Neatness by F. G.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1907

Neatness

By F. G.

The old saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” has a deal of truth in it, and it is nowhere more applicable than in the schoolroom, the school buildings, and the surroundings. God could have made all things of one form and of one color. But he did otherwise, for he delights in beauty. He filled the earth with all that was beautiful and good, with all that would delight the senses.

Now the Christian is to have a heaven here on this earth before he has a heaven in the earth made new. His heaven here is to be found largely within his own heart. But the heaven within his heart may find expression upon his surroundings, and may lead him to beautify them in every consistent way. His home and all that pertains to it is ever neat and orderly.

Neatness and order are two of the first subjects which should be taught in our schools if we would have them Christian schools. These important subjects can not be taught alone by theory, though the teaching of the theory is not to be neglected. They are taught most by clean buildings and pleasant surroundings. The walls of all school buildings should be free from writing. Whitewash and paint will help to keep them so, for pupils are slower to write on clean walls than on those already discolored, and disfigured with writing. These remarks have a foundation in the fact that the walls of some school buildings are quite covered with writing, which in some cases is, in itself, of a very improper nature. In our school homes the students’ characters are directly affected by the care given to the floors, the walls, the windows of the whole building in general, and every feature of their own rooms in particular.

Every consistent effort to beautify the surroundings of our school buildings should be made. Good lawns, neatly trimmed walks, shrubbery, and flowers should abound in orderly and artistic arrangement. A very plain building may be made attractive by its beautiful surroundings.

There is, of course, an expense attached to making and keeping beautiful the surroundings of our school buildings, but if good judgment is used, the expense is not considerable. From the point of expense it is much cheaper to keep our buildings in good repair, for “a stitch in time saves nine,” quite as truly in a building as in a garment.

So, altogether, there is every reason for the management of our schools to surround the pupils with that which will delight the senses. In the end, it is not only more economical, but it makes directly for beautiful character. F. G.