Class Teaching

The Christian Science Board of Directors

There seems to be a growing tendency on the part of some teachers to solicit pupils for their classes, and to permit others to do so without objection or correction. This is in direct violation of the Manual, Article XXVII, Section 5, which reads in part: "Members of The Mother Church who are authorized by its By-Laws to teach Christian Science, shall not solicit, or cause or permit others to solicit, pupils for their classes. No member of this Church shall advise against class instruction."

Class instruction is an important event in the life of the Christian Scientist who desires to advance in his understanding of God and his application of divine Love's law of harmony. It should be neither hurried to conform to human desire, nor delayed beyond the point of readiness. It is for the student and for him alone to determine when the time has arrived to apply to the teacher of his choice. It is then for the teacher to decide upon the applicant's eligibility and readiness. Both such decisions should be made by investigation and demonstration, and without any outside interference or intervention. It is as culpable for a teacher or his student to urge or solicit a prospective pupil to enter a certain class as it is for such a pupil, without the background of necessary experience and understanding, to enroll in a class merely because he is urged or solicited.

Quality, not numbers, should be the first consideration of the teacher in making up his class. Far better it is to have a small class, made up of qualified students, than a full one spotted here and there with the unready and immature, or with those who have been solicited to join.

Eagerness on the part of the pupil should never be mistaken by the teacher for readiness, nor should the location of the teacher be the determining consideration. On the other hand, accessibility should not be wholly ignored, for attendance at the annual Association meetings is highly essential to growth. Some instances, however, have been known where those who have gone farthest, whether in one direction or another, have gained most. Sacrifice of personal convenience for the acquisition of good is always a commendable step in Christian Science.

In making his choice of a teacher, the prospective pupil should not necessarily limit himself to considering only such teachers as are members of his own branch church, or even of his own field. Some students might do better work if they were remote from their teacher and could not quickly turn to their teacher for guidance when confronted by a problem. The student who turns to God first, and confidently expects there to find his answer, is the student who is a credit to his teacher and an honor to his religion. The self-reliant pupil is the successful pupil, for in Science God-reliance is the only true self-reliance.

Under all circumstances and in every condition in which class instruction is involved both student and teacher should turn first and only to divine Love, illimitable intelligence, infinite Spirit, for the answer to the momentous questions, by the one, To whom shall I apply? and by the other, Whom shall I accept? It is always well to keep in mind the words of the Scripture: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

The Christian Science Board of Directors

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