Christian Education by H. R. Salisbury

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 8, 1912

Christian Education

By H. R. Salisbury

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference

H. R. SALISBURY - - - Secretary

The Educational Council at Loma Linda

THE annual meeting of the Department of Education of the General Conference was held this year at Loma Linda, Cal., from May 31 to June 6, the members present being those in charge of our union training-schools. The council was called at Loma Linda in order that those in charge of our advanced schools might get in closer touch with the work and workers of the College of Medical Evangelists, as the students attending that college are drawn largely from our schools, and the pre-medical course is given in these schools.

Four meetings were held each day, beginning at 6:30 A. M. and closing at 9:30 P. M. Those present were Frederick Griggs, president of Union College; Dr. W. A. Ruble, president of the College of Medical Evangelists; C. W. Irwin, president of the Pacific Union College; O. J. Graf, president of Emmanuel Missionary College; E. C. Kellogg, president of Walla Walla College; M. L. Andreasen, president of the Danish-Norwegian Seminary; G. E. Nord, principal of the Swedish Seminary; C. B. Hughes, principal of the Keene Academy; C. L. Stone, principal of the Graysville school; and the writer.

Aside from the members of the department mentioned above there were present at different times Pastors G. A. Irwin, E. E. Andross, W. C. White, J. A. Burden, C. Santee, R. S. Owen; Drs. Abbott and George; Professors Lucas, Price, and Robison. We enjoyed the presence of these brethren, and they were invited to join with us in our discussions.

The following are some of the resolutions of general interest which were passed during the meeting:—

Voted, That we express our appreciation of the excellent work done on the journal Christian Education, and that we approve of the plan outlined by the chairman for the enlarging of the Home department, believing that it will greatly advance the usefulness of the magazine, and increase its circulation.

Voted, That we reaffirm the vote taken at the Berrien Springs convention which provided that as a minimum two hours' work a day be required of each student.

Voted, That the college which has given fourteen years of preparatory work to the student entering the medical college, grant to him a degree of Bachelor of Arts at the completion of the third year of his medical course, upon recommendation of the faculty of the medical college.

Whereas, The College of Medical Evangelists has been established by the counsel of the spirit of prophecy for the training of physicians and medical evangelists; and—

Whereas, Our young men and women are in great danger of losing their faith in God's Word and their interest in the work of this message if subjected to the influences of medical schools where religious instruction is not a part of the curriculum, we therefore—

Recommend, To our young people who are contemplating the medical work, that they attend the College of Medical Evangelists rather than any other medical college; because we believe by so doing they will be much more efficiently prepared for the work in the great advent movement.

Recognizing the need for properly trained teachers, not only in our church-schools, but in our academies and colleges, we feel the necessity of strengthening our normal departments, and to this end suggest the following:—

1. That the director, and critic teachers in our normal departments shall have completed at least the advanced normal courses, and shall have had experience in teaching in our own church-schools.

2. That graduates from our normal departments be encouraged to begin their work in our church-schools rather than in academies or colleges.

3. That proper facilities for practise work be provided in connection with each normal department, and that our boards of management be urged to properly equip the practise school in the way of charts, maps, manual-training apparatus, and all other equipment necessary to successful school work, including agriculture.

4. That our church-school boards and officers of conferences be urged to pay a sufficient wage to our church-school teachers to warrant them in securing normal training for their work.

We recommend, 1. That to secure uniformity in our work, all academies not operating as union conference training-schools, and desiring to carry work above the tenth grade, shall do so only upon the advice and counsel of the union conference committee together with the Department of Education of the General Conference; and—

2. That our academies shall be protected in securing their attendance by the union conference schools not accepting non-resident pupils below the eleventh grade without a mutual understanding between the union conference school and the officers of the conference in which the academy is located.

Two entire sessions were occupied in discussing the best means of training more Bible workers for our schools, and how our schools can send a greater number of ministers and Bible workers into the field. A committee was appointed to give this matter careful consideration, and report at an early date. Many other important subjects which have to do with increasing the efficiency of our schools were discussed, and plans laid for the carrying out of the resolutions.

Evening after the Sabbath the faculty and students of the medical college gave a reception to the visiting delegates. We were glad of this opportunity to get better acquainted with the doctors, medical students, and nurses, and a most profitable evening was spent. We greatly appreciated the hospitality of the Loma Linda Sanitarium shown us during our stay in their midst.