ARE you a teacher or a high school graduate desiring to teach? If so the thought has been suggested as to the best manner in which to spend the vacation weeks. Teachers are, as a class, ambitious and anxious to keep abreast of the times. Those teachers who know the truth of the message for to-day are doubly in earnest about their work, for the souls of children are in their keeping. The Christian teacher should have the truths of nature and of the Bible so woven into his being that they are his very life. A new impetus has been given to the educational work of the denomination by the action of the late General Conference. Among the recommendations offered by the Educational Committee appointed by the Conference are the following:— “We urge upon our people the importance of establishing church schools.”
“We recommend our Conference laborers not to consider their work for churches complete until church schools are organized wherever consistent.”
“We recommend that our brethren everywhere study diligently the principles of Christian education, and step out by faith as new light shall be given, and put the principles learned into practical use.”
“We call upon Seventh-day Adventist teachers who have been successful in secular schools, to consecrate their talents and experience to the cause of the Third Angel's Message, to study the principles given this people upon the subject of Christian education, and to hold themselves in readiness to fill places in our school work as the providence of God opens the way.”
This last recommendation is an appeal to you. There are about two thousand churches in the United States which should give heed to the first recommendations quoted. There are now not more than one tenth the number of teachers needed to open the required number of schools in our own country, aside from those needed in foreign lands. Christian schools can not be conducted according to the methods of the secular schools, therefore even the successful teachers of the public schools need a training in the methods of Christian education. Such training will give you new life and vigor; it will electrify you; for Christian education is life, it is soul life. All the truth you have learned in the past will be of use to you, but God desires you to know how to use that knowledge to glorify Him, and to prepare subjects for His kingdom. Teachers are born, not made; and if you have been given the talent of teaching, consider carefully the advisability of using that talent now, lest it be lost. The summer school, beginning July 2, and conducted by Battle Creek College, is for the training of teachers. It will give you a term of practical work in the principles and methods of Christian school work. Read again the article in the REVIEW of May 7. Send for further information. Advise your friends who are of proper age and have acquired an education to become teachers, to investigate this subject. Send their names, and literature will be mailed to them. A number of young men are needed to become strong workers in industrial schools. A personal interest in these matters will be appreciated, and will receive prompt attention. Address E. A. Sutherland.