AN EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE.
By M. Bessie De Graw
There convened at Berrien Springs, Mich., November 15-18, an educational conference. This was a meeting of unusual interest because it had under consideration a threefold movement,—the Sabbath-schools, the church schools, and the young people’s societies. The three departments were each well represented. Professor Prescott was present to represent the General Conference, Elder Luther Warren, and Miss Adelaide B. Cooper, editor of the Instructor, spoke for the young people’s work in general. The church and Sabbath-school superintendents from Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan stood together in the interests of the children and youth, and labored to formulate plans to make the Sabbath-schools a stronger educational factor in the Church, and to make possible a system of universal education for the children. Prof. E. A. Sutherland, who has been appointed by the Lake Union Conference to fill the position of general educational secretary, made vacant by the removal of H. R. Salisbury to the English work, was asked to preside. In every reform there is an opportune time for a general advance movement. The educational message committed to the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a reform which lies at the foundation of the success of the denomination. In this reform the present is doubtless a climax. The seeds of the 16th century reformation were sown long before the days of Luther, but Luther saw the harvest; the truths of Christian education were committed to this people forty years ago. They have been of slow growth, but men to-day are reaping the ripened grain. Look on the fields; they are white already to harvest. It is in the light of such facts that this meeting of educational superintendents bears a peculiar significance. It is literally true that now is the time for action. The Spirit of God was present, and men were aroused to action. Some States will conduct several meetings during the winter in the interest of church schools; reading-matter, in the form of small tracts, will be freely distributed; young people will be hastened into our training-schools to receive the needed preparation. A great work lies before these superintendents. The subjects which were discussed reveal the variety of interests and the importance of the problems before them. It is a work which unites all Christians, whether they be parents, teachers, youth, or children. It calls for the most perfect co-operation. Note this partial list of problems:— - A school system for the masses.
- Plans for arousing the denomination to support such a school system.
- Essential qualifications of church-school teachers.
- Graded Bible study for church schools.
- The duty of educational secretaries to search out young people who have ability to become teachers and business men in our various schools. Plans by which these persons may obtain necessary training.
- How can the children be prepared to meet the religious test which is speedily coming?
- Importance of connecting the medical missionary work with the church schools.
- Young People’s work and the Correspondence Study Department.
- Sabbath-school work: how to make it educational.
- Study books for the church schools.
- A system of examination for church and intermediate schools.
- Rural schools for the children: how to encourage an exodus from the cities.
- How shall we arouse and maintain an interest in Christian education among our own people?
- Church-school libraries: how to create and maintain them.
- School methods should develop faith; those methods that do not develop faith prepare children for this world only.
- Where shall the church school be conducted?
- Course of reading for teachers.
Many of these subjects will be presented in the December Advocate. As your interest leads you to study the situation, read these proceedings for your own sake, and see that your friends and neighbors are taught the educational truths for to-day.