The Seven Laws of Teaching

I have been teaching in the public schools for 19 years. I train other teachers. I am a mentor to new teachers. And yet, I learned so much from this book. I can't express how much I loved it other than to say, from this point forward, every teacher I meet will hear about this book. Every teacher in every institution should be required to read this before placing one foot in the classroom. My favorite quote from the book: It is only the unskilled teacher who prefers to hear his own voice in endless talk rather than watch and direct the course of the thoughts of his pupils. If you teach, read it!

This classic work first published in 1884 should be part of the curriculum for all schools training teachers. That it is still being reprinted (the 10th printing was in 2003) is a testimony to the timeless value of the author's wisdom contained within its pages. There are times when the old ways are the best ways and this book is one of those. Public schools, the failures that they are, would do well to scrap modern pedagogy and practice The Seven Laws of Teaching. This book isn't just for the teaching profession: it is also an excellent training manual for pastors, Bible teachers and Sunday School teachers.

I had taught Sunday School for a few years when a seasoned elder recommended this book. I was immediately hooked when I began to read it. I had to learn to teach the hard way, and I wish I had gotten ahold of this book earlier. I am now the Sunday School superintendent and I asked all the teachers to read this book. They loved it too! The amazing thing about this masterpiece of a book is that he follows his own advice. He starts simple and works to the more complex. He gets the readers attention and interest and keeps it until the end. Even if you don't like to read that much, you will savour this well written book. I was inspired and equipped to be a better teacher after reading this book.

This thorough and common sense work on the art of teaching is essential reading for all educators. It is crammed with practical advice as well as philosophical truths about training and imparting knowledge to students.

First published in 1884, this template for teaching continues to cut accurate patterns. The book jacket promises "a clear and simple statement of the important factors governing the art of teaching," but the book delivers much more. Here is teaching tonic to be taken in strong doses by those who want to rejuvenate their teaching. For three dozen years I have seen more permanent and pervasive changes through the use of this text than from any other I have assigned. Undiluted cream, it bears continual and repeated reading.