The Teacher's Vacation

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 7, 1908

The Teacher's Vacation

For the majority of our schools the long recess between the school years is near. What plans are being laid by our teachers to get the most from it for their work? Every teacher should take up his next year's work better equipped for effective service than he is when this year closes. Naturally, many of our teachers need physical rest. It ought not to be that they should need a long vacation in which to rebuild depleted vitality; but nevertheless it is too true that the long vacation is an absolute necessity to many teachers from a physical point of view.

But we can generally best build up the body when building up the mind. Accordingly, such courses of reading and study as are best adapted to the needs of each should be chosen, and prosecuted with such vigor that much valuable help will be gained. First of all are the spiritual lines of study from the words of inspiration. We learn more to appreciate the wonderful principles of Christian education which have been given us as we know them better. During this long vacation we have time to study and reflect upon the application of these principles to our work in a dispassionate and thoughtful way, and to view our work as a whole. Much time should be spent in prayer, that these principles may be rightly applied to our own lives and to our work.

Then needed reviews of technical studies should be made. For instance, some features of arithmetic or grammar, or some other subject, may not be so perfectly understood that they can be taught to the best advantage. Again, one or more new studies may be entered upon. The progressive teacher is always reaching forth to new lines of work, and such teachers are an inspiration to their pupils. Our summer schools and conventions should be filled. Every teacher should, if possible, attend one of these. School boards should assist financially if necessary. The summer schools and conventions have done very much indeed to build up our church-school work and to lift the standard of teaching. In many instances

our teachers can engage in teaching Bible work in connection with tent and revival efforts. Such lines of work are a most valuable education and preparation for effective teaching. The use we make of this vacation will measure largely the success of next year's school work.