he title mav not be all that original. Neither was it in 1872when Ellen G. White utilized it to launch her distineuished career as a philosopher of Christian education.A perusalof the literature of the times revealsthat the "educational expres- sions re[orm" "proper and education" seemedto be favorite buzzwordsin the press,ban- died about lreelv bv editors, politi- cians,and celebratedspeakers on the Chautauquacircuit who found it pop- ular to inveighagainst the impractical- ity of the classicalcurriculum. The Education" entrenchededucational establishment of the day, so re-sistantto change of By G.H. AKERS any sort, was a specialtarget of writers and speakers. Clearly, grassroots post-Civil War America was growing impatient with its schools.Elitist education,reserved for the upper classand essentiallvfor cosmeticcffcct was definitclvundr'r siegeas backward-orientcd,ex- hausted, and entirelv too static to respond to the needs o[ the r<_rbust new socialorder. The times called for a more appropriatecducational product-trained artisans, surveyors, architccts,engineers, technicians, ser- vice professionals,busincss lcaders, "Can and practitioncrs of cvery sort. Do" had bccomethe order of thc.dar, and Amcrica'scollcgcs and univerii- ties wcre expccted to help substan- tiallvin achicvingthe maniicst dcstinr of an exuberant, expanding voung countrv. A ]lew Voice to Society and Ghurch It was in this latenineteenth-centurv culturalcontext, with tht'GreatCon- versationmoving from coast to coast regarding the appropriate training of the young, that Ellen White moved in "Proper with her landmark essav Edu- cation."In it sheoffcrci hcr own orc- scriptionfor wt.rrthyeducational goals for socicty and church and the best methods for their acc<-rmplishmcnt. Somewhat restrained in her critiouc of the cducational profcssit-rnof ihe day and the applicationof education to national goals,she focused on thc centralitv of moral training, particu- larly the Plan of Salvationin the rvork of education.Or to put it the other rvav around,thc ccntralitv<-rf education in the work of the Plan

8 ADVENTISTEDUCATION . OCTOBER - NOVEN4BER1989 "Education finallv counts."and is for important aspectof the propheticrole. serviccand thc practicaldutics of lifc" It doesnot operatein a vacuum. Ellcn pervadcd hcr messageto society at Ellen White had to communicate with her world largc;but it was primarilv to the voung for God,against the cultural backdrop AdventistChurch, its parents,pastors, ...applied contem- of her timcs, and within the societal and teachers,that she directcd hcr scnsitivities and issues on pcoplc's inspired advice about training thc poraty illustration minds.All this was legitimatcgrist for voung. For thc studcnts themselves . . . to reflect and her mill.It hasalwavs been s<.r with the shc had much counsel on how thev Lord's anointcdthrough the agcs. might pr<-rfitfronr God's plan of interpret the vision education. A New Gonstruct of Chrtsfian educa- As with her prophctic forebears, Essay as Overture Mrs. White gleancdthe bits and picccs The prophetic qualitv ol Mrs. tion given her. of her world from wherever they White's utterances on cducation is might prove true and useful.She ap- probablv bcst seen in this I 872 pre- be saidin all fairnessthat thc macrovi- plied cor.rtemporary illustration and "Proper mier production Education." sion she then brought to education ever1,legitimate bridge of communi- It was here that she introduced the weisso conrprehensivethat sheproba- cation to reflect and interpret the special pcrspcctivcs that for the bly nccdedthe ncxt fortv-oneyears to vision of Christian education given remainder of her writing ministry definc and clarifv it. her. These building blocks went into occupied her thoughts about school- the distinctiveedifice of thought she ing. In this piece cluster the cardinal Gosmic Dimension was erecting. The shall

] NOVEMBER1989 9 from around her, a generousgiftload for meaning. For-nranr this is at prcs- from heaven, and an armful of her ent considerablv murkr and uncer- own with which she built a brand new It is a responsible tain. This makes advocacv positions conceptual edifice. The result was a built solely on Ellen White pro- statementof educationalmission and act of pastoral lead- nouncements incessantlv controver- modalitvthat vet standsas a marvel of sial and divisirc, polarizing deeplr transcendent educational philosophy, ership to help our committed Christian brethren and sis- repletewith universalconsiderations. people understand ters, and fracturing the unity of the familv of God. It is therefore a mattcr The Mystery of the Divine- of considerable significance, for it Human llodality what was timeless in drives right to thc heart of our identitv Unfortunate it is that severalsener- her writings as a special people, descrving our best ationsof Advcntistshavc basedthcir time and attention. model