Adventist Adventist Education: Education:

Challenging the Challenging the MythMyth

Alanzo H. Smith, D. Min., Ed. D.Alanzo H. Smith, D. Min., Ed. D.Director: Family Ministries & Director: Family Ministries &

CommunicationCommunicationGreater NY ConferenceGreater NY Conference

Prepositional StatementPrepositional Statement

In this sermon we shall challenge In this sermon we shall challenge some of the myths underlining the role some of the myths underlining the role of Seventh-day Adventist education in of Seventh-day Adventist education in preparing students for service.preparing students for service.

Text: Text: Psa 127:1 Psa 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they Except the Lord build the house, they

labour in vain that build it: except the labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.waketh but in vain.

IntroductionIntroduction

A survey was done some years ago A survey was done some years ago to study the feasibility of developing to study the feasibility of developing an Adventist academy on Long an Adventist academy on Long Island, New York. The survey was Island, New York. The survey was done in the Seventh-day Adventist done in the Seventh-day Adventist Churches in Nassau County. The Churches in Nassau County. The following response was received following response was received from one of the participants.from one of the participants.

1. How many children do you have in each 1. How many children do you have in each of the following age group: (a) 1--8of the following age group: (a) 1--8__11_ _ (b) 9---12(b) 9---12 __22__

2. Please indicate the total number of 2. Please indicate the total number of students in each of the following categories:students in each of the following categories:

(a) In Adventist Schools _(a) In Adventist Schools _00__ (b) In Public (b) In Public School _School _33__

3. How many children would you send to an 3. How many children would you send to an Adventist Academy in Nassau County?Adventist Academy in Nassau County?__NoneNone__

SURVEY RESPONSE

SURVEY RESPONSE

4. What is the likelihood you may move 4. What is the likelihood you may move from this general area within the next 5 from this general area within the next 5 years?years?

__Unlikely to MoveUnlikely to Move__ 5. What is your family income range?5. What is your family income range? _$55, 000 -- 79, 999_$55, 000 -- 79, 999 6. Would you be willing to financially 6. Would you be willing to financially

support the development of an Adventist support the development of an Adventist academy on Long Island?academy on Long Island?

__NoNo__

SURVEY RESPONSE

7. Please provide any input you feel would be 7. Please provide any input you feel would be useful for members of the Feasibility Studyuseful for members of the Feasibility StudyCommitteeCommittee

Comments:Comments: The education given in Adventist schools is The education given in Adventist schools is

limited and often of poor quality. They need limited and often of poor quality. They need better trained teachers and more equipped better trained teachers and more equipped facilities. The public schools provide a more facilities. The public schools provide a more comprehensive education and my children comprehensive education and my children will be better prepared to face the future and will be better prepared to face the future and the real world. While I agree that religion is the real world. While I agree that religion is important, I believe that it should be taught important, I believe that it should be taught by the parents and the Church. God Bless.by the parents and the Church. God Bless.

Challenging the MythsChallenging the Myths

Psalm 127: 1 says, Psalm 127: 1 says, ““Except the Lord build the Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”house, they labour in vain that build it.”

The same can be said of the school, except the The same can be said of the school, except the Lord build the school they labour in vain that Lord build the school they labour in vain that build it. build it.

So whether it is a Christian school, public So whether it is a Christian school, public school, or whatever, the underlining factor is school, or whatever, the underlining factor is that the Lord must be the foundation of that that the Lord must be the foundation of that institution. institution.

If He is not, then ultimately all the work and all If He is not, then ultimately all the work and all the buildings are in vain. the buildings are in vain.

Myth No. 1Myth No. 1Education given in Adventist schools Education given in Adventist schools

is very pooris very poor

Adventists spend millions of dollars each Adventists spend millions of dollars each year to support approximately five year to support approximately five thousand schools around the world. At the thousand schools around the world. At the same time there is free education in public same time there is free education in public school. One may conclude that the school. One may conclude that the individuals who study in these schools and individuals who study in these schools and or who pay for the students who attend or who pay for the students who attend these schools are satisfied with the these schools are satisfied with the product. product.

It is a fact that some Adventist It is a fact that some Adventist schools face the challenges of;schools face the challenges of;

Small sizeSmall size Multi grade classroomsMulti grade classrooms Low budgetsLow budgets Lack of adequate facilities Lack of adequate facilities High cost of Christian education, High cost of Christian education,

etc.etc.

