With the beginning of each school term, thousands of pupils turn their thoughts toward learning. Many of them look forward with anticipation to the coming months, but others approach their studies with a sense of inadequacy and consequent fear and dread. Through the teachings of Christian Science, many pupils are learning how to free themselves from such restrictions. In proportion as they learn that Mind is God and that God is likewise divine Principle, Love, and is therefore giving freely of His wisdom to all His children, they master their school subjects.

A student of Christian Science who was a teacher in the fourth grade had an inspiring proof of the liberating power of these truths. She was to teach a group of children who had never been able to do arithmetic. It was only too apparent that the class had accepted the false conclusions adopted about it. Moreover, the standard city tests, always given at the beginning and end of the term, showed that the children were below the grade standard in every operation, and the class median was a year and a half below the grade.

The teacher refused to allow her thinking to be mesmerized by the evidence of backwardness. Striving to know that the divine Mind instructs, guides, and governs she was led to say and do the things which brought clarity and appreciation to the subject. As the children were encouraged to apply themselves in doing the examples which they knew, they began to see that there was nothing terrifying in the arithmetic itself.

The more willing they became to do the necessary practicing of the work as it was taught, the less afraid of it they were. Gradually the tension which had always accompanied the arithmetic study vanished. Furthermore, it was pointed out to them that tests were opportunities to record mastery and progress and to indicate where there was the greatest need for work on the part of both teacher and pupil.

Working together in this way, they found the arithmetic lessons a time of real growth, for they were proving that they manifested the normal, natural abilities of all children. Nothing needed to be done to put that ability there. It was theirs by birthright. In the words of one of the Proverbs, "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

Meanwhile the teacher each day studied and pondered the truths of the Bible as illumined in Christian Science through the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. This passage from page 486 of the Christian Science textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, was found especially helpful: "Sight, hearing, all the spiritual senses of man, are eternal. They cannot be lost. Their reality and immortality are in Spirit and understanding, not in matter,—hence their permanence." As some understanding of these words flooded her consciousness, the student found her thought beautifully liberated, and all false sense of responsibility dropped away. She saw that matter has nothing to do with man. Intelligence, wisdom, and understanding are a part of man's nature, and are permanently and perfectly expressed. Since these qualities are spiritual, in and of Spirit, God, they have always been at their fullest development and manifestation.

Steadily the good work continued, and with the joy of mastery, the children faithfully applied themselves to each day's work, taking one step at a time. Since they were building on a sure foundation of understanding and obedience to divine Principle, their progress was assured. There ceased to be evidences of fear, and there was no talk of failure. The class passed the term city test in every operation. Not only had it met the requirement, but the class median stood at two above that requirement.

Great was the rejoicing of both teacher and pupils over this liberation. But there was still a greater reason for gratitude to come. For as this class went ahead through the school there was no mention of any trouble with arithmetic. So complete had been the freedom that no one remembered that for three years it had been called a non-arithmetic class.

"Slavery is not the legitimate state of man." we read in Science and Health (p. 227). As the student of Christian Science comes to some understanding of the reality of this statement, he begins to prove his freedom and dominion right in the situation where he finds himself. Material theories, with their laws of limitation and restriction, are shown to be without foundation, lacking truth, and therefore without authority and power. Mortal sense would claim that each individual is given a certain type of mind with definite limitations and possibilities for his development. To hope to exceed that initial limitation is considered foolish, and to try to do so sometimes means heartbreaking effort foredoomed to failure.

When the truth of Christian Science comes to consciousness, what an opening of the prison doors there is. God, Mind, Principle, Love, is the only power— supreme, unassailable, universal, and impartial. Man is the reflection of Truth, Life, and Love, and therefore manifests abundantly everything good; and this is true for all.

Every idea of God is spontaneously reflecting the abundant wisdom, glory, and uninterrupted freedom of God, Mind. There is no lack, no limitation, and no failure in God's realm. God is All-in-all and He is Love. Surely divine Love cannot manifest neglect of some or favoritism for others. Because God is Truth, the affluent completeness of man, the reflection of God, is an unquestioned reality.

These truths, pondered and lived, enable the Christian Scientist to demonstrate a progressive unfoldment of dominion and liberty in individual experience. To the degree that each individual proves his own freedom, he is helping to free the entire world from its enslaving beliefs in limitation of all kinds. In the words of St. Paul, "The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."