CAN EVERY CHURCH HAVE A SCHOOL?
A SCHOOL is required where there are children to be taught. The word of the Lord says, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” An important part of the child's character comes through the school which he attends. If he attends a Christian school, then may the parent expect that his child is there receiving a Christian training. Concerning the teaching, the prophet says, “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord.” God's commandment as here declared can not be fulfilled if only the children near our large churches are provided with the privileges of a Christian school. To comply with this commandment it is necessary to do as the Testimonies advise: “There should be schools established wherever there is a church or company of believers. Teachers should be employed to educate the children of believers.” Just now the question is not with reference to the need of such schools, or to the duty of churches to provide them; for the need is apparent, and the duty should be admitted. But the inquiry is, How can the right thing be done? There are a number of supports upon which these schools depend. It is not difficult to establish a school where the church is large in numbers, and there is proper co-operation on the part of officers and members to bring it about. But the work is more difficult where these conditions do not prevail. The question is, Can all our churches have schools? It is believed that if all persons and influences that have to do with this matter, maintained the attitude toward this subject which the Lord advises, it would be possible to have a school in every church where there are children to be educated. The first essential is to sense the importance of such a school. Could all realize that in these times of peril the salvation of the children depends upon having a Christian training, a much greater effort would be made to establish these schools. If the value of a soul could be estimated at its real worth, the problem would be solved. This would reveal to us the possibility of having schools in all our churches. One of the greatest difficulties which has to be met in carrying out the Lord's instruction in matters of education arises from the fact that many have graduated on the negative side of nearly every question. They are wise as to the things they can not do. But to do they have no knowledge. They load themselves down with brakes to check the wheels of progress, when they should have their harness fitted on for pulling. All should study how the needful thing can be done, and not spend so much time in pointing out how it can not be done. We must remember that it is not impossible for God's people to do what he says should be done. Is it not our place to go forward, stepping in the direction the Lord has told us to go? In the matter of support the method that prevails in most churches is to have those who send the children meet the entire expense of the school. This is not as it should be. A church school should be supported by the whole church. The brother and the sister who have no children to educate should help bear the burden of expense just as they bear their portion of the expense of the church in everything else. If such support can be secured, it will of itself solve the question of finance to a great degree.