MRS. GEO. A. IRWIN by Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 16, 1900

MRS. GEO. A. IRWIN

By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin.

THE following has been received without any name or address, so it becomes necessary to give a brief reply through this department:—

DEAR SISTERS: I write to ask your advice about sending my children to a public school. We tried to find a church school, and settle near it, but have failed, so have decided to stay here. We live near the school-house, and I could see the children on the way to and from school. They could come home to dinner. My boy is nine years old, and my little girl five. The school children pass our house every day, and my boy wishes to go. My husband is away from home most of the time, in the work. He is in favor of my teaching the children at home, but I do not have much education, and with my three children, the youngest two years old, and all my work to do, I do not have the time. School has already begun, and I should like an early reply.

First of all I would call this sister’s attention to the following from “Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers,” No. 6: “If parents are not able to send their children to school, let them hire an exemplary, religious teacher who will feel it a pleasure to work for the Master in any capacity, who will be willing to cultivate any part of the Lord’s vineyard. Let mothers and fathers co-operate with the teachers, and devote an hour daily to study, becoming learners with the children. Make the educating hour one of pleasure and importance, and your confidence will increase in the method of seeking for the salvation of your children.”

From another Testimony I quote: “The mother should be the teacher, and home the school where every child receives his first lessons; and these lessons should include habits of industry.” “Children should be educated to read, to write, to understand figures, to keep their own accounts, when very young.”

Your little girl is too young to be sent to school. I would advise you by all means to settle where there is a church school, or where there are one or two other Adventist families, so that the children could be formed into a class, with a suitable teacher, with whom you would co-operate, and from whom you could also receive instruction, so that you would be prepared to teach children. If there are other Sabbath-keeping families near you, without children, perhaps some one in those families could arrange to spend a certain portion of time each day in teaching your little boy.