CHAPTER I
"THE TEN DEMANDMENTS"
A Chapter to be often read as we study the art of object teaching. Follow these 10 Rules—they are Ten Steps to the Palace of Success
THE TEN DEMANDMENTS
IN teaching children and others how to visualize God's truth, we must remember the Ten Demandments and keep them.
First Demandment: You must love the child. Preaching to children is an affair of the heart. You must love them before you can reach them with the truth. A teacher seeking to win and teach little hearts must first have the degree of L. L. C. which being interpreted means "Love Little Children." God will confer on you this degree. Don't begin until God marks you with it.
Second Demandment: You must remember that the eye is the child's open door to the heart. It is eighteen times larger than the ear gate. They receive eighteen times more truth by their eyes than they do through their ears. They are always seeing things. You must remember this—sayeth the Second Demandment.
Third Demandment: You must believe in the large opportunity and high privileges of working with children. It is the mountain top of importance. It is dealing with the largest soul value of the world. It yields quickly its reward. Be first on the ground. It is the richest ground in the Kingdom of Heaven. It brings early harvest—a harvest of Gold.
Fourth Demandment: You must learn to know the child, study him like you would a book, or as carefully as you do your lessons. Study him at close range, and by loving contact. Chum with him. The best text book on the child question is the child himself. Master your object as well as your subject. This is the highest teaching of the highest order. Read Chapter III of this book.
Fifth Demandment: You must use short words. Little folks like to catch your meaning at first hearing. Listen to them as they talk one with another. They use but few words, and they are short and to the point. Use common words, because they use them. Don't use silly words or baby talk, or speak in an unnatural tone of voice. They don't like affected tones. They don't talk that way when they address each other. They don't want you to talk to them in that fashion. They call it "silly" and "sissy." It takes an educated man to use their language, but go to the University of Childhood and learn there to be an uncommon talker—which means—talk the talk of childhood.
Sixth Demandment: You must be brief. Much of our work with children is useless, because it is over done in the matter of time. Cut it short so it will cut in—always just when they want more, and the next time, they will be glad to listen to you. Clothe your ideas in short sentences. Seldom use words over two syllables, and even then make them the words they use when they are doing their own talking. In using the objects always hold them up in full view of the children, and keep them there. In a short sentence name the object you are thus about to use. It will keep them from spending the time wondering what the object might be. Let the object talk and it will. Make your talk short, and stop when you are through. Be brief, but full of ideas.