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Send Children to Our Own Schools

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 26, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 13.

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Send Children to Our Own Schools

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT
Some of our people think it safe to entrust the education of their children to any one who can impart information upon the branches taught in the public schools. To them an education consists in knowing how to read, write, solve mathematical problems, and delve into the various sciences as taught in the ordinary text-books. And the school which is most successful in the accomplishment of this result is by them regarded as the best school, and the teacher who can cause the students to pass through the grade work required in these schools in the shortest period of time, is their ideal instructor. But a person might be able to recite in a creditable way all that is required in all these text-books, and yet be sadly lacking in the true essentials of a proper education.
What the Lord desires us to do is to provide schools for all our own children and youth, where the education imparted will embrace all essential truth, and will reject that which is injurious and false. “We send our children to the Sabbath-school that they may be instructed in regard to the truth, and then as they go to the day-school, lessons containing falsehood are given them to learn. These things confuse the mind, and should not be; for if the young receive ideas that pervert the truth, how will the influence of this education be counteracted?”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VI, page 193.
“Establish church-schools. Give your children the Word of God as the foundation of all their education. This is full of beautiful lessons, and if pupils make it their study in the primary grade below, they will be prepared for the higher grade above.”—Id., page 195.
“The eyes of our brethren and sisters should be anointed with the heavenly eye-salve, that they may discern the necessities of the times. The lambs of the flock must be fed, and the Lord of heaven is looking on to see who is doing the work he desires to have done for the children and youth.”—Id., page 196.
“It is not best for Sabbath-keeping families to move long distances to connect with schools. If a proper effort were put forth, many more small schools could be established for the education of our own children.” “Wherever there are a few Sabbath-keepers, the parents should unite in providing a place for a day-school where their children and youth can be instructed. They should employ a Christian teacher, who, as a consecrated missionary, shall educate the children in such a way as to lead them to become missionaries. Let teachers be employed who will give a thorough education in the common branches, the Bible being made the foundation and the life of all study.”—Id., page 198.
It is supposed that the schooling given a child will have its influence in directing his life's course, therefore Solomon has said, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6. The Lord by the pen of Paul says, “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4.
How is it possible for a Christian to get his mind to that point where he can complacently trust the education and training of his children to persons who do not know God nor believe his Word? Why not take the Lord at his word and arrange affairs in such a way that all our children may “be taught of the Lord.”
“In selecting teachers we should use every precaution, knowing that this is as solemn a matter as the selection of persons for the ministry. Wise men who can discern character should make the selection; for the very best talent that can be secured is needed to educate and mold the minds of the young, and to carry on successfully the many lines of work that will need to be done by the teacher in our church-schools. No person of an inferior or narrow cast of mind should be placed in charge of one of these schools.”—Id., page 200.
“Parents and teachers should seek most earnestly for that wisdom which Jesus is ever ready to give; for they are dealing with human minds at the most interesting and impressible period of their development. They should aim so to cultivate the tendencies of the youth, that at each stage of their life they may represent the natural beauty appropriate at that period, unfolding gradually, as do the plants and flowers in the garden.”—Id., page 204.
The provision of schools and teachers for our children has received considerable attention by our people during the last decade, but there is much yet to be done before we have accomplished all that should be seen. Many churches are giving but little heed to this theme, and because of this indifference in these churches, the subject should be agitated until the interest has become general and effective.
Chicago, Ill.