From my observations, it's a great risk NOT sending children to an Adventist school; although home-schooling has now become a good option.

But of the families I know who choose public school for their children, very vew of the kids remained church members.

Adventist school is certainly no guarantee, but it helps. But the Christian home life is of primary importance in any situation. Kids understand financial problems, and parents prayers that God will help them to remain faithful, even in public school.

Stan:

I agree, the MOST important aspect of any children’s life, and the direction they take in their spiritual journey, IS the HOME.

OTOH, when only,LESS THEN 50% of Adventist Youth Stick around AFTER "Church School." The RECORD of "Church Schools" is not too encouraging!

It is interesting to note TODAY, another SCANDAL of "our schools" is occurring. This time in Helsinki Finland..

following this link!


"http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20030902IE8,HELSINGIN SANOMAT"
Home - Tuesday 2.9.2003
Police investigate suspected child sexual abuse at Adventist Church boarding school

Do you want me to tell you about the Academy principal who attempted to seduce a friend of mine? Do you want me to tell you about the next academy principal at that same school, who seduced a very attractive young lady? Do you want me to tell you about the spinster English teacher at another Academy who had a special "Friendship" with an academy boy?

Do you wish to hear about the principal last year of the academy I graduated from 35 years ago, who had to RESIGN. the only problem it WASN'T the FIRST time he had had to resign for have inappropriate relationships with female students!!!

As I said previously, in PUBLIC SCHOOLS these PERVERTS and MOLESTERS of Adventist youth, would go to JAIL!!!! Does the fact they are "Seventh Day Adventist" and teachers of our youth, make them less of a CRIMINAL.....so they can get the old "Redemptive Transfer" and do it someplace else?

Actually I'm very SAD, that dear Wendy feels that her children will be "Lost" if she doesn't get them into that "Church School" this year. Doesn't she realize that her dear three little children are JUST AS AWARE AS SHE IS, as to how CRUEL that school was to her and her husband last year?

JR, I certainly understand the problems you present; but anyone with direct experience in such terrible events will react subjectively, and is therefore less qualified to give an objective evaluation.

I believe the following EGW comment on Christ's parable in Matthew 22:1-14 is worth considering. The gathering brings in to the church "BOTH BAD AND GOOD", but the SEPARATION is to be done by the ANGELS, except in extreme circumstances:

quote:

---

Those in the byways and hedges came in response to the call of the messenger. The servants gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. So those who come to the gospel feast are a mixed company. Some are true believers; others have not on the wedding garment. Some will accept the invitation, and apparently take their stand as believers, who have never put on Christ. But the work of separation is not given to any human being. Yet there is laid upon the church the work of carrying out the Bible rule in regard to disorderly members." RH 5/8/1900.

---

With this in mind, we should not be surprised to learn that "LESS THEN 50% of Adventist Youth Stick around AFTER 'Church School.'" But I'm sure that is MUCH higher than the number who "stick around" after going to public school.

I will never support criminal acts by anyone in our schools. Such people need to be properly prosecuted. And I will never be satisfied with inferior instructors, materials, or facilities in our schools. But I will continue to support SDA schools as superior to public schools.

Our children went to SDA schools through college and beyond. And yes, many of their teachers were poorly qualified.

We are grateful for the continuing Christian dedication of our children. But I do credit much of that to their good mother and a Christian home, with regular family worship and active involvement in church, plus a very active life in outdoor things kids enjoy - such as camping, skiing, water activities, mountain climbing, and even our farming hobby (which, they say, motivated them to go through college in order to get away from the hard work. Then they laugh).

Two of our 4 children now send their kids (14 of them) to SDA schools, and two do home schooling (one includes many mission trips). I see benefits both ways. But I am so very thankful that their education has a Christian focus.

Stan,

Thanks for the affirmation. I am 100% with you. When we see the present problems in our Christian education (there certainly are many problems), we tend to look for the educational model of this world according to its standard. We need to avoid this tendency, and rather look for the educational model given by Ellen White. There are a few schools (self-supporting ones) out there.

For my son's academy education, I have checked several institutions (both denominational and self-supporting) and finally settled with a self-supporting one in Arkansas - Ouachita Hills Academy. It is a non-accredited school with about 40 students (who mostly come from the home-school background). My son is now a junior and he is very happy with the school, the staff and his wholesome friends. I am not saying it was easy for him. Having been a city boy and never worked in any significant manual works (farm & carpentery, etc), he has been struggling in varying degrees for the past two years. But the struggle was with himself, never about the school, the academic programs or the people (teachers and students) there. In fact, his suportive friends (especially those in upper classes) and teachers were the reason he really wanted to stick around despite his difficulties of adjustment. I've seen a lot of growth in him (both spiritual and intellectual) and he was baptized this past May by his dean after making really meaningful personal decision.

The world (and even many of our church members)may be derisive toward this kind of educational model (despite the obvious counsel of EGW), but this is the one given to us by God and it is still working - even more so.

I don't buy the claim of our church school's inferior quiality compared to the public school. I have another son (11 years old) attending a local K-8 church school run by our conference. I've compared their Iowa test result with those of public schools around here. I don't see any notable difference.

