David O. McKay's Birthday: What He Taught About Education
Sarah Wilde
McKay Student Ambassador
Special Education (Severe/Profound Disabilities Emphasis)
David O. McKay, 9th Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and namesake of the McKay School of Education, will turn 153 on September 8th! During his lifetime, President McKay often taught about the importance of education. He once said, “Teaching is the noblest of all professions... the noblest duty of organized society... Every nation should make it its first and paramount object.” Why did he value education so much? What can we, as aspiring educators, take from his teachings and example to help us become better teachers? The following are a few of the teachings of David O. McKay on education.
Order in the Classroom
We may talk about classroom setup in our major classes, but it is just as important on a spiritual level as it is on a physical level. According to President McKay, "A disorderly environment, one in which disrespect is shown to the teacher and to fellow pupils, is one that will stifle the most important qualities in character." The spirit cannot dwell in unholy spaces, and an organized space encourages holier behavior.
Power of Prayer
We may not be allowed to talk about the Savior and His teachings in our public education classrooms, but we can bring Him into our minds and hearts while we teach and while we prepare to teach. "Teachers, begin the preparation of your lessons in prayer. Teach your lessons with a prayerful heart. Then pray that God will enrich your message in the souls of your children through the influence of his holy Spirit," said President McKay. We know the Spirit can help us to teach gospel lessons, but He is also available to help us teach math, reading, science, and anything else your students may be struggling with. Your students are God's children, and He cares about their growth and development even more than you do.
Developing Christlike Traits
We should strive to be like Christ in all that we do, including our teaching. Christ is the Master Teacher, so what better example can we follow in our careers? President McKay said, "Fellow teachers, you and I cannot hope to exert, even to a small degree, the personality of our great Teacher, Jesus Christ. Each one’s personality may be to the Savior’s only as one little sunbeam to the mighty sun itself; and yet, though infinitely less in degree, each teacher’s personality should be the same in kind." While we will never have the same level of impact that He did, we can, through Him, have powerful impacts on the lives of the children we teach.
In closing, I'd like to share this quote from David O. McKay that touched me. "In the formation of character and guidance of childhood, parental influence is greatest; next comes the teacher’s. … 'There is true nobility in the soul of that man or woman who sincerely desires and strives to lead children out of contaminating influences into an environment of high ideals and lofty endeavor.'" Being a teacher can have such an impact on the lives of God's children. In this quote, President McKay put the influence of teachers secondary only to that of the child's parents. How awesome is it that we get to be in a career that really matters? Whether you are teaching in a public school classroom or Sunday School, being a teacher is one of the most important jobs a person could have.
To do a deeper dive into David O. McKay's teachings on and experiences with education, see the links below!
Resources
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