p. 21 | What Is Your Object? by Grace O’Neil

Review and Herald Publishing Assn. · Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1904

What Is Your Object?

By Grace O’Neil

Do you possess the sacred gift of teaching? If so, what is your object in teaching? Do you understand the opportunities that are yours, and the opportunities that might be yours, as you enter the schoolroom each morning?

“Many boys and girls of to-day will not grow to be men and women. They must meet the crisis of the ages while they are children.” Do you not want to be in a position, then, where you can reach the children, where you can come in close contact with the lives of your pupils, and help them to become better acquainted with Jesus in order that they may be able to meet the coming crisis?

The teacher who is a teacher indeed must teach the truth, and can you have a group of children before you, with bright eyes and eager faces and loving hearts, and withhold from them the knowledge of a Saviour’s love? Truth

can not be mingled with error, so we can not teach these principles in a public school, and at the same time be true to the State; for we must certainly be the most honest of all teachers.

For a number of terms I taught in the public school, drifting along as most public school teachers do, going through the daily routine of hearing classes, feeling there was something lacking in my work to make it yield the desired result, not knowing what it was. I began studying Christian education, and as its wonderful truths were presented to me, I saw how different would be the results could I adopt the methods of that system. The desire filled my whole heart to begin over again, and teach with a better, a nobler end in view — that of training loyal citizens for the kingdom of God. I yielded to the desire, and have felt more than repaid for making the change.

What has been your experience in teaching? Are you satisfied with the results of your efforts? If not, do you not want to change your object? Jesus says, “Feed my lambs.” Is it not a grand trust he gives us? I ask nothing more for my life-work. GRACE O’NEIL.