Much to Encourage Us by W. E. H.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 2, 1914

"Much to Encourage Us"

By W. E. H.

THIS is what Eunice A. Crawford, of the West Kansas Conference, writes about the church school work under her supervision. In a recent letter she said:—

"Our school work has been progressing nicely during the year, and we have seen much to encourage us; but there is so much to be done that we feel that we cannot relax our efforts even for a moment. During the last three years the quality of our work has greatly improved, and the length of our school terms has increased. We have not seen so large an increase in numbers as we should like to, but there has been a steady growth in this respect, too.

"We have church schools located in nearly every church where there is a sufficient number of children who are near enough together to attend. I believe, however, that had it not been for the crop failure last year, we might have had at least two more schools. A family school this year was held in a small cook shack the first half of the year, half of the children riding to school three and one-half miles on horseback every day. I am coming to believe that it is possible for every Seventh-day Adventist parent of sufficient faith to educate his children in a Christian school."

Worthy of special note in this report are improvement in quality and increase in length of school term. Growth of this kind is sure to bring increase in the number of pupils and of schools. Some of our church schools run as high as nine, nine and one half, or even ten months. All should work steadily toward a term of nine months, at least. This will avoid the temptation to cram or do superficial work, and will give the pupils better assurance of making their grade. If the spirit behind the family school mentioned above takes hold of the regular schools and of the churches which have no schools, surprising advance will be seen in all respects. "Every Seventh-day Adventist child in a Christian school," is an excellent working motto for our churches. W. E. H.