But, does this result in an inferior But, does this result in an inferior education? Ellen White says that “true education? Ellen White says that “true education is the harmonious education is the harmonious development of the mental, physical, and development of the mental, physical, and spiritual powers.”spiritual powers.”

Some time ago, comparative studies Some time ago, comparative studies were done between the level of were done between the level of education in Adventist schools and the education in Adventist schools and the public schools.public schools.

The Stanley Chase ResearchThe Stanley Chase Research The Jerome Thayer ResearchThe Jerome Thayer Research The Dennis Milburn StudyThe Dennis Milburn Study The Bonny E. Ford StudyThe Bonny E. Ford Study

The Conclusion DrawnThe Conclusion Drawn

The overwhelming conclusion drawn by The overwhelming conclusion drawn by these researchers was that as a general these researchers was that as a general rule, Adventist education, equals and rule, Adventist education, equals and sometimes is even better than that of sometimes is even better than that of public school education, but never falls public school education, but never falls below. So it is indeed a myth to believe below. So it is indeed a myth to believe that the education given in Adventist that the education given in Adventist schools is very poor. One should schools is very poor. One should remember that Adventist education in remember that Adventist education in not just building for time but for eternity.not just building for time but for eternity.

Myth No. 2Myth No. 2 They Need Better TeachersThey Need Better Teachers

It was reported once in the News media that a It was reported once in the News media that a chambermaid found the body of a young man lying chambermaid found the body of a young man lying on the bed of his hotel room. He was dead with a on the bed of his hotel room. He was dead with a bullet hole through his head. On the dresser she bullet hole through his head. On the dresser she found his last will and testament, written on the found his last will and testament, written on the sheet of the hotel’s letterhead. It read:sheet of the hotel’s letterhead. It read:

I leave to society a bad example.I leave to society a bad example. I leave to my friends the memory of a misspent life.I leave to my friends the memory of a misspent life. I leave to my father and mother all the sorrow they I leave to my father and mother all the sorrow they

can bear in their old age.can bear in their old age. I leave to my wife a broken heart, and to my I leave to my wife a broken heart, and to my

children the name of a drunkard and a suicide.children the name of a drunkard and a suicide. I leave to God a lost soul, who has insulted His I leave to God a lost soul, who has insulted His

mercy.mercy.

Prov 22:6 Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he he should go: and when he is old, he

will not depart from it.will not depart from it.

It is obvious that this young man’s spiritual It is obvious that this young man’s spiritual dimension was not developed. He was unable dimension was not developed. He was unable to understand:to understand:

That God loves him unconditionallyThat God loves him unconditionally That no matter what the problem is, there is a That no matter what the problem is, there is a

way of escapeway of escape That if he confessed God will forgive himThat if he confessed God will forgive him That God would never leave himThat God would never leave him That after death there comes the resurrectionThat after death there comes the resurrection That one day he must face the Judgment of That one day he must face the Judgment of

GodGod

A Challenge to Adventist A Challenge to Adventist EducatorsEducators

E.G. White says that true education is to restore E.G. White says that true education is to restore in man the image of his Maker. in man the image of his Maker.

Not to be an Ivy League graduate, as celebrated Not to be an Ivy League graduate, as celebrated as that may beas that may be

Not to be a Math genius as good and necessary as Not to be a Math genius as good and necessary as that may bethat may be

Not to be a Rocket Scientist as needed as that Not to be a Rocket Scientist as needed as that may bemay be

Not to be a computer wizard as important as that Not to be a computer wizard as important as that may bemay be

But to restore in man the image of his MakerBut to restore in man the image of his Maker

The Parables and the Christian The Parables and the Christian TeacherTeacher

Luke 15 provides a meaningful Luke 15 provides a meaningful metaphor of the role of the Christian metaphor of the role of the Christian teacher. In this chapter we find;teacher. In this chapter we find;

The parable of the lost sheep, The parable of the lost sheep, The parable of the lost coin The parable of the lost coin The parable of the lost son.The parable of the lost son. The Sheep knows it is lost but cannot find its The Sheep knows it is lost but cannot find its

way backway back The Coin is lost but does not know it is lostThe Coin is lost but does not know it is lost And the Son believes he is lost but thinks he is And the Son believes he is lost but thinks he is

doing the right thing in being lost.doing the right thing in being lost.

