What Is Worth While in Education?
By B. E. CRAWFORD
Next in importance to the study of the Bible are the subjects of physiology, hygiene, and cooking. The Lord through his Spirit has given us special instruction regarding these subjects. “Those who understand physiology and hygiene will, in their ministerial labor, find it a means whereby they may enlighten others in regard to the proper and intelligent treatment of the physical, mental, and moral powers. Therefore those who are preparing for the ministry should make a diligent study of the human organism, that they may know how to care for the body, not by means of drugs, but from nature’s own laboratory.” “The ambassadors of Christ, those to whom have been committed the living oracles of God, can be doubly useful if they know how to help the sick.” “Do not neglect to teach your children how to cook. . . . Skill is required to make good light bread. There is religion in good cooking, and I question the religion of that class who are too ignorant and too careless to learn to cook.” “Our sisters often do not know how to cook. To such I would say, I would go to the very best cook that could be found in the country, and remain there if necessary for weeks, until I had become mistress of the art,—an intelligent, skilful cook. I would pursue this course if I were forty years old. It is your duty to know how to cook, and it is your duty to teach your daughters to cook. When you are teaching them the art of cookery, you are building around them a barrier that will preserve them from the folly and vice which they may otherwise be tempted to engage in. I prize my seamstress, I value my copyist; but my cook, who knows well how to prepare the food to sustain life and nourish brain, bone, and muscle, fills the most important place among the helpers in my family.” “There are more souls lost from poor cooking than you have any idea of. It produces sickness, disease, and bad tempers; the system becomes deranged, and heavenly things can not be discerned.” One of the most important subjects for study is nature in all its different phases. “In pleasant weather let parents walk with their children in the fields and groves. Amid the beautiful things of nature tell them the reason for the institution of the Sabbath. Describe to them God’s great work of creation. Tell them that when the earth came forth from his hand, it was holy and beautiful. Every flower, every shrub, every tree, answered the purpose of its Creator. Everything upon which the eye rested was lovely, and filled the mind with thoughts of the love of God. Every sound was music, in harmony with the voice of God. Show that it was sin which marred God’s perfect work; that thorns and thistles, sorrow and pain and death, are all the result of disobedience to God. Bid them see how the earth, though marred with the curse of sin, still reveals God’s goodness. The green fields, the lofty trees, the glad sunshine, the clouds, the dew, the solemn stillness of the night, the glory of the starry heavens, and the moon in its beauty, all bear witness of the Creator. Not a drop of rain falls, not a ray of light is shed on our unthankful world, but it testifies to the forbearance and the love of God.” “Parents, why not make use of the precious lessons which God has given us in the book of nature, to give our children a correct idea of his character?” In studying the works of God that we see about us on every hand, we are following Christ’s example; for he was a diligent student of nature. “He who made all things studied the lessons which his own hand had written in earth, and sea, and sky. Apart from the unholy ways of the world, he gathered stores of scientific knowledge from nature. He studied the life of plants and animals, and the life of man.” Another matter of great importance is education in industrial lines. Much precious instruction has been given to us as a people on this subject. “The students are in our schools for a special training, to become acquainted with all lines of work, that should they go out as missionaries, they could be self-reliant and able, through their educated ability, to furnish themselves with necessary conveniences and facilities. Whether men or women, they should learn to mend, wash, and keep their own clothes in order. They should be able to cook their own meals. They should be familiar with agriculture and with mechanical pursuits.” “Some do not appreciate the value of agricultural work. These should not plan for our schools; for they will hold everything from advancing in right lines. In the past their influence has been a hindrance.” “The industrial instruction should include the keeping of accounts, carpentry, and everything that is comprehended in farming. Preparation should also be made for teaching blacksmithing, painting, shoemaking, cooking, baking, laundering, mending, typewriting, and printing.” An essential part of education in which many are sadly lacking, is true refinement, courtesy, and proper reserve and modesty. For want of instruction in these things, many children and young people are ruining their reputation, their character, their usefulness in this life, and their prospects for eternity. “Satan controls the minds of the youth in general. Your daughters are not taught self-denial and self-control. They are petted, and their pride is fostered. They are allowed to have their own way, until they become headstrong and self-willed, and you are put to your wits’ end to know what course to pursue to save them from ruin. Satan is leading them on to be a proverb in the mouth of unbelievers, because of their boldness, their lack of reserve and womanly modesty. The young boys are likewise left to have their own way. They have scarcely entered their teens before they are by the side of little girls of their own age, accompanying them home and making love to them. And the parents are so completely in bondage through their own indulgence and mistaken love for their children, that they dare not pursue a decided course to make a change and restrain their too-fast children in this fast age.” These are some of the things that are of special importance in our educational work. Of course there are many branches of study which are important that I have not mentioned in particular. All the common branches are necessary, and the higher mathematics, rhetoric, literature,22the ancient and modern languages, and other studies, should receive such consideration as is demanded by circumstances, and by the needs of the student. In the work of education much can be done by home training, and by individual effort outside of the school-room; but those who are privileged to attend our denominational schools certainly have greater opportunities for Christian training and education than do others. Let all our young people arouse to the needs of the hour, and prepare to do something for God, and that without delay, for the night cometh when no man can work.