modern insoiration of on the in. . . Christian In the context of hermcneutics, rve false notion that this saint of God sat mav note that it was probablr'' onlv a supinelyby at Sunnvsidein Australia education. diplomatic opencr lor a witnessing or Elmshavenin California,waiting for cncounter that prompted Philip t<-r the angelto dictatc.Not so,she did her "How students and workers-to rcad and inquire of the Ethiopian, read- part-her homcwork. No matter how studv on thcir own and become the cst thou?" But it is a critical ouestion the vision for Christian education sharp instrumentsin the hand of God for us tt.raddrcss todav in rhe Advent- her (even Apostle Paul came to the that thev were intended to bc-were ist communitv of scholars bcforc thc c<-ruldnot say for sure how he visitcd obviousiy born out of hcr own cxpe- most meaningful dialoguc can takc heaven, yet he knew he had been rience.We havethc witnessof the col- placc rcgarding Ellen White. We necd taken there), Ellen White kncw that lectionin her personallibrarv of more to dctermine whether thc message she had receivedsome strong,more- than eight hundred wcll-marked under review is contcmporarY or than-humanimorcssions-that she "saw" books that attest to the crcdibilitv <,rf etcrnal-whether thc mcsscngcr was God'splan-for something better her t'ounscl,nol to spcak ol'the speaking to God's people lor a particu- in education. We have no evidence numcrous clippings and scrapb<.rokslar time and circumsterncc or whether that she had some singlesupernatural that helpedpropel her pen. all pronounct:ments applv to all timcs a dream or vision, cncounter,such as While it mav be oral historv fr<-rm and circumstanccs. (And that, as I with rcspcctto "EGW cducation.l BattleCrcek, or evcn toiklt-'re," understand it, is fairlv closc to the verv Thc plan apparentlyunfolded to her vet it is commonlv known that Mrs. cssence of hermcncutics.) This dctcr- under steadvtutelage over the Spirit's White reouestedthc cditorial staff of mination docs not constitute a down- the thirty silent vears, 1842-72.lt the Advent Review and Sahbath sizing of Ellen White's authoritv and issucs of a awaited thc and nroblcms Heraldto passon to her the no-longer- influence as arnacknorvledged prophct ripe pcrhaps krr t-rptimum limr', neecled,recent, outdatcd papers and among us, or anothcr subtle dcnrvtho- That prime time camein 1872 impact. weekliest<-r which thcv subscribcdin logizatit-rnmovc against thc founding put pen paper whcn shc her to to dis- thc officc-publications which kcpt rnothcr of Advcntist Christian cduc:r- cuss formal education,laying out in thcm abrcast of thc times as iournal- tion. Rather it is ar rcsponsible act of pages thirtv incisive her reactionto the ists and which, as her broad range of pastoral leadership to help our pcclplc fads cducational abuses and of thc knowledge and writings attests,she understarnd what was tinrclcss in hcr dav arndt-rffcrins her vcrsiono[ somc- voraciouslyabsorbcd. Our prophctcss writings in tcrms of transccndcnt thing bcttcr. As we rvill attempt to was quite well-cducated.In the grand- principles in Christian cducation; what shorv latcr in this discussion,G<-rd did cst tradition o[ her era, shc was self- was worthv to bc set uncquivocallv indeednrovide her with sublimealter- educated. When shc asscrted that and pernrancntlr in the inspircd dil- natives to the current convcntional wrestling with great mattcrs of dutv dcm of our spiritual lcgacv as a people; rvisdomin Thc cssavbears education. and destinv in the Word of God car- and what was obviouslv beamcd to a the insigniaol divincilluminaiion, in ricd with it a Spirit-blessed,mind- local time and circumstancc, rvith all terms of the <-rverarchingcducational stretching capability without rival, a thc constraints inhcrent in such tem- principles it enunciates. specialpotential for making ordinary porarv situations. people kin, she Since wt' arc manv cenl uries Sister Ellen's Sources brilliant beyond thcir probably had a firsthand knowledge removed historicallv and culturally Let us disabuseour minds thcn of a of its application,even if too modest from thc scene, scholars have thc long-standinglegend regarding Ellen for pcrsonalrcference. long perspcctive from which t<-rform a White that savsshe received her heav- Biblical hermeneutic. But we are enlv instructiondirect bv supernatural Unfinished Business familiallv and emotionallv still vcrv dream/vision transmission("how else prophetess, and Two critical challenges,horvever, cl<-rseto this modern can the extraordinarv insights she that circumstance in itsclf makes it a conveyed be adequatelv explained?" still confront us with respect to an dclicate assignmcnl for anvonc to goesthe rationale).We now know that optimum utilizationof the writings of assessobjectively her role in a wider Ellen White was probablv one of the Mrs. White in Adventist culture and historical