Teachers' Convention at Canton by E. H. Wilbur

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

Teachers' Convention at Canton

By E. H. Wilbur

From Aug. 11 to 16, 1907, the first Seventh-day Adventist teachers' convention in China was held at Canton. It was local in nature, only the teachers of our own schools, a few prospective teachers, and other workers being invited to attend and participate. About fourteen persons were in daily attendance. A program had previously been arranged by our local educational committee, and papers assigned to the different teachers. Two sessions were held daily from 10 A. M. until 12 M., and from 2 to 4 P. M. Each session opened with song and prayer. This was followed by the reading of a paper, and a general discussion of the subject presented. The following topics have been considered: How to Write Chinese Characters, Letter-writing, School Management, Methods of Teaching, Bible, Reading, Physiology and Hygiene, Geography, History, Mathematics, New Methods of Teaching, Value of Memorizing.

We had a very interesting and profitable gathering. Much care and thought had been given to the preparation of the papers, and all were discussed quite freely. Appropriate texts of Scripture were read at each session. One of the teachers remarked that it is wonderful how much instruction the Bible contains upon every branch of knowledge. Brother G. Doane Wong, formerly a student at Berrien Springs and Healdsburg, is teaching in our Canton schools this year, and he took an active part in the convention.

The autumn session of our schools opened August 21. As usual in this land there was not a full attendance the first day, but within two or three weeks we shall doubtless have as many as we had the first part of the year, if not more. During the summer vacation a committee has been at work preparing a six years' course of study in Chinese. This will mark a new era in our schools. Just now at Canton we are greatly in need of a young man who has had a thorough preparation and a good experience not only in teaching, but in superintending school work. If such a man could come to Canton now and begin the study of the language, he could perform an active and important part in preparing our young people in China to go forth with the loud cry in the closing work of this message. May the Lord put it into the heart of the right man to come, and to come soon.

E. H. WILBUR.