Thoroughness in Education by Thirza E. Mason

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 10, 1907

Thoroughness in Education

By Thirza E. Mason

“SEEST thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Prov. 22:29.

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Prov. 4:7.

People are perishing for lack of knowledge; wisdom of God is the most important thing; and the religion of Christ does not approve of mental laziness.

Thoroughness in every part of the school work is a qualification which each of our church-school teachers should strive to possess. The teacher is praised for her thoroughness in teaching, or condemned for her lack of it. The same is true of the pupil with respect to learning. Pupils should not be allowed to go day after day with lessons only half learned. Experience teaches, however, that thoroughness in one pupil is not thoroughness in another. Different minds differ in respect to capacity, and the matter which a book contains. The author of a book will get more from it than the teacher; the teacher will get more from it than the pupil; and one pupil will be able to get more from it than another. How long shall a pupil be kept on the same lesson? This is a question which comes to every teacher. The pupil should, as a rule, be required to spend more time on his lesson if his knowledge is really defective; but if his knowledge is as thorough as he is likely at present to make it, then extra time spent will be wasted, and lack of interest in the lesson, in other study, and even in the school, may follow. A teacher must constantly study her pupils. By watchfulness she will be able to appoint for the pupils lessons sufficiently long and difficult. Then, she must expect them to learn them and have them ready at proper times.

There are two reasons for giving emphasis to thoroughness in education: 1. Without thoroughness, correct ideas can not be formed, and clear and sound knowledge can not be had. Thoroughness will train the mind to a habit of clear and exact information. 2. What the pupil learns in the future is in a great measure dependent upon what he learns to-day. If to-day’s lessons are vague and obscure, the future and more difficult lessons will necessarily be less perfect. Also, the pupil is building up mental habits which will cling to him for life.

As teachers we need to set the example of doing well whatever we do, and profit by the following words from the Holy Book:—

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” Prov. 24:30, 31. “By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.” Eccl. 10:18.

THIRZA E. MASON.