3. The lack of preparation on the part of the pupil.—The teacher can not take for granted any study at home by the class, but must supplement their absolute neglect by his own increased diligence and skill.
4. The natural aversion of the scholar’s heart to the teacher’s efforts.—The pupil does not desire to be saved and to learn about salvation; all his unregenerate nature is hostile to the subject, and the teacher has dull hearts as well as unprepared minds to contend against.
5. The intervening time of a week between the sessions of the school is sufficient to efface even what impression is produced by the lesson.
With all these hindrances it is plain that the teacher who is to succeed, must supplement his Sunday with week-day work.
II. The next question is, What shall the week-day work of the teacher be? Our space forbids more than a mere outline.
1. A daily study by the teacher of teaching methods, in order to best employ the brief time at command for actual work. It is said Napoleon’s battles were fought in detail in his own mind before even the enemy were in sight, and his force, will and genius were sufficient to carry out the details. A study of the methods employed by the best secular teachers would furnish means for planning all the details of any Sunday half hour.
2. A daily study of the lesson itself.—The teacher’s preparation will occupy another lesson in this series; but when once that art has been learned, a part of the teacher’s week-day work should be to practice it daily.
3. A daily watching the methods of life of the class of society from which one’s pupils come.—If they are children or youth or adults, if from the lower, middle or higher walks of society, the teacher should know the influences which surround the life and the methods which govern it, in order to rightly fit the teaching to the life.
4. A sedulous scrutiny of the face of every child met in daily life.—Such care will prevent ever passing a scholar of the class without notice, and will reveal the workings of the child heart, and give an insight into child nature that will be of great value.