by Aleta Samford
Synopsis: In her series on teaching children, Aleta Samford considers "The Principle of the Teaching Process." William Butler Yeats said, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." Effective Bible class teachers must encourage their students to think. Our goal is to motivate them to want to search out the answers and to obey on their own.
To review, "the law of the lesson" (which we concluded in August's article), emphasized the importance of finding where the student is in his knowledge before introducing more material. Our goal is to help them feel empowered to learn more. It is unwise to think that we can start at a random, unfamiliar place without losing the attention of our students.
We move now to "the law of the teaching process," which states, "Excite and direct the self-activities of the pupil and as a rule, tell him nothing that he can learn himself."
Once you've found where to begin with your students, it's time to nudge them to learn more. Now is the time for motivation. "Make your students discoverers of truth. Make them find out for themselves. Wake up your students' minds. Set your students to thinking. Arouse the spirit of inquiry" (Gregory, 85).
Do you remember this quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it"? President Eisenhower said that motivation is an art. Some may think that means having the knack, as in, "Yes, but it just comes naturally for her!"
However, that's not always the case. If you have been taking all the Laws seriously, you're on your way to perfecting the art, to becoming natural motivators. Just as you feel confident that, when fertile soil, water, and sun are present, your flowers will grow, so, when all the principles of teaching are applied, you can be confident that the seed will grow in the hearts of your students and the desire (motivation) to act upon what they have learned will blossom.
We want our children to dig out the information for themselves. Only then will it become a permanent part of their thinking. Under special circumstances, you can disregard this part of the Law: "tell him nothing that he can learn himself." Those special circumstances may be (1) to save time, like when you're trying to beat the bell, (2) if a child is discouraged, or (3) when their interest is high, and there's a demand for quick information. All in all, from each student's perspective, he must know for himself and use his powers. Students will resent you answering for them all the time.
"The eye must do its own seeing, the ear its own hearing, and the mind its own thinking" (Gregory, 27). It takes patience to allow children time to think, but it's something we must allow. Why? Because they will one day have to work out their own salvation, just as we will. We must think of them as soldiers in training who are learning how to don the spiritual armor of God, so they can get used to relying on it. Satan is prowling for their souls, and they need to be ready to stand against him.
Also, like us, they have a race to run! They need to get and stay in shape. While they are little, our goal is to motivate them to want to search out the answers and to obey on their own.
God reveals the principle of the teaching process in this familiar verse: "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14).
Paul chose similar words in writing to Timothy: "Exercise yourselves toward godliness" (1 Tim. 4:7). This is beginning to sound like a workout, isn't it? That's exactly what it is: a workout of the heart, soul, and mind. It is the teacher's responsibility to prompt the children in this workout.
One of my favorite places to start is by appealing to the senses of my students. What do they smell, taste, feel, hear, or see in the lives of the Bible characters for themselves? For the youngest children, bright colors and things in motion serve as sense-exercisers, pulling them into the story. For the older students, appeal to their thoughts and feelings. Please join me in February's article as we look at this law further.
Author Bio: Aleta is the wife of Gene Samford, who preaches for the church that meets in Kemp, TX. She has taught Bible classes for forty-four years and, to help other women join the ranks, presents a series of lessons based on God's word, The Seven Laws of Teaching, and her own experiences. She may be reached at aletas10@sbcglobal.net.
