To be fit for the position, an educator or counsellor requires special preparation - to ensure that his education or guidance brings about the desired benefits.
Not everyone who would step forward to assume the title of educator or counsellor can accept this great responsibility, since an unsuitable person not only fails to correct anything, but in addition makes things worse, bearing the full blame for doing so.
The first step of an educator or counsellor in preparing for this highly responsible and holy work of education and guidance, is introspection.
He must examine himself more earnestly and vigorously than a private individual. For as explained in Chapter Three, his entire moral and spiritual existence depends on this [self- examination].
Aside from an incisive self-critique of his teaching and its style, the educator or counsellor needs to review his methodology, to ensure that it is characterized by extreme deliberation and politeness.
He must attempt to find sayings that are appropriate for his lessons, and communicate them pleasantly. In this way, the lessons will be engraved on the heart of a pupil, appearing before his eyes even after he leaves the presence of his educator or counsellor.
The fruit of education does not grow overnight.
To reach any educational milestone with a pupil demands extraordinary effort and an appropriate amount of time.
To uproot a bad disposition or habit of a pupil, or to have him acquire and become accustomed to a good character trait, demands much toil and much time - in addition to the [toil and time] which a pupil must exert himself in this regard.
An educator or counsellor must realize not only that is it essential for him to use appropriate phrases in his lessons, but that the manner of expression - whether he expresses them with politeness and patience, or with agitation and derision - also affects the foundation of education and guidance.
Even general displays of agitation and ridicule by an educator or counsellor - for example, when an educator uses inurbane terms in referring to one of the worst of all human failings, terms that are indeed accurate, [but that are nonethe less crude] - make a bad impression on a pupil.
Such words of disdain when coming from the mouth of his educator or counsellor, though true, diminishes the educator's stature in his pupil's eyes.
Many educators and counsellors err here.
They think that ferment by way of thunderous noise and clamor helps them achieve their goal in education or guidance.
Among them are those who attack their pupils with extremely harsh and angry words, insulting and berating them.
Truly, even if the pupil becomes temporarily upset from the flaming words of the educator or counsellor, his heart shrinking within him in pain, and at times he cries bitterly, this type of education or guidance yields no [lasting] benefit whatsoever.
Any [temporary positive] effects vanish like a fleeting dream.
The benefits of true education and guidance can be attained only through the observance and meticulous fulfillment of all the mentioned provisions.
Only then will the educa tion and guidance endure forever, and manifold blessings will be bestowed upon the educator or counsellor.
Synopsis
The benefits of education and guidance can be realized only when the education and guidance are accompanied by composure, politeness, and pleasant speech - with befitting expressions.
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