The child must distrust himself absolutely, must realise that he is as helpless as he is ignorant, before he can begin to profit by the instruction that will be given to him.

His mind must become a _tabula rasa_ before his teacher can begin to write on it.
The vital part of him--call it what you will--must become as clay before his teacher can begin to mould him to his will.
The strength of the child, then, is to sit still, to listen, to say "Amen" to, or repeat, what he has heard.

The strength of the teacher is to bustle about, to give commands, to convey information, to exhort, to expound.

The strength of the child is to efface himself in every possible way.

The strength of the teacher is to assert himself in every possible way.