As a public school administrator, I know how challenging the issue of negative behavior in public schools can be. It is a fact that unless a teacher can control his or her classroom, little or no teaching can take place. It's been estimated that 75 percent or more of the time of many teachers in inner-city schools is occupied with controlling negative student behavior.

But does it have to be this way?

The teacher who understands that there is only one Mind, God, and that Mind is in constant control, can bring harmony to a classroom that seems out of control.

To be successful in this, a teacher must understand that orderly, considerate, attentive behavior is natural to children. Discordant behavior is unnatural. It is based on the belief that students are self-governed versus God-governed—that there are many different minds in a classroom, which may be at cross-purposes with the mind of their teacher. Accepting this view allows negative behavior to seem natural. When the teacher or adult in charge understands that each student is actually the reflection of the one divine Mind, peace and order take their natural place in the classroom. in the Scout troop, in the Sunday School, in the shopping mall, or in the home.

Disobedience, insubordination, inattentiveness, originate from the belief that God isn't in charge of His creation, and that evil is a real power that can overtake good. Once we understand that what appear to be negative qualities are lies about man's real nature, we can take the stand of refusing to accept discordant behavior as having any reality in God's creation. As we hold instead to the purity and goodness of each child, harmony displaces discord.

A difficult time came up for a principal in my school system, and he needed to take a leave of absence. I volunteered to move my office (that of assistant superintendent) to the school building and to handle the principalship along with my other responsibilities. Actually, it was a time in my life when I needed this experience, although I didn't know it then.

I had not been a principal for well over a decade, and it was nice to return to a school situation; however, there were many disruptive things taking place in the school. Some parents and students had accused the principal of immoral behavior (which I knew to be inaccurate), and a number of teachers were being pulled from the school daily to testify before a grand jury about the situation. This caused an unusual number of substitute teachers to be in the building each day. I also soon discovered that a rift had existed between the secretary, the principal, and some of the teachers for some time. There were some financial inconsistencies that began to surface as well.

All of this generated a steady flow of individuals in and out of my office. It created a climate of unrest throughout the building. Fights and general disruption seemed common. Various individuals seemed at odds with each other. Many just seemed to need to talk. Attempting to do my system-wide work and to run a school at the same time became quite a challenge.

I began taking a very strong stand metaphysically and refused to be taken in by the overall picture of confusion and fear. I realized that only one Mind, infinite Love, was in control in that building. I also prayed about my responsibility as acting principal and was quickly reassured that my responsibility was to listen for divine Mind's guidance. As each emergency presented itself, I faced it fearlessly by knowing that God, who is divine Principle, was guiding and governing rightly, and I listened and followed His guidance.

The situation began mending almost immediately, and over the following six to eight weeks I established many wonderful and lasting relationships with the students, faculty, and parents. The negative behavior that had seemed to be all around when I first arrived disappeared, and the entire situation with its many complications worked out appropriately and justly for all parties. The students benefited most. I learned more about their needs at the elementary-school level, and as assistant superintendent I was able to implement new programs for them. A new, vivacious principal was hired to move the program forward. This was also a turning point in my professional career. I had been thinking about leaving the school system at the end of the school year, but the thought came strongly that I was needed in this system, and I stayed. The wisdom of that decision has been proved many times since, and for the past nine years I have served as the system's superintendent.

Christian Science can be a vital aid to today's systems of education. Every day is filled with opportunities to show the practicality of the Science of Christianity. In the classroom, in Sunday School, in civic organizations, during social activities, one finds constant opportunities to fulfill his duty to the Master, Christ Jesus, to share Truth with one's neighbors.

True followers of Christ don't give in to negative behaviors. They know that right then and there God is in control and that nothing can usurp the absolute power and presence of His goodness. God is our "very present help in trouble."