The lecture discusses a mischievous child in a Sunday school class and explains that mischief may result from the lesson, the teacher, the child himself, or the environment, and that the solution is not to expel the child but to know the reasons and treat them with love and wisdom.

Causes of mischief

• An uninteresting lesson or one that does not suit the child’s age.

• A crowded class or an uncomfortable environment that makes him feel lost.

• Teacher neglect of him: not asking the child questions, not praising him, not making him feel present.

• Cause may be innate or hereditary traits, pampering at home, excess energy, or a bad role model.

Educational treatments

• Make the lesson engaging and age-appropriate, and involve the children with movement, speech, questions, and review.

• Involve the child and give him useful tasks that occupy his energy (organizing, helping, reading, reviewing).

• Praise and commend with educational sensitivity so he feels his presence and importance.

• Do not use expulsion, beating, or severe reprimand; these are wrong methods that harm and present a bad example.

• If methods fail, place the child with an experienced teacher or in a special class to be treated, not punished.

Required qualities of the teacher

• A strong educational personality who knows how to attract children’s attention, gain their love, and stop disturbance with wisdom.

• Advising and accompanying the new teacher with an old teacher as practical training methods.

Spiritual and educational dimension from a Coptic Orthodox perspective

• The mischievous child needs treatment and mercy; we do not want to punish him but to reform him with a spirit of love.

• The presence of this child may be a test or a means by which God grants the teacher virtues: patience, endurance, humility, good management, and prayer.

• With mercy and wisdom, the mischievous one can be turned into a useful and serving member in the church.

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