Principles of Teaching | Page 6

One of the most fascinating problems in teaching is to come to know
the real nature of our pupils--to get below surface appearances to the
very boy himself. Most of the work of solving this problem necessarily
must be done out of class. Such intimate knowledge is the result of
personal contact when no barriers of class recitation interfere. It
involves time and effort, of course, but it is really the key to genuine
teaching. It makes possible what we have named as factor number eight,
which may be disposed of here for present purposes. We read of
bygone days largely because in them we hope to find a solution to the
problems of Jimmie Livingston today. How can we effect the solution
if all that we know of Jimmie is that he is one of our fifteen scouts? We
must see him in action, must associate with him as he encounters his
problems, if we would help him solve them. Our discovery of our
pupils' better selves, and intelligent application, go together hand in
hand.
VII. INSPIRATION OF EXAMPLE AS WELL AS PRECEPT
When Emerson declared, "What you are thunders so loudly in my ears
that I can't hear what you say," he sounded a mighty note to teachers.
Hundreds of boys and girls have been stimulated to better lives by the
desire "to be like teacher." "Come, follow me," is the great password to
the calling of teacher. The teacher conducts a class on Sunday
morning--he really teaches all during the week. When Elbert Hubbard
added his new commandment, "Remember the week-days, to keep
them holy," he must have had teachers in mind. A student in one of our
Church schools was once heard to say, "My teacher teaches me more
religion by the way he plays basketball than by the way he teaches
theology." It was what Jesus did that made him Savior of the world. He
was the greatest teacher because he was the greatest man.
Surely teaching is a complex art!

* * * * *
QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS--CHAPTER II
1. What is teaching?
2. Why is it essential that we get a clear conception of just what
teaching is?
3. Discuss the importance of building the recitation upon a good
foundation of facts.
4. Why are facts alone not a guarantee of a successful recitation?
5. What is the teacher's obligation in the matter of organizing
knowledge?
6. Discuss the significance of teaching as an interpretation of truth.
7. Discuss the teacher's obligation to discover pupils' better selves.
8. What is the relative importance of expression and impression in
teaching?
HELPFUL REFERENCES
Betts, _How to Teach Religion_; Gregory, _The Seven Laws of
Teaching_; Thorndike, _Principles of Teaching_; Brumbaugh, _The
Making of a Teacher_; Strayer and Norsworthy, How to Teach.
CHAPTER III
THE JOYS OF TEACHING
OUTLINE--CHAPTER III
The Joys that attend Teaching: Enrichment of the spirit.--Guarantee of
the teacher's own growth and development.--Restraining and uplifting
influence on the moral character of the teacher.--Satisfaction that

attends seeing pupils develop.--Inspirational
companionship.--Contentment that attaches to duty done.--Outpouring
of the blessings of the Lord.
Chapters
one and two emphasized the thought that the purposes behind teaching
impose a sacred obligation on the part of those who aspire to teach. But
lest the obligation appear burdensome, let us remind ourselves that
compensation is one of the great laws of life. "To him who gives shall
be given" applies to teaching as to few other things. Verily he who
loses his life finds it. The devotion of the real teacher, though it
involves labor, anxiety and sacrifice, is repaid ten-fold. Only he who
has fully given himself in service to others can appreciate the joy that
attends teaching--particularly that teaching enjoined upon us by the
Master and which is its own recompense.
It is difficult to enumerate all of the blessings that attend the service of
the teacher, but let us consider a few that stand out pre-eminently.
If there were none other than this first one it would justify all that is
done in the name of teaching; namely, "the enrichment of spirit."
"There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth
them understanding." To feel the thrill of that inspiration is a
compensation beyond price. The Lord, having commanded us to teach
(see Sec. 88:77-81, Doc. & Cov.), has followed the command with the
promise of a blessing, one of the richest in all scripture.
"For thus saith the Lord, I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto
those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in
righteousness and in truth unto the end;
"Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory;
"And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries
of my kingdom from