Sometimes the teacher carries into the schoolroom the shadow of darkness that has been gathering on his soul. He has been overtaxed and is nervous, or dyspepsia has colored everything a gloomy hue. He enters the schoolroom with quivering nerves and irritated stomach. Nothing seems to be done to please him; he thinks that his pupils are bent on showing him disrespect; and his sharp criticisms and censure are given on the right hand and on the left. Perhaps one or more of the students commits errors or is unruly. The case is exaggerated in his mind, and he is severe and cutting in his reproof of the one whom he thinks at fault. And the same injustice afterward prevents him from admitting that he has taken a wrong course. To maintain the dignity of his position, he has lost a golden opportunity to manifest the spirit of Christ, perhaps to gain a soul for heaven. {CT 301.1}

Nogle gange tager læreren mørkets skygge med ind i klasseværelset, som har samlet sig i hans sjæl. Han har været overbelastet og er nervøs, eller dyspepsi har givet alt et mørkt skær. Han går ind i klasseværelset med skælvende nerver og irriteret mave. Intet går efter hans hoved, han tror at hans elever ubøjelighed viser ham respektløshed, og hans skarpe kritik gives til højre og venstre. Måske begår en eller flere studerende fejl eller er uregerlige. Sagen overdrives i hans sind, og han bliver streng og gennemskørende i hans irettesættelser over for dem, som ham tror begår fejl. Og senere forhindrer den samme uretfærdighed ham i at indrømme at han har gjort noget forkert. For at fastholde sin stillings værdighed, har han mistet en gylden anledning til at udvise Kristi ånd, måske vinde en sjæl for himlen.