The New School Year by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 5, 1907

The New School Year

By F. G.

WITH this educational number of the REVIEW comes the opening of several hundreds of our schools. The vacation is past, and the school year is before us. This vacation has been a good one for our young people. During it hundreds have earned the means by which to attend another year's school. We have been greatly pleased to see so many of our young people take up the sale of our books as a means of earning their schooling. The education they have gained from the canvassing work is almost as valuable as the next year's school will be to them; besides, they have brought the knowledge of present truth to perishing souls. The success which has attended our young people in general, all over the country, in the earning of scholarships has been such as should cause our schools to lay even broader plans for this work in the future.

During this summer vacation our young people have also been organized as never before for service in the cause of truth. A new school has been opened, which provides them with an education designed especially for foreign missionary service. Truly this has been a good vacation period.

But now the period of study is before us. Its success depends upon the co-operation of teachers and students and parents. Mutual co-operation — working together — how much this means! Patience is one of the crowning graces of God's people for this time, and in our schools it should be taught both by precept and by example. This will lead to thoroughness in work, for one of the basic principles of thoroughness is patience.

This new year is fraught with great possibilities. The work of God is finishing in the earth. It is now taking on a new energy. Our schools must keep pace with this forward movement. Now as never before must the real missionary spirit pervade every grade and phase of our work.

Our pupils must have given them a most thorough knowledge of the faith which has called our denomination into existence. They must be taught to give a reason of the hope that is within them. “Precept upon precept; line upon line,” must be given faithfully and earnestly.

During this year we must reach a higher standard of scholarship than ever before. While we in no sense compete with the public schools, yet in no way must our standard of work and scholarship be below that maintained by the managers of these schools. There is always a danger confronting us of growing careless in this matter of lowering the grade of work to be done.

Nor should we neglect the physical training and health of our pupils. Our schools have an advance to make in this respect. Our teachers should carefully see to the eyesight and hearing of every pupil. There are simple tests which can easily determine whether the pupil is normal in those respects. Nearly all children can be benefited by simple exercises. There may be simple physical culture drills which will be of especial benefit to every pupil. Many are not properly nourished by suitable food, and in various ways can the conscientious teacher help in this respect. Good food, pure air, and plenty of proper exercise are necessary for every child's proper development. Our schools must stand higher in all respects, and if all unite to secure it, there will be a great advance this coming year. F. G.