-Painting by Arthur John Elsley
This is an excerpt taken from a treasure of a book published in 1924 called The Catholic Teacher’s Companion – A Book of Inspiration and Self-Help.
As we are all teachers, whether it is of our own children or a teacher in an actual school, this article is valuable.
It was originally written for teaching Sisters….
JOY
Joy is the birthright of the child, but for too many children the school is the very antithesis of joy. A very effective means for taking the joy out of the life of the pupil is to overload him with tasks that are beyond him.
The teacher can frequently lighten the work both for herself and her pupils by improving her teaching methods and by instructing the children in the art of study. But despite all the improvement possible, the work of the school will always be a task for the young, and much unavoidable drudgery will always remain.
Still, there are many pupils who love their teachers as well as the work of the school. But we find almost invariably that their teachers love their calling and their work, for it is with such teachers that pupils will love their work.
But if the teacher finds no joy in her work, if she is dissatisfied, or if she does not bear herself as a friend of the young, but as a tyrant and an absolute lord, then the school and all that is associated with the school will be detested by the child.
But if the teacher appreciates properly her sublime vocation, if she is sincerely interested in her pupils rather than in her own comforts, and if she labors disinterestedly for the good of her class, then her pupils need never complain of joylessness in their lives.
The most effective motives for preserving the joy of the teacher may be drawn from the supernatural view of our calling, for only supernatural motives can survive the trials and conflicts that enter every teacher’s life.
GRATITUDE
Children are, of all human beings, the most egotistic, and their very expressions of gratitude are often only intended to secure still greater favors for themselves. But to inculcate sincere gratitude, the teacher should impress upon the children the thanks they owe to God.
Let the teacher impress upon them the example of the unselfish love of the Creator, and the self-sacrificing love of the Redeemer on the cross. The different feasts, of the Church and the reception of the sacraments will give the teacher an opportunity for calling attention to this love of God, and thus she may hope to train them to appreciate gratefully all that the Lord has done for us.
Once she has trained them in this direction, it will be easier for her to teach the children the gratitude they owe their parents, teachers and other benefactors.
Let her illustrate in detail the text of St. Paul: “What hast thou that thou hast not received?”
Concrete examples will demonstrate to the children that they are indebted to others for almost everything that they possess and enjoy. The life in school offers untold opportunities to the teacher for insisting on the expression of gratitude.
The teacher should herself be a model of gratitude, and should not scorn to thank the children for favors done or services rendered. The teacher’s gratitude toward the child will give the latter an opportunity for experiencing how sweet is the pleasure that we give to others by being sincerely grateful. By habituating her pupils to the practice of gratitude, the teacher will give them for all their lives the source of the sweetest joy.
Our modern world is rich in pleasure, but poor in joy. Our pupils will be rich in joy if they will learn from one of the most lovable of saints, St. Francis of Assisi—who was called Brother Joy—the lesson of gratitude to the Giver of all that is good.
St. Francis learned this lesson early in life and practiced it even in death, and it was his gratitude, as G. K. Chesterton brings it out so well, in his beautiful book on the Saint, that constituted the ultimate source of all his joy:
“It is commonly in a somewhat cynical sense that men have said, ‘Blessed, is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed.’ It was in a wholly happy and enthusiastic sense that St. Francis said, ‘Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he shall enjoy everything.’
It was by this deliberate idea of starting from zero, from the dark nothingness of his own deserts, that he did come to enjoy even earthly things as few people have enjoyed them; and they are in themselves the best working example of the idea. For there is no way in which man can earn a star or deserve a sunset.”
Counsels of Perfection for Christian Mothers
Counsels of Perfection for Christian Mothers
Wonderful post! And great book suggestions. I absolutely love Counsels of Perfection for Christian Mothers, but I did not know there was a father’s version. Thank you! Good Christmas gift idea for my husband.
You’re welcome Mary!