Our Home School by Mary Evans Clark

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1916

Our Home School

By Mary Evans Clark

MARY EVANS CLARK

Another year has just passed in our little home school, and the question comes, Has it paid? What has been accomplished during the year in return for the two hundred dollars’ outlay?

In the sciences, doubtless, the children would have learned as much in the public school, and they would have greatly enjoyed the association of the children of the district. But when we leave out the one science, the foundation of all true science, what an emptiness and loss!

When Carl’s mother sent him to the town school for one week two years ago, he cried, saying, ‘Why, mamma, they don’t read the Bible, nor pray, nor have Bible lessons. I don’t want to go.’ Now she sends him two and one-half miles to our little school, and he is so happy.

To persuade a parent of the importance of the Christian school, it seems as if it would only be necessary to have him look carefully through the Readers, Bible Nature, and Bible Lessons books used in our schools. In the study of them, there is a daily instilling of Bible truths into the minds of the children.

Last summer there was to be a baptism in our church, and our children came asking to be baptized. We were surprised at their request, also at their understanding of the subject, and began to study with them, the better to prepare them for the solemn ceremony. We cannot take our children and youth out of the world, but our home school has thus far done much in helping them to resist the temptations that come to them,—as our little girl prayed, ‘Help me to come up over temptations.’

This winter we made the boys a workbench, and put it in the basement washroom, and they made good advancement in the use of tools. Of course, it makes more muss in the house; but why should healthy litter in our basement be a trial to us, when we can by it keep both our boys and our girls happily engaged in physical and mental training in our own home?

One more blessing came to us this year,—a dear girl of sixteen, who needed both a home and a school. She improves her time well, and appreciates the privileges she is having. Doubtless there are many such young people who would be a blessing in our homes and in our schools.

At the close of this, the third year of our home school, we can only say, Thank God for our schools, and may his blessing be with them.