The Adventist Home Educator e-Newsletter

#139 ~ March 2007

 

True Education in Education by Ellen G. White

It's that time of year when we are considering our homeschool options for the coming school year. I would like to refer you to an authority on homeschooling, a mother, author and speaker who was given messages from God, especially for us, Sister Ellen.

At least once a year, I re-read the book Education. This book has been the biggest influence in both our homeschooling experience and in my writings for homeschool families. I wore out two paperback copies before purchasing a hardback copy that is now underlined, marked up and well read.

This quote is from the first page. "Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range. There is need of a broader scope, a higher aim. True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come." Page 13

I encourage every mother who calls, writes or emails me with homeschool questions to first and foremost, before reading anything else, read Education. It will totally and forever change your view of the way your children should be educated.

In Education we learn God's original plan for the education of Adam and Eve in the garden. "The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a model for man throughout all aftertime." Page 20

God also had a plan for educating Israel in the wilderness, "Precious were the lessons taught to Israel during their sojourn at Sinai…What an industrial school was that in the wilderness, having for its instructors Christ and His angels!" Pages 34-37

The schools of the prophets were started because "Fathers and mothers in Israel became indifferent to their obligation to God, indifferent to their obligation to their children." Page 45

"Sacred history presents many illustrations of the results of true education." Page 51. The examples of many Bible personalities and the lessons taught in their situations gives us many examples of true education.

In the chapters "The Teacher Sent from God" and "An Illustration of His Methods" we are shown how Jesus was taught and how He taught the disciples, giving us an example on how to teach our children. "The most complete illustration of Christ's methods as a teacher is found in His training of the twelve first disciples." Page 84

Parts of Education show us how to direct our children to God through nature. "Let the child from his earliest years be placed where this wonderful lesson book shall be open before him." Pages 100-101

There are chapters on how to use the Bible as a resource in history. "The Bible is the most ancient and the most comprehensive history that men possess." Page 173 Biographies, poetry, business principals, science and math and other subjects are also a large part of this book.

You will also find counsel on recreation, manual training, temperance, dress and Sabbath keeping.

In Education  page 208 is where you will find the infamous quote "For the first eight or ten years of a child's life the field or garden is the best schoolroom, the mother the best teacher, nature the best lesson book."

In this book there is direct instruction for us "the underteacher," "The child's first teacher is the mother." Page 275 along with specific instruction on training. "One of the first lessons a child needs to learn is the lesson of obedience." Page 287 And disciplining my children for Heaven "the school of the hereafter." Any and every aspect of education is explored in this special book.

Spend time reading Education for yourself. You'll receive a very special blessing from spending time in the Spirit of Prophecy. You'll find affirmation of your decision to educate your children at home, and strength and encouragement to continue doing what God has called you to do – "Teach them diligently to your children."

My prayer for you is that God will richly bless you as you seek His will regarding the education of your precious children. ~Judy

 

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Resources:

Time Management – If you enjoy organization and time management, some of these tips will be of help to you: http://www.projectmanagementsource.com/2007/02/time_management.html

 

Fearless Bible Investigators – 8-12 year olds love mysteries! Let them use their investigative skills solving mysterious Bible cases! Each case includes colorful graphics, games, puzzles, mystery words and experiments. FBI is also available from Amazing Facts and Advent Source or you can order direct for a discounted rate. Contact: Lori Watkins [former homeschool mom] @ (888) FBI-4GOD~ www.magnifyhim.com

 

Resources offered by the Adventist Home Educator:

 The AHE Handbook – the only handbook written especially for SDA homeschoolers – 312 pages of information-how, where and why, resources-what to use, Spirit of Prophecy quotes, organizational forms, etc. The 21^st edition is now available for $26. www.adventisthomeducator.org/ahebook.html

 The Homeschool Primer – a short concise introduction about the why's and where fore's and how to get started homeschooling. $5 (or $2 with any other order). www.adventisthomeducator.org/primerpage.html

 At Home with True Education DVD – this two-disc DVD set contains 5 hours of information on: The what, why, how, when and where of True Education, Preparing Your Heart for the Adventure of True Education, Caring for Your Child's Heart, At Home with Learning Projects, and Creating a Learning Home. Additional topics include – putting God first, organization, including dad's, getting cooperation from your children, what is really important, why to consider True Education. $24 – www.adventisthomeducator.org/DVD.htm

 The AHE E-newsletter – monthly encouragement and information, you're reading an issue right now: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHE-newsletter

The AHE website – www.adventisthomeducator.org – additional information about these resources and homeschooling, along with encouraging articles to read, your own How to Get Started series and visit business and ministry sites of SDA homeschoolers. You can order these AHE resources via PayPal or print a mail-in order form on the website.

The AHE email list – an active email list of 200+ moms (and a few dads) who share their ideas and opinions about homeschooling from an SDA perspective – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHE-list

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Help needed:

It's time to ask for help with AHE. God has blessed me the past 13 years with this wonderful ministry, now He has called my husband and me to the ministry of Connecting Relationships and I can't do it all any more! We're looking for a couple who are passionate about homeschooling according to God's plan for the education of our children, who are experienced in homeschooling their own children, financially secure (AHE is not a business but it does cover expenses), ministry minded and have a connected marriage. Please contact me if you feel that this is something God is calling you to do.

Until next month, may God richly bless you as you educate your children for Him.

~Judy Shewmake

judy72612@...