Problems Before Teachers
By E. A. Sutherland
THE following article is taken from the Announcement of the Summer Assembly for teachers and Christian business men, to be held at Berrien Springs, Mich., from June 12 to August 20. The last ten days, August 10–20, the assembly will be resolved into an educational convention, in which leading men from all departments of the work will have a part. A call has been made to all our educational institutions to send representatives. This will be an educational rally. Some of the problems now before teachers, and which will be given attention, are stated as follows:— As far as their educational qualifications are concerned, Christian teachers should be well able to carry their work. But this is not all. Every one who joins the ranks of Christian teachers, by so doing accepts a sacred mission, and says to the church and to the world that he stands for certain principles. This being true, those who are in training for the work of our schools must have more than is included in the ordinary course of instruction. There are a variety of problems facing the denomination to-day, with which our teachers must grapple during the Summer Assembly. 1. Foremost among these is the position which our church schools shall occupy in the conference. It has been said by an influential educator that “civilization will need to be built around the schoolhouse,” To us as a denomination this same proposition reads, The work of the Christian church needs to be built around a Christian school. Shall our church schools remain under the supervision of local committees, boards, and sometimes even private individuals? or shall the school take its place beside the church, and merit the support that comes from being a true child of the conference? Teachers who have met the problem in the field, will recognize the importance of settling this question now. The time has come for it; the people are asking for it; the conferences are waiting for the teachers to take their stand. 2. This leads us to a second problem: How shall the church school be supported? The present system of financial support is weak and unsatisfactory. There is in God’s Word ample provision made for the proper education of every child and youth. When adopted, the Bible plan of support will insure a school in every church, regular pay to every efficient teacher, and a definite and well-regulated amount of instruction every year. It will do away with short and irregular terms and unqualified teachers, local prejudice, and a host of attendant evils and irregularities. Every teacher who wishes to see the educational work placed on a firm foundation, will have in the Summer Assembly an opportunity to study this question, and to throw his influence on the side of progress. 3. A third problem relates to the intermediate industrial schools. A road must be built from every Christian home up to an intermediate industrial school. Our preparatory industrial schools must become the backbone of a system of universal common-school Christian education. In communities where a church school may not meet with favor, or where it will pass unnoticed, an industrial school will command respect and mold public opinion. Instruction has been given that wherever a few churches are located near one another, there an industrial school for youth should be established. It is not the idea to centralize, but to scatter. Very few, if any, of the conferences can meet the needs of their own youth by establishing one school only. Several small schools should be maintained by each conference. We must follow the instruction given by procuring a small farm, and placing on this land two or three strong teachers who can instruct thirty or forty youth. This problem of industrial schools should be understood by every teacher in our ranks. It will be thoroughly studied at the Summer Assembly. Men who have studied the question of industrial education from the standpoint of the popular schools, as well as those who have had experience in Christian schools, will lend their influence on this question.22 4. This leads to the direct consideration of a fourth problem. Where shall the department find men qualified to conduct intermediate industrial schools? Not every teacher is adapted to this phase of the work. The position requires a man of good executive ability, clear judgment, a keen perception of the relation of work to study, and a willingness to maintain that relation himself, and require an equal recognition of the fact from his co-laborers. The idea of department teaching must be dropped. Every man must be thoroughly in love with the youth, and must know what each youth in his school is fitted by nature to do; and must know how to give an all-round training which will develop all faculties without dwarfing any. Men to stand as principals of such schools, and women to act as matrons and preceptresses, will be trained at the Summer Assembly. A most careful selection will be made of students advised to enter the special classes in this department. One Hundred for Foreign Countries
From the class of teachers who gather at the Summer Assembly, the Mission Board hope to select one hundred for the regions beyond. This means a bold innovation upon past ideas concerning the proper manner of conducting foreign missionary work, but the necessity of the situation warrants the effort. Investigation reveals the fact that the great burden of the foreign field has always rested upon comparatively young missionaries. Livingstone was but twenty-seven when he started for the heart of Africa; McKenzie, Judson, Henry Martin, William Carey, John Paton, and Moffatt were all under thirty when their life work began in heathen countries. God is able to use young men and women. The Saviour’s work was completed before he was thirty-five. There must be men among us to-day whose hearts the Spirit touches, and who will offer themselves for this special training. Such should correspond with the secretary of the Mission Board, Elder W. A. Spicer, 267 West Main St., Battle Creek; or with the secretary of the Educational Department of the General Conference, Berrien Springs, Mich. Each case will be carefully considered. It means much to our young people to have this opportunity. The school and the Mission Board realize their responsibility in offering to give a training that will fit this class for the strenuous life and arduous duties before them.