]
now, with all their advantages of age, education, and experience,
they often err and are in need of mercy and forbearance. In training
the young they should consider that they are dealing with those who
have inclinations to evil similar to their own. Youth have almost ev-
erything to learn, and it is much more difficult for some to learn than
for others. With students of this kind teachers should bear patiently,
not censuring their ignorance but improving every opportunity to
give them encouragement. With sensitive, nervous students they
should deal very tenderly. A sense of their own imperfections should
lead them constantly to manifest sympathy and forbearance toward
those who also are struggling with difficulties.
The Savior’s rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to
you” (
Luke 6:31
, NRSV), should be the rule of all who undertake
the training of children and youth. They are the younger members
of the Lord’s family, heirs with us of the grace of life. Christ’s rule
should be sacredly observed toward the slowest of comprehension,
the youngest, the most blundering, and even toward the erring and
rebellious.
This rule will lead teachers to avoid, so far as possible, making
public the faults or errors of students. They will seek to avoid giving
reproof or punishment in the presence of others. They will not expel
students until every effort has been put forth for their reformation.
But when it becomes evident that a student is receiving no personal
benefit, that defiance or disregard of authority is tending to overthrow
the government of the school, and that his or her influence is contam-
inating others, then expulsion becomes a necessity. Yet with many
the disgrace of public expulsion would lead to utter recklessness and
ruin. In most cases when removal is unavoidable, the matter need
not be made public. By counsel and cooperation with the parents,
let the teacher privately arrange for the student’s withdrawal.
In this time of special danger for the young, temptations surround
them on every hand. Every school should be a “city of refuge,” a
place where tempted youth, may be dealt with patiently and wisely.
Teachers who understand their responsibilities will separate from
their own hearts and lives everything that would prevent them from