Students for the Summer School at Berrien Springs
By Wm. Covert
ARRANGEMENTS are being perfected for holding a summer school at Berrien Springs, Mich., to begin June 12. The time is near at hand, and those who expect to attend should hasten to get ready. This school, though held in the Lake Union Conference, is designed to benefit all who may come from any place. Free tuition and rent are extended to all workers alike. This term is designed to be especially helpful to teachers. As a larger number of schools is to be provided for this year than in the past, a larger number of persons should be preparing to teach. The supply of teachers has not in the past been equal to the demand, and the prospect now is that the demand will be greater this year than it has ever been before. A school will surely be waiting for every capable teacher who will agree to work.21 The summer term held at Berrien Springs last year was very successful in its work, and highly appreciated by those who attended. The facilities provided now make it possible to give an excellent school this year, and it is hoped that every teacher and every student will so connect with the Lord as to do and get the greatest possible good during the entire time. Our church-school teachers are improving in their calling, and will continue to do so as long as they avail themselves of the opportunities provided for this purpose. Our school work is in that stage of development which makes it essential for the teachers to have the benefit of these summer training schools. Our people are beginning to appreciate the situation more fully, and for this reason are more willing to assist the teachers than they have been in the past. The plan is to give free tuition to all teachers who attend this school. It is hoped that arrangements can be made with all the conferences in this district to pay traveling expenses to and from the school. A beautiful park belonging to the Emmanuel Missionary College property is being provided with tents, free of charge, so that no rents will be required of students. Good board will be furnished upon the European plan, thus making the cost as low as possible. Arrangements will be made for part of the board to be paid by work in the kitchen and dining department, and in the gardens upon the school grounds. The college at Berrien Springs and the conferences in this district are making an especial effort to provide a good school, and to make it of small cost to our teachers. These things are being done because the importance of the work demands that no sacrifice should be spared that is necessary to bring our schools up to the greatest possible proficiency. Teachers must be well qualified in order to teach good schools. We must have the best of schools if we would develop in them the best workers for the Lord’s cause. Those who have taught in the past, and those who desire to teach next year, are especially solicited to attend. Conferences, churches, and individuals are called upon to co-operate in making this summer school all that it should be. The salary paid to our church-school teachers is so small that they cannot give their time in attending school, and pay expenses out of what they have received for their work. Since our people require excellent qualifications in teachers, and yet feel unable to enlarge their salaries to any considerable extent, should not the conferences help the teachers financially in attending these schools? Our salaried laborers are often allowed to attend important meetings at conference expense because of the schooling such occasions give them, and the wisdom of this has been approved. This being a proper thing to do for our evangelistic workers that they may be better able to labor in the Master’s cause, will it not also be right for the conferences to help worthy teachers in getting a preparation for their work? We cannot possibly do a better thing for the cause of the Lord than to establish schools of righteousness for our children. But this work cannot be done unless it receives the earnest support of our people. It needs Christian kindness and wise counsel. All should be done heartily for such a worthy cause. WM. COVERT.