Discipline by Eugene C. Waller

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

Discipline

By Eugene C. Waller

(Concluded)

No amount or variety of study and work will serve as a panacea for all the ills of the schoolroom. A few well-considered rules and regulations are necessary. The importance of this is shown by the following extract from a Testimony:—

“It is the duty of principal and teachers to demand perfect order and perfect discipline. Those teachers who do not see the necessity of maintaining the rules that it is deemed essential to make have simply made a mistake in thinking that they are prepared to teach, and in accepting the situation. No disorder should be allowed without decided rebuke and a command to cease.”

The nature and number of the rules vary, of course, according to local conditions. If possible, the pupils should be led to see the reasonableness of all regulations, and then obedience will not be such a task. At times it is well to ask their assistance in the making of a rule, but occasionally it may be necessary for legislative, judicial, and executive authority to be vested in one person—the teacher.

Usually, when a pupil is disobedient, if the matter is kindly and earnestly talked over with him, he will be led to change his course of action. Prayer may soften his heart and help him to obey willingly. However, if warning and counsel are not heeded, and prayer does not bring about the desired result, the Bible’s instruction may be profitably followed: “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Prov. 23: 13, 14. The extent to which it is to be employed

is also given. “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Prov. 19:18.

But the teacher may say, “I can not punish a child unless I am angry.” Then don’t punish. You will do more harm than good. Never whip a child if you are not in that frame of mind where you could pray with him, and would willingly do it if it were the right course to pursue.

The proper attitude of the parents will do much to alleviate the teacher’s difficulties. Sometimes parents who would not dare to interfere with the government of the near-by public school, feel no remorse of conscience in dictating what the church-school teacher shall do. It certainly should be evident to all that no teacher can make a success of the work and follow every one’s advice at the same time. Let the parent who intends to tell the teacher “what’s what” ask himself if he is treating another as he would like to be treated were he in his place. Many times the same parent who criticizes the teacher for employing reasonable means of punishment in the school, would harshly reprove, and even cruelly treat his own child for like offenses. “In too many families to-day there is too much self-indulgence and disobedience passed by without being corrected, or else there is manifested an overbearing, masterful spirit that creates the worst evils in the dispositions of the children. Parents correct them at times in such an inconsiderate way that their lives are made miserable, and they lose all respect for father, mother, brothers, and sisters.”

If all parents could realize what good they may do the perplexed teacher by a kind word and a friendly suggestion, more such words and suggestions would be given. Let us as parents and teachers enter more into each other’s sympathies. Let us encourage rather than criticize. God is willing to help every parent and teacher who will co-operate with him in the training of the children for his kingdom.

EUGENE C. WALLER.