The Advocate
July 1, 1900
Christian Schools and Their Teachers
[Extracts from the writings of Mrs. E. G. White, read at the Teachers’ Conference.]
“Shall members of the church give means to advance the cause of Christ among others, and then let their own children carry on the work and service of Satan?” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 1
“Can we wonder that the children and youth drift into temptation, and become educated in wrong lines, when they are continually associating with other neglected children? ... There is a work to receive the light of truth, and workers must be educated. Schools which will provide for the education of the children must be opened in places where they are so much needed.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 2
Gather the Children
“There is earnest work to be done for the children before the overflowing scourge shall come upon all the dwellers upon the earth. The Lord calls upon all who are Israelites indeed, to serve him. Gather your children into your own houses. Gather them in from the crowd who are voicing the words of Satan, who are disobeying the commandments of God.... Gather in your children, and give them the Word of God as the foundation of all their education. Had the churches in different localities sought counsel of God, they would not need to be thus addressed on this point.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 3
“Any one of the children of the Hebrews who was found in the Egyptian habitations was destroyed.... We have a special work to do in educating and training our children, that they may not, either in attending school or in associating with others, be influenced by those of corrupt habits.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 4
“Fathers and mothers, make haste! Your children are to be objects of your solicitude. Principles are to be kept before your children that will exert a heavenly influence over life and character. By every means at your command you are to teach them that they are not to pattern after the worldly plan of education, but the truth must be impressed upon their hearts and minds. The truths that Satan has concealed by his hellish shadow, the truths he has misinterpreted and misapplied and disconnected from the Lord of glory, are to be received, opened, and explained, and made to appear in their heavenly beauty, to be seen as truths that shall stand fast forever. They are to be reestablished in the minds of men by the living agents whom God has appointed, and error is to be revealed in its true character by the light of truth.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 5
Converted Teachers
“I would that the teachers in our schools could be of God's selection and appointment. Souls will be lost because of the careless work of professedly Christian teachers, who need to be taught by God day by day, else they are unfit for the position of trust. Teachers are needed who will strive to weed out their inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong, who will come into line, wearing themselves the yoke of obedience, and thus giving an example to the students. The sense of duty to their God and to their fellow beings with whom they associate, will lead such teachers to become doers of the Word, and to heed counsel as to how they should conduct themselves.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 6
“Every teacher should be under the full control of the Holy Spirit. If the teachers will open their own hearts to receive the Spirit, they will be prepared to co-operate with it in working for their students. Every teacher should know and welcome this Heavenly Guest.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 7
“Special talent should be given to the education of the youth.... Educators of youth should be Christians who are themselves under the discipline of God.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 8
Progressive Teachers
“Those teachers who have not a progressive religious experience, who have not learned daily lessons in the school of Christ, that they may be ensamples to the flock, but who accept their wages as the main thing, are not fit for the solemn, awfully solemn, position they occupy.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 9
“The truth is life and power, and to present it so that impressions will be made upon hearts, should be the work of our schools as well as of our churches, of the teacher as well as of the minister.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 10
“We can not in this day of peril accept teachers because they have been in school two, three, four, or five years. The question which should decide whether they are qualified for their work should be, Have they, with all their acquisition of knowledge, searched the Bible, and dug beneath the surface for truth as for hidden treasures? Or have they seized the chaff in the place of the pure wheat thoroughly winnowed? Are they partaking of the fruit of the tree of life?” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 11
“Many teachers are leading their students over the same track that they themselves have trod. They think this is the only right way. They give students food which will not sustain spiritual life, but which will cause those who partake of it to die. They are fascinated by that which God does not require them to know.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 12
Efficiency Required
“God wants the teachers in our schools to be efficient. Let none feel that having an earnestness in religious matters is all that is essential in order to become educators. While they need no less of piety, they also need a thorough knowledge of the sciences. This will make them not only good, practical Christians, but will enable them to educate the youth, and at the same time they will have heavenly wisdom to lead them to the fountain of living water.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 13
No Cheap Cast of Mind
“The teachers for our schools should be selected from the very best class. They should be experienced Christians who are balanced in mind, men and women who have learned the lesson of self-control. Then they can educate and do a work of larger importance than even the minister in preaching the Word. They can prepare the soil that the truth may have effect upon human hearts.... Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 14
“No cheap cast of mind should be placed in our church schools. The very best is required in educating and molding the human mind.... I dwell upon this, because suitable teachers are much needed, and men and women must be fitted up in the home and in the school to do a work of ministry of which they will not be ashamed.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 15
No Haphazard Work
“Teachers themselves should be what they wish the students to become. They should possess well-balanced, symmetrical characters. They should be refined in manner, neat in dress, careful in all their habits. and should have that true Christian courtesy that wins confidence and respect.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 16
“No haphazard work must be done in the appointment of teachers. Those who have devoted years to study, and yet have not gained the education essential to fit them to teach others in the lines the Lord has marked out, should not be connected with our schools as educators. They need to be taught the first principles of true, all-round education.” Advocate July 1, 1900, par. 17