Proper School Age
"It has been the custom to encourage sending children to school, when they were mere babies, needing a mother's care."--"Christian Education," p. 182
"Parents should be the only teachers of their children until they have reached eight or ten years of age."--C. Ed., p. 8
"Do not send your little ones away to school too early. The mother should be careful how she trusts the molding of the infant mind to other hands. Parents ought to be the best teachers of their children until they have reached eight or ten years of age. Their schoolroom should be the open air, amid the flowers and birds, and their textbook the treasure of nature."--C, Ed., p. 170
"The only schoolroom for children from eight to ten years of age should be in the open air, amid the opening flowers and nature's beautiful scenery. And their only textbook should be the treasures of nature."--"Testimonies," Vol. III, p. 137
"It is in the home school that our boys and girls are to be prepared to attend the church school. . . . Wise parents will help their children to understand that in the school life, as in the home, they are to strive to please God, to be an honor to Him."--"Counsels to Teachers," p. 150.
Home School
1. Bible --"The Bible should be the child's first textbook. From this book parents are to give wise instruction. . . . From it the children are to learn that God is their Father; and from the beautiful lessons of His Word they are to gain a knowledge of His character. Through the inculcation of its principles, they are to learn to do justice and judgment. . . . Parents, let the instruction you give your children be simple, and be sure that it is clearly understood. The lessons that you learn from the Word you are to present to their young minds so plainly that they cannot fail to understand. By simple lessons drawn from the Word of God and their own experience, you may teach them how to conform their lives to the highest standard."--Counsels, pp. 108, 109
"Our heavenly Father, in giving His Word, did not overlook the children. In all that men have written, where can be found anything that has such a hold upon the heart, anything so well adapted to awaken the interest of the little ones, as the stories of the Bible? "In these simple stories may be made plain the great principles of the law of God. Thus by illustrations best suited to the child's comprehension, parents and teachers may begin very early to fulfil the Lord's injunction concerning His precepts: 'Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.'
"The use of object lessons, blackboards, maps, and pictures will be an aid in explaining these lessons, and fixing them in the memory. Parents and teachers should constantly seek for improved methods. The teaching of the Bible should have our freshest thought, our best methods, and our most earnest effort."--"Education," pp. 185, 186
2. Nature --"As fast as their minds can comprehend it, the parents should open before them [their children] God's great book of nature. The mother . . . should find time to cultivate, in herself and in her children, a love for the beautiful buds and opening flowers. By calling the attention of her children to their different colors and variety of forms, she can make them acquainted with God, who made all the beautiful things which attract and delight them. . . . These lessons, imprinted upon the minds of young children amid the pleasant, attractive scenes of nature, will not be soon forgotten."--Test., Vol. III, p. 137
"Mothers, let the little ones play in the open air; let them listen to the songs of the birds, and learn the love of God as expressed in His beautiful works. Teach them simple lessons from the book of nature and the things about them; and as their minds expand, lessons from books may be added." --Counsels, p. 146
"To the little child not yet capable of learning from the printed page or of being introduced to the routine of the schoolroom, nature presents an
unfailing source of instruction and delight. The heart not yet hardened by contact with evil is quick to recognize the Presence that pervades all created things. The ear as yet undulled by the world's clamor is attentive to the Voice that speaks through nature's utterances. . . . In no other way can the foundation of a true education be so firmly and surely laid."--Ed., pp. 100, 101
3. Physiology and Hygiene --"From the first dawn of reason the human mind should become intelligent in regard to the physical structure. We may behold and admire the work of God in the natural world, but the human habitation is the most wonderful. It is therefore of the highest importance that among the studies selected for children, physiology occupy an important place. All children should study it. And then parents should see to it that practical hygiene is added."-- Counsels, p. 125
"Every mother should see that her children understand their own bodies, and how to care for them. She should explain the construction and use of the muscles given us by our kind heavenly Father."--"Special Testimonies on Education," p. 33
"Parents should seek to awaken in their children an interest in the study of physiology. . . . Continue to teach them in regard to their own bodies, and how to take care of them. Recklessness in regard to bodily health tends to recklessness in morals."--C. Ed., pp. 173, 174
"Children should be early taught, in simple, easy lessons, the rudiments of physiology and hygiene. The work should be begun by the mother in the home."--Ed., p. 196
There is a time for training children and a time for educating youth, and it is essential that in school both of these be combined in a great degree. Children may be trained for the service of sin or for the service of righteousness. The early education of youth shapes their characters both in their secular and in their religious life. Solomon says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This language is positive. The training which Solomon enjoins is to direct, educate, and develop. In order for parents and teachers to do this work, they must themselves understand "the way" the child should go. This embraces more than merely having a knowledge of books. It takes in everything that is good, virtuous, righteous, and holy. It comprehends the practice of temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to God and to one another. In order to attain this object, the physical, mental, moral, and religious education of children must have attention. {CG 297.2}
Bring your little ones to Jesus while He may be found. Be encouraged as you move out in faith and trust that the Lord will bless your efforts.
