Article August 5, 1911 Issue

THE TRUE TEACHER

RUTH F. RUNYON.

IN the Sunday school class the little ones of Christian Science are learning to think right about God, about themselves, and about their neighbors; and to teach a class one must seek preparation,—not of the words to be spoken simply, nor of an outline to be followed, but a preparation of the heart. The teacher must not only study the Lesson-Sermon, but he must live Christian Science, or there will be obstructions in the channel through which Truth would guide these little ones into the attainment of right understanding.

Greater than deliverance from physical pain is the healing of wrong thoughts. Every child, no matter how much or how little of Christian Science he knows, has to uproot these weeds of error which have sprung from a wrong concept of God. To beget a wrong concept of God is worse than all the crimes we condemn; yet we know that unless we are living a life of love we are bringing this wrong concept to some one every moment. In the Sunday school the children should learn how to weed error out of thought, how to reflect love in their homes, their play, the schoolroom, so there will be no ground in which the plants of selfishness, jealousy, lust, envy, hate, malice, and revenge can spring up to bear fruit. If we look these several forms of error frankly in the face, and know them for what they are in all their phases, we can so turn to the light as to reflect Truth to these little ones, and thus awaken in them a right concept of God.

The question of discipline may seem difficult to those who have not had to do with children in the home or in the class-room, and an experience that came to the writer's notice may help those struggling with a problem and aid them to realize that all the training in the world is not equal to one clear thought of God as the only Mind. A young kindergartner fresh from normal school, the possessor of many theories and enough practice to secure her diploma, became an assistant in a bright little kindergarten. She was strong and capable, and many visitors remarked upon her apparent control and management. It was the director's duty to prepare her for a higher position, so after a few months' happy work together she offered the young assistant complete charge one morning, while she attended to the clerical work of the schoolroom. All was well for a short time. When a period of greater freedom was given, the children at once took the advantage it offered and riot reigned. For several minutes it raged. Then the assistant signaled the ringleader, picked up a little chair with the same energy with which she would have lifted a table, and in the calmest tone requested the little fellow to sit down; but there was only more noise, kicking, and punching added to the tumult.

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