Relation of Parents and Teacher
By CHAS. E. WELCH.
In our work of educating our children for the service of the Master, there are many serious questions which confront us. Perhaps one of the foremost of these is the relation that should exist among the parents, teachers, and children. Of course all would say that the attitude of the children in this threefold association should be one of obedient, earnest learners, that they may become well-trained, efficient workers for the Saviour. But the relation that should exist between teacher and parent is one that sometimes looks better in theory than it does in the practical working out of the same. We are glad to believe that many of our people show by their lives that they understand this relation, and also maintain it so far as they are concerned. But at times we are led to think that some others who are just as desirous of doing the Lord's will, do not fully understand as yet just what he requires of us on this point. To be more specific, when a teacher, who has a large room full of precious boys and girls to be taught the ways of Jesus, is put to her wits' end, and happens to make a mistake and deal unwisely with the children of certain parents, what should be the attitude of those parents toward that wearied and perplexed teacher? If any one has a good, practical answer, we shall be glad to receive it. I fear that this question is often answered in such a way as not only to discourage the already overtaxed teacher, but also do a much greater injury to the children who hear the unkind criticism, and thus learn lessons of distrust not only in the teacher, but also in the parents themselves. And as the children grow older, we wonder why they are so disobedient, why they are slipping out of our reach, why they are being lost to the cause and to eternity. Fathers and mothers, let us remember that the teacher is as liable to err as we are, and she also has the responsibility of many more children than you do; and if she makes a mistake, for the love that you have for your own little ones, and the desire that you have to see them always manifest the spirit of the Saviour, and work for him, study carefully to know what Jesus would do if he were dealing with the particular case that you have in hand. “This generation” is rapidly passing away, and may the Lord help us all to realize this, and to show that we believe it by drawing the armor a little closer, and pressing forward to meet the foe, always manifesting toward one another that charity which covers a multitude of sins. CHAS. E. WELCH.