Schools

To encourage Children to do Things with a View to get Praise of Men, to me appears an Obstruction to their being inwardly acquainted with the Spirit of Truth. For it is the Work of the Holy Spirit to direct the Mind of God, that in all our Proceedings we may have a single Eye to him. To give Alms in secret, to fast in secret, and labour to keep clear of that Disposition reproved by our Saviour, All their Works which they do is for to be seen of Men, Mat. xxiii. 5.

Encouraging children to do things for the praise of others seems to me to hinder their inner acquaintance with the Spirit of Truth. For the Holy Spirit works to direct the mind of God, so that in all we do, we may focus only on him. We should give alms in secret, fast in secret, and strive to avoid the attitude our Saviour condemned: All their works are done to be seen by others, Matt. 23:5.

That Divine Light which enlightens all Men, I believe, does often shine in the Minds of Children very early, and to humbly wait for Wisdom, that our Conduct toward them may tend to forward their Acquaintance with it, and strengthen them in Obedience thereto, appears to me to be a Duty on all of us.

I believe that the Divine Light, which enlightens everyone, often shines in children’s minds from a very early age. We should humbly wait for wisdom to guide how we treat them. In this way, we may help them become familiar with the Light and strengthen them in obeying it. This seems to me a duty we all share.

By cherishing the Spirit of Pride, and the Love of Praise in them, I believe they may sometimes improve faster in Learning, than otherwise they would; but to take Measures to forward Children in Learning, which naturally tend to divert their Minds from true Humility, appears to me to savour of the Wisdom of this World.

I believe that encouraging pride and a love of praise in children may sometimes help them learn faster than they otherwise would. But using methods to advance their learning that naturally draw their minds away from true humility seems to me like worldly wisdom.

If Tutors are not acquainted with Sanctification of Spirit, nor experienced in an humble waiting for the Leadings of Truth, but follow the Maxims of the Wisdom of this World, such Children who are under their Tuition, appear to me to be in Danger of imbibing Thoughts, and Apprehensions, reverse to that Meekness, and Lowliness of Heart, which is necessary for all the true Followers of Christ.

Some tutors do not know the sanctification of the spirit or have experience in humbly waiting for truth’s guidance. Instead, they follow the principles of worldly wisdom. Children under their care seem to me to be in danger of absorbing opposing thoughts and ideas. These go against the meekness and humility of heart that all true followers of Christ need.

Children at an Age fit for Schools, are in a Time of Life which requires the patient Attention of pious People, and if we commit them to the Tuition of such, whose Minds we believe are not rightly prepared to train them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord, we are in Danger of not acting the Part of faithful Parents toward them; for our Heavenly Father doth not require us to do Evil, that Good may come of it; and it is needful that we deeply examine ourselves, lest we get entangled in the Wisdom of this World, and, through wrong Apprehensions, take such Methods in Education, as may prove a great Injury to the Minds of our Children.

Children old enough for school are at a stage in life that requires the patient attention of religious people. We may entrust them to teachers whose minds we believe are not rightly prepared to bring them up in the care and instruction of the Lord. If we do, we risk failing to act as faithful parents. For our heavenly Father does not require us to do evil so that good may come of it. We must examine ourselves deeply, so that we do not become entangled in the wisdom of this world. Otherwise, mistaken ideas may lead us to educate our children in ways that greatly harm their minds.

It is a lovely Sight to behold innocent Children; and when they are sent to such Schools where their tender Minds are in imminent Danger of being led astray by Tutors, who do not live a self-denying Life, or by the Conversation of such Children who do not live in Innocence, it is a Case much to be lamented.

It is a lovely sight to see innocent children. It is deeply regrettable when they are sent to schools where their tender minds are in immediate danger of being led astray. They may be led astray by teachers who do not live self-denying lives, or by the talk of children who do not live innocently.

While a pious Tutor hath the Charge of no more Children than he can take due Care of, and keeps his Authority in the Truth, the good Spirit in which he leads and governs, works on the Minds of such who are not hardened, and his Labours not only tend to bring them forward in outward Learning, but to open their Understandings with respect to the true Christian Life; but where a Person hath Charge of too many, and his Thoughts and Time are so much employed in the outward Affairs of his School, that he does not so weightily attend to the Spirit and Conduct of each Individual, as to be enabled to administer rightly to all in due Season; through such Omission he not only suffers, as to the State of his own Mind, but the Minds of the Children are in Danger of suffering also.

When a devout teacher is responsible for no more children than he can properly care for, and exercises his authority in truth, his good spirit influences those who are not hardened. His efforts not only help them advance in their studies, but also open their understanding of the true Christian life. But a teacher may be responsible for too many children and occupied with the practical affairs of his school. His time and thoughts may be so taken up that he cannot give each child's spirit and conduct the careful attention needed to guide them all rightly at the proper time. By failing to do so, he harms his own state of mind, and the children's minds are also in danger of suffering.

To watch the Spirit of Children, to nurture them in Gospel Love, and labour to help them against that which would mar the Beauty of their Minds, is a Debt we owe them; and a faithful Performance of our Duty, not only tends to their lasting Benefit, and our own Peace, but also to render their Company agreeable to us.

We owe it to children to watch over their spirits, nurture them in Gospel love, and help protect their minds from harm. Faithfully carrying out this duty benefits them in lasting ways and brings us peace. It also makes their company more agreeable to us.

Instruction, thus administered, reaches the pure Witness in the Minds of such Children who are not hardened, and begets Love in them toward those who thus lead them on; but where too great a Number are committed to a Tutor, and he, through much Cumber, omits a careful Attention to the Minds of Children, there is Danger of Disorders gradually increasing amongst them, till the Effects thereof appear in their Conduct, too strong to be easily remedied.

Teaching given in this way reaches the pure Witness in the minds of children who are not hardened. It awakens their love for those who guide them in this way. But a tutor may have too many children in his care. Burdened by the work, he may fail to pay careful attention to their minds. Then disorder may gradually increase among them. Its effects may eventually appear in their conduct and become too strong to remedy easily.

A Care hath lived on my Mind, that more Time might be employed by Parents at Home, and by Tutors at School, in weightily attending to the Spirit and Inclinations of Children, and that we may so lead, instruct, and govern them, in this tender Part of Life, that nothing may be omitted in our Power, to help them on their Way to become the Children of our Father, who is in Heaven.

I have felt a continuing concern that parents at home and teachers at school should spend more time carefully attending to children’s spirits and inclinations. In this tender stage of life, we should guide, teach, and govern them with care. We should do everything in our power to help them become children of our Father in heaven.

Meditating on the Situation of Schools in our Provinces, my Mind hath, at Times, been affected with Sorrow, and under these Exercises it hath appeared to me, that if those who have large Estates, were faithful Stewards, and laid no Rent, nor Interest, nor other Demands, higher than is consistent with universal Love; and those in lower Circumstances would, under a moderate Employ, shun unnecessary Expence, even to the smallest Article; and all unite in humbly seeking to the Lord, he would graciously instruct us, and strengthen us, to relieve the Youth from various Snares, in which many of them are entangled.

Thinking about the state of schools in our provinces has sometimes filled me with sorrow. In these times of reflection, it has seemed to me that those with large estates should be faithful stewards. They should charge no rent, interest, or other demands higher than is consistent with love for all. Those of lesser means should work moderately and avoid unnecessary expense, even in the smallest things. If all did this and united in humbly seeking the Lord, he would graciously guide and strengthen us. He would help us free young people from the many traps in which they are caught.