frame of reference. Despite best-readthoughf leaderso[ her dav, Christianeducation: prospective perils t<-rthe courageous, and that out of the wealth of her read- (l) A working hermeneaflc.Foun- To ing and reflection she spoke and dational to her continuing validation however, the challenge remains. wrote, receiving meanwhile the Holy as a credible prophet to this Advent postpone the project further is to place Spirit's special illumination that peopleis the necessityfor the church at risk a rvhole generation of main- indited her words with compelling to develop a viable and generally stream Adventist youth who sincerely unction and moral authority-the gift acceptedhermeneutic on her writings. seek an appropriate and practical of prophecy at work in the modern This involves a sound and consistent hermeneutic for the serious studv of church. Her frequent admonitionsto svstem of interpretation in the quest Ellen White.

tO ADVENTST EDUCAT]ON. OCIOBER- NOVE]\.4BER]989 The chief beneficiariesto such a leadershipin Adventist collcges and clarification might be the modcrn, universities.Thesc coming lcaders in Christian,educational pioneers among Tb identify the Adventisteducation need a towerins us who desperately necd a viable historicalfigurc around whom thcy interpretivcmatrix, lestthey slideinto conceptual pillars of can unapologetically marshall their an increasing irrclevancy to the Ellen White's educa- <,rwnemerging educational philosophy twentieth-centuryworld and, through and theory of professional practice. ultra-literalism,unintentionally short- tional thought They yearn for a commanding,guid- change a genuine elitc of conscien- ing mentor from thcir own heritage,a tious Adventistyouth who trust them ...colrstitutesan thinker on a par with thc classical for realityguidancc. Imperative to any giants of the professionr<-rutinelv such noble enterprise is a clear- enolunous scholarly assignedin thesurvey o[ convcntional headednotion as to what is central to wisdom in education.We have such a the inspired mission and what is chqllenge. luminary in the personof EllenWhite. peripheral. But her educationalwritings stand in (2) An in-depth analysis ol Mrs. of the ApostlePaul which-while often need of scholarly distillation and White's educational counsels.The not formally attired and offered as packaging,thus to be more conven- urgent need also existsfor our profes- straightforward theological proposi- iently accessedand seriouslystudied sionalscholars and lay studentsof the tions-yet contain within those pas- as prime resources that organize and prophetessto undcrtakea serious,svs- toral letters of admonition rich theo- guide Adventist educational mission. tematic synthesisof her writings on logical insights for modern ministry. education.The world of academe Thesehave been distilledand system- tore Than awaits in impressiveintroduction to atized and now constitute the undis- temory Gems Ellen White-a philosophical, peda- puted foundation of much theology. We cannot overstate the ursent gogical, and socio-psychologicalsyn- Similarly, to identify the conceptual nced f<-,rthis primary intelleciual thesis worthy of the claims we make pillars of Ellen White's educational frame of referencein the Foundations for her and worthv of the substance thought, and to organize the large of Education courses in orofessional and magnitude of her prophetic residue of expressioncontained in her programs in Adventist education- insightsin education.This is indicated, many letters, speeches,and essays particularly at the undergraduate and long overdue,in order for modern generatedover four decadesof writ- level where basic teacher preparation educators to seriouslv assessher as ing,constitutes an enormousscholarly is undertaken. Too long have we pre- one of the cardinalcontributors to the challenge. sentedEllen White to theseyoung col- American (and world) legacy of edu- lege students from a devotional or cational philosophy. Graduate Yearning subcultural, orthodoxical slant-and The philosophicalsynthesis of which Especially grateful for such an more often than not, taken the beguil- we speak is almost identical to the accomolishmentwould be the under- ing literary-appreciation trip. This theological task that earlier con- grads in Adventist teacher training instructional modality usually takes fronted the Biblical scholar, like sys- programs and graduate students in on the form of an adorative, superfi- tematizing and analyzing the writings instructional theory and educational Continued on page 36

