Fragments
97
fixed principles. They need to be awakened to their responsibilities
and possibilities....
He who discerns the opportunities and privileges of his work
will allow nothing to stand in the way of earnest endeavor for self-
improvement. He will spare no pains to reach the highest standard of
excellence. All that he desires his pupils to become, he will himself
strive to be....
Those who desire to control others must first control themselves.
To deal passionately with a child or youth will only arouse his resent-
ment. When a parent or teacher becomes impatient, and is in danger
of speaking unwisely, let him remain silent. There is wonderful power
in silence.
The teacher must expect to meet perverse dispositions and ob-
durate hearts. But in dealing with them he should never forget that
he himself was once a child, in need of discipline. Even now, with
all his advantages of age, education, and experience, he often errs,
and is in need of mercy and forbearance. In training the youth he
should consider that he is dealing with those who have inclinations
to evil similar to his own. They have almost everything to learn, and
it is much more difficult for some to learn than for others. With the
dull pupil he should bear patiently, not censuring his ignorance, but
improving every opportunity to give him encouragement. With sensi-
[120]
tive, nervous pupils he should deal very tenderly. A sense of his own
imperfections should lead him constantly to manifest sympathy and
forbearance toward those who also are struggling with difficulties.
The Saviour’s rule,—“As ye would that men should do to you, do
ye also to them likewise,”—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 dullest, the youngest, the most
blundering, and even toward the erring and rebellious....
The divine Teacher bears with the erring through all their perversity.
His love does not grow cold; his efforts to win them do not cease. With
outstretched arms he waits to welcome again and again the erring,
the rebellious, and even the apostate. His heart is touched with the
helplessness of the little child subject to rough usage. The cry of
human suffering never reaches his ear in vain. Though all are precious
in his sight, the rough, sullen, stubborn dispositions draw most heavily