EDUCATION SPECIAL "EDUCATE FOR ETERNITY " With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message . might be carried to the whole world ! " Youth of the Northern European Division for whom Christian education must be provided. NORTHERN LIGHT HE TERM "education" in common use to be wayward and indifferent to the things T has taken a narrow meaning of a Educate for God of God. It is at this period of life that certain scholastic achievement. The Oxford the secondary school and the boarding Dictionary defines education as, "Bringing By J. Alfred Simonsen school become a power for God. The up (of the young); development of char- Division Educational Secretary participation in morning and evening acter or mental powers." This is a very devotions, the associations in Bible classes, the close friendship of others with the satisfactory explanation of the best in community organization takes an interest secular education, but for the Christian same interests and aspirations become an in its child members to provide further influence that develops spiritual power it is not enough. training. "Our ideas of education take too narrow and strength of character. and too low a range.... True education The church has a special work to do in Young people who attend non-Adventist means more than the pursual of a certain educating and training its children that schools through adolescence rarely find course of study. It means more than a they may not, in attending school or in their way into the Christian college to preparation for the life that now is. It has any other association, be influenced by prepare for active work in the cause of to do with the whole being, and with the those of corrupt habits.... Wherever there God. The entire church membership whole period of existence possible to man. are a few Sabbath-keepers, the parents should be cognizant of this fact : "If ever It is the harmonious development of the should unite in providing a place for a we are to work in earnest, it is now. The physical, the mental, and the spiritual day school where their children and enemy is pressing in on all sides, like a powers."—Education, page 13. youth can be instructed."—Counsels to flood. Only the power of God can save The wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs Teachers, pages 173, 174. our children from being swept away by 9 : 10 gives meaning to Christian educa- "If there are some who should have the the tide of evil. The responsibility resting tion : "The fear of the Lord is the begin- benefit of the school, but who cannot upon parents, teachers, and churchmem- ning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the pay full price for their tuition, let the be"s, to do their part in co-operating with holy is understanding." True education is churches show their liberality by helping God, is greater than words can express."— a Christ-centred culture and development. them."—Ibid., page 69. Counsels to Teachers, page 166. Properly conducted church schools will There is danger that some parents The Home Is the First School do much to promote an interest in the and youth may have a wrong conception "In His wisdom the Lord has decreed church throughout the community. The of the scholastic standards of the church that the family shall be the greatest of all children who are receiving a Christian seondary school. Therefore they seek educational agencies. It is in the home education will witness for Christ. Their schools reputed to have a high record in that the education of the child is to begin. life and example will testify of their train- student achievement. This is not a Here is his first school. Here, with his ing. correct conclusion. "When the Bible is parents as instructors, he is to learn the Some may reason that they cannot made the Guide and Counsellor, it exerts lessons that are to guide him throughout afford to send the child to church school, an ennobling influence upon the mind. Its life—lessons of respect, obedience, rever- but will plan to send him to the secondary study more than any other will refine ence, self-control." (Counsels to Teachers, school. This reasoning is too often disas- and elevate. It will enlarge the mind of the page 107). It has always been the Lord's trous. The child, if sent to the secular candid student, endowing it with new plan for the home to lay a' true, basic, school, has made his friends there. He impulses and fresh vigour. It will give spiritual foundation in the life of every has become a part of a new community greater efficiency to the faculties by bring- child. In Moses' exhortation to the children and his interests are centred there. The ing them in contact with grand, far- of Israel we read : "Now these are the sports, the entertainment, and the social reaching truths."—Ibid., page 396. commandments, the statutes, and the judg- influences tend to alienate him from the 'We cannot afford to separate spiritual ments, which the Lord your God com- church-conducted secondary school. When from intellectual training. Well may par- manded to teach you, ... and thou shalt he is ready to be enrolled he rebels at the ents dread intellectual greatness far their teach them diligently unto thy children, thought and he finds himself at a disad- children, unless it is balanced by a know- and shalt talk of them when thou sittest vantage to begin, and may not adjust him- ledge of God and His ways. This lies at in thine house, and when thou walkest by self to the new environment. the foundation of all true knowledge. In the way, and when thou liest down. and The child that has attended the church the place of unsanctified rivalry for earthly when thou risest up." Deut. 6: 1, 7. school naturally and willingly transfers honour. let it be the highest ambition of The Christian's home with its family to the secondary school. ^ur students to go forth from their school altar, with morning and evening periods life as missionaries for God, educators who for worship, the habit of grace before The Middle School will teach what they have learned.... They every meal, and a consistent life in har- will do a work in the world that not all The average child reaches the middle mony with the Christian profession of the the powers of evil can counteract."—Ibid., or secondary school level in his early parent, will exert a lasting influence and page 167. enduring impression on the life of the adolescence. These are the critical years child. in his life. Associations and friendships The boarding or secondary school are formed that are lasting. Habits become stands as a city of refuge for our youth. The Primary or Elementary Church School established, life careers are envisioned- and Parents, desirous of the protection and The Christian parent has brought un parental guidance is not sought. The youth guidance affo-ded the youth in these the child to appreciate the Sabbath school begin to choose their own ways. Even those schools. should make every effort to enrol and the church. The child is now a part who have had the best home training and their boys or girls in one of the many of the larger group, Here the church as a church school privileges are often tempted (Continued on page 15.) (Pap Two] NORTHERN LIGHT NEWBOLD SENIOR COLLEGE The College with its seventy acres of grounds is situated in the village of Binfield near Bracknell between Windsor and Reading amid the beautiful countryside of the royal county of Berkshire, thirty miles from London. gY Greetings to the youth of the Northern well unite on Newbold as the centre where European Division: As I arrived at New- their promising youth could spend one or bold as recently as September 10th, it is two years finishing their college work and fitting only that I should convey a message giving special attention to the improve- of good courage and optimism concerning ment of both spoken and written English. the outlook for the future of Newbold A considerable number are already doing Missionary College. I have been delighted this and we believe that the interest can with its beautiful location and with the be greatly increased. splendid spirit of both faculty and stud- Having given consideration to the many ents as they have assembled for the work potential sources of student support from of a new school year. the Northern European Division and the The enrolment at the present time other divisions on the Continent, and approaches the capacity of the plant having studied carefully the limitations of in its housing, boarding, and classroom the present plant, the College Board has facilities. However, with the new plans for already taken steps, looking toward the developing several four-year college curri- expansion of classroom facilities and the cula, and for introduc'ng new avenues of establishment of suitable industries. The t-aininR that will meet the varying needs College is pointed in its growth toward a-id aptitudes of our youth, the number an all-round balanced development that F young people seeking admittance to is in accord with the pattern of the Spirit Newbold College w'll be greatly increased. of prophecy. A large constituency in the Northern Newbold has done an important work European Division awaits the enlargement through many years. Her graduates are of field and institutional facilities that will serving in many lands both at home and both prepare the youth for active partici- abroad.