them. How well are we doing it? Does the little child have to pick up the knowledge of procreation from the streets or are we, as Christian fathers and mothers, placing it in their hands in wisdom and love? We want them some day to be wed in holy wedlock, heirs together with their spouse of the grace of life. But what are we doing about proper instruction along these lines? Are we teaching them courtesy and honesty? Are we helping them to be free from race prejudice and all the evils of men, even as we ourselves are? If you teach these things well in an atmosphere of love, the child will learn and learn well. The school systems have limitations and weaknesses. An intelli gence quotient measures the ability of your child to do well in school in such things as mathematics and various skills. It does not measure a lot of fac tors such as musical aptitude or any social quotient. It, of course, cannot measure character value either. Our young son had an unusually high ability. He was given problems before he went to school and, hence, did very well in the first grade. In second grade I got a note from his teacher saying, “If your son doesn’t do better I’m going to send him back to the first grade.” All within a year’s time. I was deeply concerned and went to see the teacher. The problem was he was bored with his work books and wasn’t bothering to do his assignments. He had been going to the library and getting books to read. The teacher wouldn’t let him take the work books Abou t the Author : Dr. W. Robert Smith is a member of the faculty of Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota. His ministry in Bible conferences, spiritual life meetings, and evangelical services have been greatly blessed of the Lord in this country as well as in other parts of the world.
home. She said he would have to do them in school. He was kept out of recess; he couldn’t go to visual aid, and generally he quite naturally reacted in a very bad way. The teacher said, “You’re the dumbest child I’ve ever had." We didn’t understand how deep seated this problem really was. I dis covered that our child had a very serious mental block. I told my dear wife it would take care, love and much concern. It takes much patience, love and understanding to find a balance between pressure which overcomes hin drances and pressure which makes for frustration. We didn’t have a TV in our home for a good many years, not because we couldn’t have, but because of the problems involved. It is much easier to say “No” once for all, than it is to say “No” for five children all evening long. Some of the discipline problems en countered with our children are the result of the lack of achievement. This is why we need to spend time helping our children. If you cannot teach your child without becoming impatient, then you ask the Lord to give you grace and make you kind and loving taking the time to do it. There are children who get mental blocks in early school years which run all through their life, blighting their personality. You are responsible for the instruction of your children in all areas of life. I think this is what Scrip ture means when we read, train them up in all things and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Chapter Fifteen I n a decadent and immoral society in which we are living there is a vital need for parents to guide then- children in upright character. Are we teaching them to be honest? Are we giving them any cultural values? Are they learning orderliness and refine ment? They need to be taught how to 18
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