R NOVEIVBER]989 I I ..PROPER campus each day-teachers are being given special training in proactive dis- EDUCATIOJI'' Tbachercare being cipline (treating children in terms of their need, not in terms of teachers' Continued f rom page 11 given special train- reactions). Ellen White elevated the whole issue above mere people- cial reciting and memorizing of the ingin...treating control to portrav it as a marvelous highly quotable literary gems in her opportunitv to ansrver the most pro- writings. Inspiring as this exerciseis, it children in terms of found theological question of all time "What often neglects the grand underlying their is God like?" Nothins surelv and unifying themes that distinguish need, not in savs more about the characte'i of God her comprehensivephilosophical, psy- terms of teachers' and His representatives on earth than chological,and theological insights the wav parents, teachers, and pastors and her unique,substantive contribu- reactions. deal with those who have broken the tion to educationaltheorv. Such class- house rules. It is a bottom-line statc- room pursuit falls woelullv short of ment about Christianitv at the deeoest sound pedagogicalpractice, and we lert'|. Ellcn White rvason thc lcadins more than in the informationbusiness. need to remedy that. cdg.' ol psr t'hological/managcria-i The modern education professionis theorv in the counscls sl-regave to par- awakening to the sober realizati<-rn ents and teachcrs almosr a ccnrurv Pervasive Themes, 1872 that a good dealof the preciousgolden and a quart(,r ago. The insights and Ellen White begins her cpochal oil hasleaked out of its chalice.Teacher "Proper idcals that she rcvcals in this first essay Education" with the training programs evcrvwhereare cssav (and additionallv in the one spe- centerpicceconsideration, the per- scramblingto rccapturcand enshrine cial chaptcr of thc bpoles apart. Hcr concept o[ a school did not admit closerange befoneimprcssionable Thc formcr seeksto control throush mass-production mcthods. It was a children and youth. inflictedpain (to lhc recipicntand vic- "grand- place rvhcrc v()ung, activc lninds could For her the incalculableliberatins ariouslv to the schoolroom strctch and be strctched and bcgin the power <-rflovc, sinccrelv and authcnti stand" as a form of cocrci<-rnand tcr- grcat conversation cven in thc little callyshared, is the organizing principle rorization that can easilv be taken "enemv" one-room school. Modern education is of the school, freeing students to over hv thc in a momentof still straining to achieve that worthv becomc all that thev can be. Long injured adult pride or insecureauthor- idcal, and so arc \v(,in our schot-rlsvs- before Marshall McLuhan popularized ity) while the latter is an earthly rc- "The It'm: but we got our nrart'hing ordr,rs the slogan Medium ls the Mes- cnactmentand dcmonstrationof God's on it long before it becan're a buzz,- sage,"Ellen White had that straight. wav of blending justicc and mercv, rvord in thc prolcssion. Moreover, she exalted the teachins longsuffering and control. Redemp- Freedom \\'as a chcrished topic professi<-rnto the levclt-rf ministrv. Thi tive discipline,as opposedto punitivc with Ellcn Whitc, and lrccdom to essavfairlv pulsatcswith this brand discipline,was a favorite thcme rvith think and frcedom to act wcre so cen- of robust idealism. It is a leitmotif Ellen White. She underscoredthe les- tral to the Grcat Controversv issue that reverberateseven with stronser sonin this essav,and manv timeslater, that shc sau this as one of thc inalicn- resonance throughout her writing that disciplincliterally means making ablc rights of children and vouth. career.The generalnews media these disciples.It is God's favorite method- Thus thev could bctter undcistand days, and the professional literature ology to use our mistakesand failings how God reverenccs this special free- decrv the lossof idealismin the insti- as springboardsto self-understandings dom that He has cxtcnded io His tutionalizedschool-value-teachins. and self-conquest. crca- tive bcings. Mrs. White realized the modeling and old-fashionedinspiri- The famill' unit is under seige all uniqueness of the individual and the tion. Schoolsof educationin some of over the woild, and specialefforis are special skill that Christian teachers the most prestigiousuniversities in the being made by churihes and munici- should possess in calling it forth and land are driving now to restore this pal agencles to asslst parents to a encouraging its development. So the pricelesscommodity to teachertrain- proper understandingof this crucial whole notion of personal accountabil- ing and staff-development.Faculty in- aspectof child rearing and alsoof deal- itv before God-in terms of one's service seminars are stressins it with ing with the adolescent.Since disci- talents and opportunities-was a increasing fervor. pline and classroom control are theme that Ellen White exoected the From 1872 onward, Ellen White demanding more and more of a educational process to reinforce and remindedteachers that thev are in the teacher'stime these davs-as the ills idealize. l'tu-ch of the literature of inspiration business as much as or of the world are being'broughronto todav speaks to this issue.

