The Mothers’ Normal Department of the Fireside Correspondence School
For several years individual mothers whose children did not have access to a church-school have taught their children in their own homes. Church-school superintendents have encouraged and aided this work until probably every conference has one or more of these home schools. Good work has been done, but the need of systematic and specific help for these mothers has been increasingly felt. At the council of union conference educational secretaries, held at College View, Nebr., Dec. 5, 1911, this subject was given careful consideration, and it was recommended that a mothers’ normal school be organized, the instruction to be carried on through correspondence, under the direction of the Department of Education of the General Conference. In endeavoring to carry out this recommendation, the Department of Education sought for some time for a suitable person to take charge of this work,—a person at the same time a mother and a teacher. At last Mrs. C. C. Lewis was suggested. She had passed through all the experiences of a mother, and had for many years been connected with our schools as preceptress and teacher. During the years when, on account of the care of her small children, she was unable to engage in school work, she conducted a little paper for mothers, called Early Education, which attained a circulation of several thousand subscribers, and is still gratefully remembered by many mothers for the helpful hints it gave them in the early training of their children. These experiences combined to qualify her for the work suggested, and she has consented to take up this work for mothers, which will be a department of the Fireside Correspondence School. When completed, this department will embrace eight courses, or years, of study, only two of which can be offered at present. The others will be prepared as fast as the time will permit. 1. Early education. This course begins with the prospective mother, and tries to answer the questions of Manoah, “What shall we do unto the child that shall be born?” “How shall we order the child? and how shall we do unto him?” See Judges 13. It will direct the reading of the mother, and will aim to give her a just view of the meaning of motherhood, and to instruct her in the duties and responsibilities of that sacred office. It will go with her step by step during the first four years of the child’s life, and by means of reading, instruction, and personal correspondence will help to lay broad and firm and deep in the Christian religion the foundations of the child’s character. It will help the mother through kindergarten principles and methods to develop normally her child’s growing powers, and will prepare her for the time when more formal instruction should begin. It will give much attention to the formation of right habits. This course should be taken by mothers having children under five years of age. 2. First Grade. The work of the first course is here continued and the two blended happily together, so that there will be no break between them. The lessons will help the mother to guide the784child’s mind during the beginning of the period when more formal instruction is needed, and will conduct the child through the first grade of work, as outlined by the General Conference Department of Education, using as a basis the First Reader of the True Education Series. Two years are given to this grade, so as to avoid the possibility of overcrowding or cramming the child’s mind. But it may be taken in one year if the child is old enough and strong enough. The remaining courses will be continued, one for each grade, up to and including the seventh grade, where the regular work of the Correspondence School begins. During the first of these years the instruction will be directed to the mother, but will be transferred gradually to the child, all the lines of work in a grade being carried forward in the lessons together until the eighth grade is reached. Here the subjects will be separated, and the instruction will be continued in separate courses for different subjects, the lessons being directed personally to the child, now grown to be a youth. Mrs. Lewis would be glad to receive letters from interested parents and educators in regard to what grades are most needed at present, so as to determine what course of lessons to prepare next. These courses will be ready September 1. Enrolment should begin at once, that we may soon know how large the classes are to be. Other courses of the Correspondence School are open the year round. Pupils may begin at any time. Send for enrolment blanks and the new calendar containing full information. Other papers, please copy essential facts. Address C. C. Lewis, principal, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.