Utilizing the Late Scholar
The late scholar is no blessing, and yet he is far from an unmixed
evil. The wise teacher will get all the good he can out of him.
Of course, he is to be transformed into the early scholar, care being
taken lest by mistake he be transformed into the scholar absent
altogether. And during this process of transformation there is a small
harvest of advantage to be tended.
Let his entrance be a danger signal. Don't act mad. Of course, the
electric current of interest is flowing by this time, or never, and
the late scholar rudely breaks it. But never mind. Better the total
loss of your scholars' interest in the lesson than the loss of their
respect for you.
Remember, too, that there may be a good excuse,--even late coming may
mean earnest endeavor,--and premature impatience in such case will
cause you dismayed repentance.
The late scholar cannot be ignored; don't try it. Sometimes we
fiercely attempt to finish our sentences, or get answers to our last
questions. The late scholar is a potent and aggressive fact, and
cannot be got rid of in that way.
No. Accept the situation promptly and sensibly. Stop short at once,
and greet the late comer heartily. Don't let him sneak into a back
seat, but set him in the midst. See that he has a Bible or a lesson
paper. Incorporate him. Then proceed thriftily to utilize him. He is
your opportunity for a review. You probably need one at this stage of
the lesson, anyway. Here is your chance for gathering up loose ends
and binding all the truths thus far taught in a compact whole.
You may do it in this way: "Before you came in, Charley, we were
talking about Christ's command to lay up treasures, not on earth, but
in heaven. We've been deciding what some of the earth-treasures are.
We've agreed that they include money and clothes and houses and
studies and friends, and that we mustn't win any of these in such a
way that they will belong merely to earth. You see? And now, class,
can any one think of another earth-treasure?"
Or you may do it in this way: "Here's Charley. John, will you please
tell him what we talked about at the beginning of the lesson? That's
good. And Bess, tell him, please, what conclusion we have come to thus
far. That's right. And now let us go on."
Similarly, all through the lesson, the late scholar may be your excuse
for bringing up points mentioned at the opening of the hour, and
needing repetition. "Something was said at the start which bears on that
matter, and Charley wasn't here. Ned, please tell him what that was."
Bring him into the electric circle by a question as soon as you can. But
remember that it takes time for him to become charged with interest and
understanding as fully as the rest, and ask him easy questions at first,
or, perhaps better, call on him to read a verse or two.
The late scholar's exit is fraught with as much danger as his entrance.
You must utilize that also. Let your questioning be jolly and indirect:
"Too much sleep this morning, Billy?" "Sorry, Ellen, that you couldn't
start in with us"; "Some good points you missed at the opening, Fred."
If rightly used, this is an opportunity for learning of some need or
temptation that besets your scholar. She may be lazy. He may be too
fond of sleep. She may keep too late hours. He may be led astray by
the Sunday morning papers. They may fail to see the value of the
opening prayer and songs. You get fresh insight into their characters.
When Nature heals a broken bone, she makes it the stronger for the
break. And so, though the late scholar seem to fracture sadly the
interest of the lesson, the wise teacher will know how to mend the
matter in such shrewd fashion as to knit the whole class more firmly
together.