3C ADVENTISTEDUCATION . OCTOBER- NoVEMBER]989 In speaking of nurturing the gifted Among the major themes that twenty years,the world's largest Prot- student, Ellen White had a special preoccupied her thought and writing estant parochial school system. insight. Gifted studenrs,undei rhe was that of Christian character doctrine of noblesseoblige, would best development-that the school on Reason to Belieye develop their talents by tutoring and earth is a preparation for the school of Our special legacy of this inspired coaching younger students.She saw the hereafter. Distinct from extant vision in education has stood well the the classroom as a laboratory for the educationalphilosophy is the ideathat test of time, and we as a peoDlehave congregational life in the family of earthly study and grorvth move on to good cause, unapologeticilly, to stay God so that children, at their earliest, eternity and that, through the grace of with it. It will see us throush to the most impressionable age, could begin God, building character fit for admis- school above. tr to experiencecaring concern for other sion to eternity is the big businessof membersin God'sfamilv. Students did life. It is a cooperative effort between SELECTED READINGS not have to go off campus to learn home,school, student.This "missionarv ind special how to do work." The dimensionof faith-nurture is stressed I. Works by Ellen G. Whtte: The Adventkt Hone ( Nashvillc: Southern Pub- classroomwas a place that utilized throughout the Ellen White writings lishing Association, 1952). everv opportunity for learning com- which indicate that teachins and Child Guidance (Nashville: Southern Publishing passionateservice. In this same con- learningshould take placein the con- Association. 1954). nection,the superiorityof cooperation text of a specialsensitivity to the cos- Counsels on Education (Washington D.C.: Re- view and Herald Publishing Association, 1964). over competitionwas highlighted;and mic struggle between good and "Who evil. Counsels to Parents, Tbachers, and Students the alien concept is the great- Accordinglv,Ellen White lifted up the (Mountain View: Pacific Press Publishing Associ- est?" was not to find root in thc Bible as a great source of spiritual ation. 1913). seedbedof Christian education. The enlightenmentthat should illuminate Education (Mountain View: Pacific Press Publtsh- "Hor.v ing Association, 1903). omnipresent question was to be, all subject matter. Conversely,the FundatnentaLs ol ChrLstian Education (Nashville: can I best serve?" studv of subject matter should illus- Southern Publishing Association, 1923). The sociologistsof thc last three tratc Biblical principlcs. This integra- Mind, Character, and Personalit,t, 2 vols. decadeshavc studiedthe camousand tion of faith and learninswas to bc the (Washington D.C.;E. G. Whire Publicarions, 1977). The Ministrlt ol Healrng(Mountain View: Pacific classroomsccncs, especiallv the sub- ligatureo[ Christianedul'ation and the Prcss Publishing Association, I 905). cultural hcrocsand heroincs,the prc- special expertise of a Christian vailing morcs, and social pecking teacher. II. Other: <-rrders.As a result, thc concerted Thcrc is a constantrcmindcr in the Cadwalladcr, E. M. A History ol Set,enth-day Adventi,st Education (Lincoln: Union College, counsel that comes from them is to profcssionalliterature todav that the l 9s8). break schoolsdown into even smaller wholeness <,rflearning and lifc has Cadwallader, E- M. Principles ol Education in units and cndcavorto reconstructthe bcen badlv fractured.and that there is the Writings of EIIen G. White, Doctoral Thesis family spirit and atmosphereas much no unifying ultimate reality that givcs (Lincoln: Univcrsitv of Ncbraska, l95l). Edwards, Harrv Elmo, Our Acadernies, Their as possible.Likewise, lct the older stu- thcm structurc