Nearly three years ago when I became a grandmother many people said to me. “You’re going to spoil that little boy.” My answer to this was that with God’s help I would try not to spoil that precious child. It would not be right according to the laws of God, and it would not be fair to the child. We would certainly love him very much, hut spoil him “No.” Children must learn obedience. God says so, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right” (Eph. 6:1). He has included in the Decalogue a commandment to children.
Now a child’s first teachers are his PARENTS. Therefore discipline begins in the home. If the foundation for discipline has been laid in the home the teacher can build upon it. for the school is an extension of the home. The Christian School is a means to help the parents carry out their God given responsibility.
The children whom God has entrusted to our care are His children first of all, created in His image. They must be treated as the precious possession of Christ. But these children are sinful. They have sinful tendencies. They must he disciplined, and that, according to Webster is “Training that develops self-control, character, or orderliness and efficiency, the result of such training; self control, orderly conduct.” It is also defined as “Treatment that corrects or punishes.”
The work of disciplining is difficult because of the presence of sin, of original guilt. Teachers and youth leaders find it increasingly difficult in our day to exercise discipline. Lawlessness is abroad in our land. Obedience has been cast aside. There is lack of respect for God-given authority. There are many disciplined people today who act with no thought or regard for others. We thank God for homes where parents do demand obedience. Our school teachers, catechism teachers, Sunday School teachers and other leaders of youth recognize immediately whether a boy or girl comes from a disciplined home.
A child’s conduct is directed by his entire being—physical, mental, moral, and spiritual. We believe in educating and disciplining the whole person. Therefore every facet of a child’s personality must be developed. The teacher must create in the classroom an atmosphere of love, friendliness, cheerfulness and respect in which guidance can be given and accepted. Tilt, student must be trained to full capacity so that he may become a responsible citizen of his country, an active member of his church, a Christian leader, a Christian parent, and a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.
The teacher must know his students to discipline them well. Some respond to a look, a nod, a smile; others must be dealt with in another manner. The age of the child must be considered. Sarcasm and ridicule have no place in the Christian classroom. The child should always be dealt with in a spirit of love. There should be encouragement and appreciation for honest effort and progress.
In order to discipline children, the teacher himself must be a disciplined person. The eyes of the students are upon him both inside and outside of the classroom. If he expects self-control in others he himself must certainly be able to exercise self-control, the self-control which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Only then will he be able to deal with his students in Christian love.
We see, then, that the requirements are high for one who is to exercise Christian discipline. Who is equal to such a responsible task? How is anyone going to dare to undertake such difficult work? Of himself he cannot do it. He will need love, patience, perseverance. understanding, and wisdom. How we thank God for the resources He has provided. He has given us the Bible, prayer. and His unfailing help. The teacher must turn to the Scriptures. The book of Proverbs is helpful, Ephesians gives sound advice, the great chapter on love, I Corinthians 13. should he read again and again. The Ten Commandments, although perhaps fallen into disrepute, are still the only guide for living, and they are the test of our love for God, for Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Prayer is extremely important. It is prerequisite to all of work. We come in our helplessness and sometimes desperation to Him who is all powerful and willing and able to help. The teacher must spend much time in prayer. Prayer must he part of his daily program of work. He will have to reckon with this in his busy schedule for it will take time, but without prayer he will not dare to enter the classroom. He must pray to God—the Source of all wisdom and strength and love. He will have to pray for himself, for his needs arc many. He needs grace to exercise firmness and fairness with love. He must pray for the parents and the homes. He will have to pray for his fellow teachers, for the students; yes, even for individual students. many of whom have personal problems. He must not only pray for his students; he must pray with them. The students also must learn to take their problems to God in prayer. Prayer brings a sweet release. We do not, of course, tell God how and when to answer our prayers. We trustfully leave it in His hands He will undertake.
There should he in the classroom an atmosphere of prayer. so that prayer will come naturally. We sing, do we not, “Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air.” There are times when we must take a child apart to pray with him. When a child has disobeyed there should be sorrow for sin. He must realize that he has sinned against God. Some children have terrible faults to battle against. During my teaching years I have sometimes said to a child, “Shall we pray about it?” and the child would respond with relief.
The teacher must live a life of prayer and fe1lowship with God, daily drawing strength from God, the Source of strength. He must always be conscious of the deep sense of responsibility in training children created by God, children who possess tremendous potentialities for good or evil. He must realize that he is but a vessel of clay through whom God works.
There is nothing in our Christian life and service as efficacious as prayer. Believe it, and pray. Pray earnestly, pray perseveringly. If your prayers seem unanswered examine your life for hindrances to prayer. Take courage from the many answered prayers in the Bible and in your own life as well as in the lives of others. Remember always that Christ intercedes for you and for your children.
The new school season has just begun. May our teachers “Be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man” (Eph. 3:16). Parents, pledge your loyal support to your teachers. Uphold them in their difficult task with your daily prayers. God will answer those prayers. Your children will hear them, and it will certainly increase their respect for their teachers. “Lord teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
Frederica Bult, a former Christian school teacher, is the wife of Rev. John L. Bult of Zeeland, Michigan.
