There seems to be a growing tendency on the part of some teachers to solicit pupils for their classes, and to permit others to do so without objection or correction. This is in direct violation of the Manual, Article XXVII, Section 5, which reads in part: "Members of The Mother Church who are authorized by its By-Laws to teach Christian Science, shall not solicit, or cause or permit others to solicit, pupils for their classes. No member of this Church shall advise against class instruction."
Class instruction is an important event in the life of the Christian Scientist who desires to advance in his understanding of God and his application of divine Love's law of harmony. It should be neither hurried to conform to human desire, nor delayed beyond the point of readiness. It is for the student and for him alone to determine when the time has arrived to apply to the teacher of his choice. It is then for the teacher to decide upon the applicant's eligibility and readiness. Both such decisions should be made by investigation and demonstration, and without any outside interference or intervention. It is as culpable for a teacher or his student to urge or solicit a prospective pupil to enter a certain class as it is for such a pupil, without the background of necessary experience and understanding, to enroll in a class merely because he is urged or solicited.
Quality, not numbers, should be the first consideration of the teacher in making up his class. Far better it is to have a small class, made up of qualified students, than a full one spotted here and there with the unready and immature, or with those who have been solicited to join.