and meanins. Ellen Purpose, Organization, Adminislralion, und Cur- dents mentor and parent the younger White saw also,a long time ago,that riculum, a compcndium of cssavs and edited E. G. ones. It helps in their development, lcarning does not float free. It has to Whitc quotations bv various Adventist authors and it culturesa more benevolentand be anchoredin somethinsin order to (La Sierra Collcgc, 1924). Horvc, Waher, An Introduclion to the Philosophy humane climatc in which young lives haverclt'vance now and in thc luture, ol Seventh-da|, Adventist Education, Master's can develop naturally. Ellcn White and shc pointed to God as answer to Thesis (Fort Worth, Texas: Texas Christian Uni- did not usethe sociologicalnomcncla- that dilemma. versity, 1949). turc that is elaboratedin volumes of Knight, Georgc, Myths in Adventism (Hager- stown, Md.: Review and Hcrald Publishing Asso- scholastic tomcs, but that scenario From Casual ciation, 1985). was clearlv in her mind when she de- to Gasualty Lee, David, Reprints on Christian Education, scribed the learning envir<-rnmentof an (by church lcadcrs), a compilation, published pri- ideal Christianschool. Our survival as a people of educa- vatelv at Loma Linda, circa 1975. tional destiny rides perpetually on a Nclson, Andrew, and Manalavsav, Reuben, Tlre Balanceof the physical,mental, and "Proper ol ChrLsrian Education, (Loma correct undcrstandingof Gist 6th edition spiritual activities was an absolutc Linda Univcrsity and Philippine Union College, imperative in the Ellen White model, Education."About this we can never re6r). and recognition that education is allow ourselvesto becomecasual. The S.D.A.Yearbook 1988 (Washington D.C.: General "head Conferenceof SDA). more than a trip." The heart and Seventh-dayAdventist school system does not derive its ideology and mis- Walter, Edwin, A Historlt ol Seventh-day hand were to be equallyinvolved, and Adventist Higher Education in the United Stutes, where possiblethe balancing digres- sion statementfrom Comenius,Pesta- Doctoral Dissertation (Berkelev: Univcrsity of sions from mental exertion were to be lozzi, Horace Mann, or John Dewey. California, I966). significant activity that was truly We declare with grateful, God- justifiable recreative and regenerative. To meet honoring, pride that we get REFERENCES it from Ellen White. a relativelv the current demand for practical ap- I Arthur L. White, TheProgressive Years, 1872- unknownbut prodigiousauthor of thc plication of book knowledge to answer 1876, 6 vols. (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and nineteenthcenturv, our inspired pro- Herald PublishingAssociation, 1986) II: 372-84. part of the developmentalneeds phetess.A denouementyet to come in 2 Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, of children and youth, Ellen White general Calif.:Pacific PressPublishing Association, 1942) its fullness is the recognition 287-97. would posit gainful employment- of Mrs. White as a profound edu- creative, self-fulfilling labor. She cational theorist who ranged with would seeit as a noble variation from Dr. George H. Akers is World Director of consummate skill across the whole Education the Seventh-dayAdventbt strenuous mental effort. In fact, at lor a landscape of educational endeavor; Church, whose headquartersare locatedin time when white-collarelitism was at educationin the home.the school.the Silver Sprin g, Maryland. floodtide, she exalted useful labor and congregation,and the social order at practical engagement to a new level large-whose revealed thought about From Adventbt Perspectives,III:1 (Spring of importance in the educative the proper training of the young has 1989),a publication of Southern Collegeof process. spawned, in less than one hundred SDA.Reprinted bv pcrmission.

ADVENTISTEDUCATON. OCTOBER - NOVEMBER l9Bg 37