Educational Secretaries' Council by H. R. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1911

Educational Secretaries' Council

By H. R. S.

This meeting was held at College View, Nebr., November 29 to December 6. Every year for nearly a decade, a meeting covering some phase of education has been held. Two years ago it was a general convention, held at Washington, D. C., in connection with the General Conference, in which all departments of our educational work were considered. Last year a convention was held at Berrien Springs, to study the work covered by our academies and colleges. At no time has there been a council for the elementary grades alone; but that department has grown to such proportions that this year it seemed best to hold a meeting of all the union educational secretaries, for the purpose of laying plans which would unify the organization of our church-schools throughout the United States.

The delegates were: H. R. Salisbury, general secretary; and the union educational secretaries, as follows: M. M. Hare, Atlantic; N. S. Ashton, Columbia; H. M. Hiatt, Southeastern; M. B. Van Kirk, Southern; Mrs. Carrie R. Moon, Lake; E. E. Farnsworth, Southwestern; Frederick Griggs and Meade MacGuire, Central; W. W. Ruble, Northern; M. E. Cady, North Pacific; C. C. Lewis, Pacific. Miss Katherine B. Hale, educational superintendent of the California Conference, and Miss Sarah E. Peck, director of the normal department at Union College, were appointed delegates to represent the normal and text-book interests.

One gratifying feature of the council was that every union secretary was present. The daily sessions, which began each morning at nine o'clock, were preceded by an hour devoted to prayer and the study of those testimonies which give light to the educational problems under consideration. These morning hours of devotion brought much light and encouragement to the delegates, and earnest prayers were offered up morning by morning that all our plans might conform to the divine plan which God had so mercifully given us. There was a large amount of work to be done, and every hour of the council was fully occupied, either with committee work or in regular session.

The main subjects discussed were: (a) a uniform plan of organization, (b) courses of study, (c) text-books, (d) uniform system of blanks, (e) uniform teachers' certificates, (f) more thorough plans for summer schools and institutes. Many resolutions were passed relating to each of these subjects, which will appear in the new educational manual. Every effort will be made to have this manual published in time for the summer schools of 1912.

The resolutions under courses of study affected only the subjects in the seventh and eighth grades. Those relating to text-books called especial attention to our tardiness in following the light given regarding the preparation of our own text-books, which should contain the principles of Christian education as they have been given us in “Education” and in other writings by the same author, and which should eliminate those objectionable features so prevalent in the text-books of to-day, which destroy the student's faith in the inspiration of the Bible. Broad plans were laid looking toward the speedy preparation of the books which are most needed at the present time, especially those which would complete the full line of text-books for the first eight grades.

The council adopted a uniform organization plan, to be followed in all union conferences, so that the general plan of organization as relates to school management, examinations, text-books, courses of study, etc., will be the same in each conference.

Books were chosen for the Teachers' Reading Course for 1912-13, and reviewers appointed to prepare the outlines for the journal Christian Education.

One subject which was discussed with much enthusiasm was that relating to a better plan for the development of home schools. During the last two years especially a large number of mothers have expressed themselves as anxious to receive some special training which would enable them to teach their own children until they were old enough to go to the church-school, or, in case they were not located near a church-school, until they were old enough to send to one of our academies. The following resolution was the outcome of the discussion on this question:—

“Whereas, There has long existed the need of instruction for mothers having children of school age who are not accessible to church-schools; and,—

“Whereas, We encourage parents not to send their children to school until they are seven or eight years of age, even when church-schools are accessible; and since children should receive home instruction, and parents be assisted to conduct it successfully; and,—

“Whereas, Such preparatory home instruction would in time somewhat relieve the present congested state of the church-school curriculum; therefore—

“Resolved, That a normal correspondence school for mothers be organized, under the direction of the Department of Education of the General Conference.”

Inasmuch as the General Conference is to be held in 1913, at which time a large number of educational workers will be together, it was recommended—

“That during the year 1912, instead of holding a general convention, there be called a meeting of such members of the department, and such other general educational workers as can most conveniently be brought together; the meeting to be held at such time and place as may best suit the needs of the field and the convenience of the workers.”

The delegates expressed their sincere appreciation of the entertainment given, and the courtesy shown, by the board of management and the faculty of Union College. It was a most interesting and profitable council, the earnest desire of every one being that we might be hourly led of God, so that the great principles of Christian education which he has so mercifully given us, might be seen in all our plans.

H. R. S.