Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/115

Rh overthrow. Then when I considered the duties of the profession, and firmly determined to carry out all these duties, I also saw the degenerate condition of youth, and the many wrongs of this world by which adults spoil and distress youth. And I saw not only my own unworthiness, but also the unequal ability of parents in the training of their children, for while some seek the salvation of their children in precept and example, and do all in their power to promote the glory of God and the good of their children, others are quite the opposite. They teach their children evil by their own example, and thus the teacher must counteract this influence and be stern toward such unruly pupils. This readily gives a teacher the reputation of being partial. It is said that he is more severe with one child than with another. This indeed he must be, for the children's sake, that good children may not be ruined by bad ones. Otherwise it is of course a teacher's duty to be impartial. The poor beggar child, scurfy, ragged and lousy, if otherwise it have a good disposition and willingness to learn, should be as dear to him though he never receive a penny for it in this world, as the child of wealth from whom he expects good remuneration. The rich reward for the poor child will come in the next world. In fact, it would take too long to enumerate all the duties of a schoolmaster. But it would take still longer to enumerate his troubles. Considering all this, I early discovered that if I wished to accomplish good among children I must daily with David, lift up my eyes to the