3.2.4 Satisfaction of Seeing Pupils Develop

Still another joy that attends teaching is the satisfaction of seeing pupils develop.

The sculptor finds real happiness in watching his clay take on the form and expression of his model; the artist glories as his colors grow into life; the parent finds supreme joy in seeing himself “re-grow” in his child; so the teacher delights to see his pupils build their lives on the truths he has taught.

The joy is doubly sweet if it is heightened by an expression of appreciation on the part of the pupils. Few experiences can bring the thrill of real happiness that comes to the teacher when a former student, once perhaps a little inclined to mischief or carelessness, takes him by the hand with a “God bless you for helping me find my better self.”

An officer of the British army, in recounting those experiences which had come to him in the recent world war, and which he said he never could forget, referred to one which more than compensated him for all the effort he had ever put into his preparation for teaching.

Because of his position in the army it became his duty to discipline a group of boys for what in the army is a serious offense. In that group was a boy who had formerly been a pupil under the officer in one of our ward organizations.

Chagrin was stamped on the face of the boy as he came forward for reprimand. Regret and remorse were in the heart of the officer.

They soon gave way to pride, however, as the boy assured him that worse than any punishment was the humiliation of being brought before his own teacher, and he further assured him that never again would he do a thing that would mar the sacred relations of pupil and teacher.

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