Help Secured for Our Educational Department by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 21, 1907

Help Secured for Our Educational Department

By Arthur G. Daniells

As far back as the Educational Convention held at College View in 1903, a number of our brethren who were deeply interested in the development of our school system believed that some one of experience and influence in the educational work should be chosen to devote his entire time to the important and rapidly growing interests of the Educational Department. At that time, both the chairman and the secretary of the department were in charge of large, important schools from which neither could be released without much difficulty and loss to the institutions. Being unable to secure any one else to give this work his full time, it was left with the officers of the department to do what they could to meet its needs while overseeing the institutions directly under their care.

It should be mentioned that these officers found the interests of the department pressing heavily upon them, and they made earnest efforts to take care of them. The secretary was obliged to carry on a large correspondence, and to visit many schools. The report presented by the officers to the Washington General Conference in 1905, showed a remarkable growth in this phase of our work. At this time, the belief of 1903—that some suitable school man should be chosen to give his entire time to the work of the department—became a settled conviction, and an unsuccessful effort was made to arrange for this.

In July, 1906, a large, enthusiastic, and successful educational convention was held at College View. Nearly all our leading teachers in the United States were present. In view of the great interests of the educational work, this convention unanimously passed a resolution requesting the General Conference to make the arrangements and changes necessary to enable either the chairman or the secretary of the department to devote all his time and energies to the general work of the department.

The General Conference Committee agreed with the convention in this, and began at once to make the arrangement requested. And now, after months of patient, perplexing, but persistent effort, we are glad to be able to tell the delegates to the convention that their request has been complied with. The chairman of the department, Prof. Frederick Griggs, has been released from South Lancaster Academy, in order that he may give the interests and needs of the general educational work his undivided attention.

Professor Griggs has just spent five days at headquarters, counseling with the General Conference Committee regarding his work, arranging the affairs of his office, etc., and has hurried into the field to visit a large number of schools before the summer vacation. It was decided that if possible he ought to visit all the colleges, academies, and intermediate schools as far west as College View and Keene. The purpose of this visit is to become acquainted with the teachers, the good work being done, and the general and special needs of these schools. It is the earnest desire of the General Conference to render through the Educational Department all the aid possible to make our school work the great blessing God designs it to be to his cause in the earth.

We are profoundly thankful that we have been able to make arrangements by which Professor Griggs can now give the needs of this department his entire time. Our educational work has made great advancement in recent years. There are now in operation twelve colleges, twenty-three academies, twenty intermediate schools, and over four hundred church-schools. Connected with these schools are more than eight hundred teachers giving their time, talents, and hearts to the training and development of eleven thousand of our young people and children. These schools have under cultivation six thousand acres of land. The total value of the buildings, land, and equipment of these institutions is placed at a million dollars. Three colleges, fourteen academies, and nineteen intermediate schools,—thirty-six in all,—have been established during the last six years. These have added one hundred and fifty-three to the list of our staff of teachers.

This large educational enterprise demands a great deal of attention. Our general school system must be perfected. This work must be developed in foreign lands. Text-books must be prepared. New schools must be opened, and thousands of our young people who are not now in our schools must be prevailed upon to enter them.

Professor Griggs will attend the General Conference Committee Council to be held in Switzerland in May, and while in Europe he will visit all the schools now established there, and will do all he can to help them. In view of the great work to be done in this department, we solicit the earnest prayers and hearty co-operation of all our people. A. G. DANIELLS.