Now a child’s first teachers are his PARENTS. Therefore discipline begins in the home. If the foundation for discipline has been laid in the home the teacher can build upon it. for the school is an extension of the home. The Christian School is a means to help the parents carry out their God given responsibility.
The children whom God has entrusted to our care are His children first of all, created in His image. They must be treated as the precious possession of Christ. But these children are sinful. They have sinful tendencies. They must he disciplined, and that, according to Webster is “Training that develops self-control, character, or orderliness and efficiency, the result of such training; self control, orderly conduct.” It is also defined as “Treatment that corrects or punishes.”
The work of disciplining is difficult because of the presence of sin, of original guilt. Teachers and youth leaders find it increasingly difficult in our day to exercise discipline. Lawlessness is abroad in our land. Obedience has been cast aside. There is lack of respect for God-given authority. There are many disciplined people today who act with no thought or regard for others. We thank God for homes where parents do demand obedience. Our school teachers, catechism teachers, Sunday School teachers and other leaders of youth recognize immediately whether a boy or girl comes from a disciplined home.
A child’s conduct is directed by his entire being—physical, mental, moral, and spiritual. We believe in educating and disciplining the whole person. Therefore every facet of a child’s personality must be developed. The teacher must create in the classroom an atmosphere of love, friendliness, cheerfulness and respect in which guidance can be given and accepted. Tilt, student must be trained to full capacity so that he may become a responsible citizen of his country, an active member of his church, a Christian leader, a Christian parent, and a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.
The teacher must know his students to discipline them well. Some respond to a look, a nod, a smile; others must be dealt with in another manner. The age of the child must be considered. Sarcasm and ridicule have no place in the Christian classroom. The child should always be dealt with in a spirit of love. There should be encouragement and appreciation for honest effort and progress.
In order to discipline children, the teacher himself must be a disciplined person. The eyes of the students are upon him both inside and outside of the classroom. If he expects self-control in others he himself must certainly be able to exercise self-control, the self-control which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Only then will he be able to deal with his students in Christian love.
We see, then, that the requirements are high for one who is to exercise Christian discipline. Who is equal to such a responsible task? How is anyone going to dare to undertake such difficult work? Of himself he cannot do it. He will need love, patience, perseverance. understanding, and wisdom. How we thank God for the resources He has provided. He has given us the Bible, prayer. and His unfailing help. The teacher must turn to the Scriptures. The book of Proverbs is helpful, Ephesians gives sound advice, the great chapter on love, I Corinthians 13. should he read again and again. The Ten Commandments, although perhaps fallen into disrepute, are still the only guide for living, and they are the test of our love for God, for Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Prayer is extremely important. It is prerequisite to all of work. We come in our helplessness and sometimes desperation to Him who is all powerful and willing and able to help. The teacher must spend much time in prayer. Prayer must he part of his daily program of work. He will have to reckon with this in his busy schedule for it will take time, but without prayer he will not dare to enter the classroom. He must pray to God—the Source of all wisdom and strength and love. He will have to pray for himself, for his needs arc many. He needs grace to exercise firmness and fairness with love. He must pray for the parents and the homes. He will have to pray for his fellow teachers, for the students; yes, even for individual students. many of whom have personal problems. He must not only pray for his students; he must pray with them. The students also must learn to take their problems to God in prayer. Prayer brings a sweet release. We do not, of course, tell God how and when to answer our prayers. We trustfully leave it in His hands He will undertake.
There should he in the classroom an atmosphere of prayer. so that prayer will come naturally. We sing, do we not, “Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air.” There are times when we must take a child apart to pray with him. When a child has disobeyed there should be sorrow for sin. He must realize that he has sinned against God. Some children have terrible faults to battle against. During my teaching years I have sometimes said to a child, “Shall we pray about it?” and the child would respond with relief.
The teacher must live a life of prayer and fe1lowship with God, daily drawing strength from God, the Source of strength. He must always be conscious of the deep sense of responsibility in training children created by God, children who possess tremendous potentialities for good or evil. He must realize that he is but a vessel of clay through whom God works.
There is nothing in our Christian life and service as efficacious as prayer. Believe it, and pray. Pray earnestly, pray perseveringly. If your prayers seem unanswered examine your life for hindrances to prayer. Take courage from the many answered prayers in the Bible and in your own life as well as in the lives of others. Remember always that Christ intercedes for you and for your children.
The new school season has just begun. May our teachers “Be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man” (Eph. 3:16). Parents, pledge your loyal support to your teachers. Uphold them in their difficult task with your daily prayers. God will answer those prayers. Your children will hear them, and it will certainly increase their respect for their teachers. “Lord teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
Frederica Bult, a former Christian school teacher, is the wife of Rev. John L. Bult of Zeeland, Michigan.