This school stands at the head of a graded system of schools for the Southern California Conference, embracing the home and church schools. We value excellence above show.
With a firm faith in the principle that true education consists, not in the amount of matter studied, not in the mass of facts memorized, but in the cultivated ability to think logically, and discriminate between truth and error, we endeavor, in everything, to stimulate thought.
Every person is responsible to God for the use of the mental faculties. They were given for use, and he who uses the mind only as a receptacle, into which are poured the fancies, conclusions and vagaries of others, forfeits the right to the divine gift.
While it is respectful, proper, and wise, to give due consideration to the opinion and labor of others, it is either indolence or cowardice to accept their theories until, with an energetic and faithful consideration in the light of truth, they are proven to be true.
If we fulfil our mission as responsible beings, we must be thinkers.
Better the man who matures but one thought in a day that is his by virtue of honest sincere effort, than he who with voluminous display, presents but a gallery where other men's works hang upon the walls of the memory.
A cyclopedia is a good thing for reference, so is a bookcase, but the human mind was not made for such a purpose alone.
Ladies' Dormitory, Fernando College.
The curse of the age in education is the tendency to study and repeat the words and thoughts of others, to follow the trend of the mass with the sole object of gaining popularity or favor.
Dare to be a thinker,
Dare to stand alone,
Dare to have a thought,
Tho it be your own.
While God requires us to think, he has given us a safe basis for all thought. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” “From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” “A good understanding have all they that do His commandments.”
This “Word” is the monitor in our school. It is not only venerable with age, but sacred with truth. While the Bible is old and has weathered many a storm, it sails into the harbor of the present, bringing hope and comfort to the lost.
With the Bible as the basis, this school offers ten lines of work, or departments of study, Bible, History, Language, Pedagogics, Mathematics, Science, Bookkeeping, Music,—Instrumental and Vocal,—Industrial, and Mechanical.
Four groups of work have been prepared to meet the needs of ministers, teachers, secretaries, and musicians.
Believing that lax discipline has been very detrimental to the best interests of schools of this kind, we have determined to deal promptly with the insubordinate, yet with that kindness and sympathy which will appeal to the heart, and lead to improvement. Good behavior, firmly insisted upon, is a great help to the young in the formation of character. Discipline, promptly yet kindly administered, will have a wholesome effect upon those who are corrected, appealing to the better judgment, and often leading to a reformation of life.
While furnishing the student every opportunity for mental advancement, we require each student and teacher, to engage in some line of manual labor for two hours each day. This labor serves a threefold purpose in the preservation of health, the production of necessary supplies, and the formation of character.
Our home life is guarded with jealous care. Morning and evening worship is maintained in both the ladies' and gentlemen's parlors.
At the opening of the daily session, chapel worship is held with the whole company together. Sabbath-school, preaching or a general service, special Bible study Sabbath afternoon, and frequent social and prayer meetings are conducted, furnishing spiritual privileges to the students.
With a firm trust in God we face difficulties, and toil toward the heights, knowing that if faithful to the end, a crown of joy gemmed with stars will add to the happy future with the Lord.