Stan:

re:".......I will never be satisfied with inferior instructors, materials, or facilities in our schools. ................. And yes, many of their teachers were poorly qualified."

You don't see a dichotomy there in your own words?


My problem is not with your beliefs....obviously YOU provided an excellent HOME environment for your children. My PROBLEM is with BOTH my EXPERIENCES of 12 years of my own "Adventist/Church School" education, AND my observations, biased as you may believe them to be.

For example, There was a pastor here, who I clearly felt was perhaps the worst "pastor" it had ever been my experience to observe. OK, I'm VERY opinionated and let him know, that IMO, he WAS an "embarrassment" to the profession


A couple of years later, after he retired from here, his wife, who WAS the sole teacher here. (whom at one time, had actually taken it upon herself to discuss MY RELATIONSHIP to the church with 5 or 6 elementary school students IN CLASS). Was by then a teacher at John Nevens Andrews Elementary school in Berrien Springs. There she had developed a reputation for zeroing in on one student a year and making his life miserable! (and don't blame me, I only found all this out AFTER the fact)

Mind you, this is 1800 miles from where I live. And my 4th grade nephew happened to be in her class. Now WHY would any adult, much less a "Christian", much less a "church School" teacher take it upon herself to both terrorize one student and ALSO make the statements such as ...."Your just like your uncle down in Texas!" Sheeeesh, I only met the poor kid 3 times in my life! (Unfortunately he passed away at age 15),.

Now my point is, that THAT WOMAN had no business teaching to any children, much less being in a "Church School." Taking out her petty anger on a 4th grader no less.

While I may be a horses rump, and she may have had grounds to consider me so. THAT certainly does NOT entitle her as both a pastors wife and a church school teacher to malign me publicly to young children! Whither I'm "Biased" or not....ANY OBJECTIVE PERSON would agree with me! When the problems where brought before the leadership of JNA school.....the principal offered to "pray" with my sister-in-law. INSTEAD OF TAKING ANY ACTION, as the old woman was approaching retirement!

Needless to say, my nephews didn't continue on in "Church School" And if any teacher had acted so UNETHICAL around here in a Public School, they would have FAST been looking for a job in another profession!

My point isn't about my own prejudices or biases. From Wendy's own initial post, it is clear that she has been "Programmed" as an Adventist to believe that ONLY if she sacrifices and forces herself to send her 3 children to "Church School" can they be "Saved" or not "LOST." What a CORRUPT and dangerous way of thinking.....Frankly I don’t believe that she will find ANYTHING in the Holy SCRIPTURE that would lead her to come to believe this way. Where did she come up with this belief?

JR no really. The school board are the ones who asked the kids to leave. The teacher/principal is the kindest/best teacher you could ever hope to have teach your children. She is one of the most Godly women I've ever met and she is why I want my kids taught there. Not, because of the SDA school. But because of the christian influence and that she truly cares about them and loves them and knows them better than anyone else in the area. So don't go messing that up. I do want them in that school and for all the right reasons and I don't want them in the public school because in this small school all the kids learn how to do is smoke, drink, and destroy other people's property. Okay?

Bonnie,
Of course you may have my permission to post any of this anywhere. Also my email address is weewolfpack@yahoo.com and my home address is p.o.box 284 Quilcene,Wa.98376 . I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Daryl,

How would I set up a Paypal account here? I can certainly provide people with tax-deductible receipts for helping the kids that would prove that any money that they donate will go directly to help the kids through school. I can assure you it will not go anywhere else but there. Please, Anyone. If God is touching your heart to help in this respect, please listen. God bless you now.

Wendy, Jacob(10), Matthew(9),Ashley(5)

BE.1893-09-01.001
Jesus knows the burden of every mother's heart. He is her best friend in every emergency. His everlasting arms support the God-fearing, faithful mother. That Saviour, who, when upon earth, had a mother that struggled with poverty and privation, having many anxious cares and perplexities in rearing her children, sympathizes with every Christian mother in her labours, and hears her earnest prayers. That Saviour who went a long journey for the purpose of relieving the anxious heart of a Canaanite woman whose daughter was possessed by a devil, will do as much for the afflicted mother of to-day, in blessing her children, as he did for the supplicant in that case.

JR,

You know perfectly well that you quoted my words out of context in an apparent effort to distort my meaning.

I very strongly resent that! It is not becoming of a Christian on this Forum. And I do believe you to be a Christian. Your apology is in order here; and I forgive you in advance, for I will not again be looking at this thread.

Stan

Wendy, sounds like you have a champion there in that teacher. Too bad the school board are such chumps.

Stan: I simply took two phrases from seperate paragraphs....... to show YOU the dicotomy between your two statements. look up the meaning of dicotomy, ok? There was nothing personal nor out of context, intended.

The complete quoted paragraphs are as follow:

"I will never support criminal acts by anyone in our schools. Such people need to be properly prosecuted. And I will never be satisfied with inferior instructors, materials, or facilities in our schools. But I will continue to support SDA schools as superior to public schools.

Our children went to SDA schools through college and beyond. And yes, many of their teachers were poorly qualified."

If YOU can't see the problem with your own statements......Shrug.....there's not much I can say to you!

Wendy,

Here is the URL to PayPal which I think is self-explanatory.

http://www.paypal.com