Teach the Children by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 3, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 26.

Teach the Children.

By Editor

THE instruction from the Lord, after he had given the commandments, was, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children.” This is imperative. The duty to give proper instruction to children is so clear as to be recognized by all. No one questions it, but thousands fail in the discharge of it. Very often this failure comes not so much from willful neglect on the part of parents, as from lack of knowledge; they do not know how to impart instruction to the young minds in their charge.

It will be noticed that the command is unqualified. No statement is made as to how old the children should be before the teaching begins. We must suppose, then, that it is to begin at the earliest time at which the child is capable of learning. This is really at the very beginning of its existence. The mother who asked an eminent educator when she ought to begin the education of her four-year-old boy, was told that if she had not already begun it she had lost four years.

Passing by the earliest infancy of the child, when it learns chiefly from its mother's countenance, as it lies in her arms, and from the tone of her voice, rather than the words she utters, we come to the time when its mind begins to reach out and grasp its surroundings. It is astonishing how much a child learns in the first few years of its life. Its mind is active, and then is the time to make deep impressions upon it. The question to be decided is, “Shall these impressions be good or bad?”

We believe it to be the truth that religious impressions may be made upon the mind of a child more readily than at any subsequent time. Why not? It is sin that separates us from God, and the long indulgence of sin that makes it so difficult for us to exercise simple faith in Christ. But the child is comparatively innocent; its nature has not been warped by a career of self-indulgence. The ground is therefore clear for the reception of the seeds of truth. And it is very necessary that the ground be occupied then. The child will learn, and if you do not keep its mind filled with that which is good, Satan will see that it is filled with evil. Many parents who would tremble at the thought of teaching their children bad habits, or implanting evil principles in their breasts, do that which is but little better, namely, nothing. Instead of putting in good seed at first, they wait until they have to pull up weeds before good seed can be sown. This certainly is not the part of wisdom.

But how shall the child be taught? Its mind cannot grasp abstract reasoning, and you could not hold its attention for a moment, should you attempt it. Fortunately, we have but to take advantage of a means that always exists. Curiosity is strong in every child. This is not a fault, and should not be repressed, but directed. If it had no curiosity to ask about that which it sees, it would always remain an infant in understanding. There is no child that does not love pictures, and this love for pictures is manifested at a very early age. Side by side with this, is the desire to hear a story. When you show a child an attractive picture, and then propose to tell a story about it, you have his attention secured at once. If you do not hold it, it is because you yourself are not interested in the story, or do not put life into its recital. If now the picture that you present is one representing some Bible incident, you have everything at your command for imparting valuable Bible truth. In this way children may learn the story of Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, etc., or be familiar with many events in the life of Christ, even before it can read; for everybody knows that each repetition of an interesting story only makes a child more anxious to hear it again; and there are no stories so thrillingly interesting as those of the Bible. The result of this will be that as soon as the child is able to read, he will want to read these familiar stories for himself, and thus a habit of Bible study may be one of the first things established.

We have now before us a series of twelve pictures, fastened upon a piece of wood, and inclosed with a neat cover, forming a roll, entitled, “From the Manger to the Cross.” As the name indicates, it represents scenes in the life of our Saviour. The pictures are colored, so as to readily attract the eye, and are 21x26 inches in size. The roll is designed to be hung on the wall, by a cord attached to each end of the roller, and thus any one picture may be continually exposed to view. While the mother is at work with her sewing, the attention of the little one can be directed to one of the pictures, and its story told. Advantage can be taken of the interest thus awakened, to dwell upon Christ's love, and the child will early learn to love Him who loved children.

The price of this roll, post-paid, is two dollars; for sale at the office of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We shall have more to say on this subject hereafter. We hope many will supply themselves with these and other helps to lead the children into the way of life.