Every Teacher May Succeed by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 7, 1907

Every Teacher May Succeed

By F. G.

THE trite saying, “Nothing succeeds like success,” has back of it another truth,— nothing wins success except hard work and the overcoming of difficulties.

Teachers, as well as workers in every other vocation, keenly enjoy their work when “all goes well, and nothing goes wrong.” And yet it is the experience of conquering when nothing seems to go well, and all seems to go wrong, that brings success. We admire the skilled worker in any occupation or profession, but in our admiration we often overlook the lesson we might learn from his skill. We forget that that ability which enables him to do so easily that which is difficult, was acquired by patiently studying his work and learning how to avoid or to master those things which go wrong.

Why is it that one teacher succeeds in the same school under precisely the same conditions where another had failed?— Simply because he delights to meet and conquer the difficult features of his work. These difficult features are generally found somewhere in the dispositions of his pupils. This delight is not that experienced by Alexander and Cæsar in their victories. It is that experienced by Christ and his faithful disciples as they see of the travail of their souls and are satisfied. Many a teacher fails because he has a selfish delight in getting the better of a pupil.

There is undoubtedly a way of mastering every problem in one’s school work, and it is for the teacher who would ultimately have things run well in his work to find that way. To find it one needs to be dissatisfied, but not discouraged. We should always be dissatisfied with our present attainments, but full of courage in believing that we may find the right way out. It is this dissatisfaction with ourselves, not with our work, that leads us to see the points that need to be made strong. We can not be too critical with our methods provided we do not allow our criticisms to discourage us. If we thus patiently and ploddingly pursue our way in a steady, good-natured manner, we shall certainly find our reward.

This reward is given to the teacher in the consciousness of victories won. In many little ways may he see an improvement, and this may be a constant source of courage. Thus, not overestimating his successes, nor underestimating his dangers, he acquires that careful confidence which makes him a success in his work. The true teacher never reaches the point where he can say, “I have reached success; this is the place.” On the contrary, it is ever like a will-o’-the-wisp—just before him, but not within his grasp. But it leads him, not into the marshy lowlands, but to the invigorating atmosphere of the highlands. In his struggle upward he daily passes points where others have stopped and turned back, and the higher he goes the more beautiful is the view beneath him. Success is ever giving its reward. F. G.