The vocation of the Christian The vocation of the Christian educator is to do like the Master educator is to do like the Master

EducatorEducator

To seek and to save that which was lost. To seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)(Luke 19:10)

Through Christian teaching, guidance, Through Christian teaching, guidance, mentoring and modeling, they must help;mentoring and modeling, they must help;

Students that know that they are lost but Students that know that they are lost but cannot find their way back by themselvescannot find their way back by themselves

Students that are lost and do not even Students that are lost and do not even know that they are lostknow that they are lost

Students that believe that they are lost Students that believe that they are lost and feel that it is the right thing to be lostand feel that it is the right thing to be lost

Myth No 3:Myth No 3:More facilities mean better More facilities mean better

education?education?

God does not want their Success God does not want their Success He wants their Sincerity He wants their Sincerity God does not want their Achievement He wants their ObedienceGod does not want their Achievement He wants their Obedience God does not want their Talent God does not want their Talent He wants their Commitment He wants their Commitment God does not want their Possession He wants their PassionGod does not want their Possession He wants their Passion God does not want their BeautyGod does not want their Beauty He wants their He wants their BehaviorBehavior God does not want their BrainGod does not want their Brain He wants theirHe wants their HeartHeart God does not want their KnowledgeGod does not want their Knowledge He wants theirHe wants their LoyaltyLoyalty God does not want their AbilityGod does not want their Ability He wants their AmbitionHe wants their Ambition God does not want them for TimeGod does not want them for Time He wants them for EternityHe wants them for Eternity God does not want them in HellGod does not want them in Hell He wants them in HeavenHe wants them in Heaven

Myth No. 4 Myth No. 4 Public schools prepare youngsters Public schools prepare youngsters

better for the real worldbetter for the real world

Over one million abortions performed, Over one million abortions performed, the majorities are young peoplethe majorities are young people

Over one million runaways, the Over one million runaways, the majorities are young peoplemajorities are young people

Over one and a half million suicides Over one and a half million suicides or attempted suicide, the majorities or attempted suicide, the majorities are young peopleare young people

Over one million in mental clinics, the Over one million in mental clinics, the majorities are young peoplemajorities are young people

Over five hundred thousand Junkies, the Over five hundred thousand Junkies, the majorities are young peoplemajorities are young people

Over five hundred thousand in prison Over five hundred thousand in prison for serious crimes, the majorities are for serious crimes, the majorities are young people.young people.

Over ten million alcohol and drug Over ten million alcohol and drug addicts, the majorities are young peopleaddicts, the majorities are young people

Over ten million gays and lesbians, the Over ten million gays and lesbians, the majorities are young peoplemajorities are young people

When a child enters the “real When a child enters the “real world” that child should have; world” that child should have;

A sense of what true value and virtues A sense of what true value and virtues areare

A sense to choose the right and shun A sense to choose the right and shun the wrongthe wrong

A sense to make good moral judgment A sense to make good moral judgment and eschew eviland eschew evil

A sense of morality, decency, dignity A sense of morality, decency, dignity and devotion to dutyand devotion to duty

A deep sense of an inner conviction like;A deep sense of an inner conviction like;

Joseph: How can I do this great Joseph: How can I do this great wickedness and wickedness and sinned against sinned against my God? (Gen 39: 9)my God? (Gen 39: 9)

Ester:Ester: If I perish I perish, (Est 4: 16)If I perish I perish, (Est 4: 16) Daniel:Daniel: Purposed in his heart that he Purposed in his heart that he

would not would not defile himself, (Dan defile himself, (Dan 1:8)1:8)

Moses:Moses: Stand still and see the salvation of Stand still and see the salvation of the the Lord (Exo 14:13)Lord (Exo 14:13)

Joshua: As for me and My house we will Joshua: As for me and My house we will serve serve the Lord (Josh 14:15)the Lord (Josh 14:15)

Ruth:Ruth: Thy God my God (Ruth 1: 16)Thy God my God (Ruth 1: 16)

The Object of Christian EducationThe Object of Christian Education

It is the object of Christian education It is the object of Christian education to develop in youngsters, deep moral to develop in youngsters, deep moral and ethical convictions, so that they and ethical convictions, so that they can function in the can function in the “real world”“real world” and and prepare themselves for the world to prepare themselves for the world to come.come.

Myth No. 5Myth No. 5Religion should be taught to Religion should be taught to

youngsters only in the home and youngsters only in the home and ChurchChurch

There is no question that religion should be There is no question that religion should be taught by the home and Church, however, taught by the home and Church, however, the vulnerable minds of children and teens the vulnerable minds of children and teens are of such, that any help parents can get, in are of such, that any help parents can get, in helping to shape their minds spiritually, they helping to shape their minds spiritually, they should welcome. Besides, in an age of should welcome. Besides, in an age of skepticism and philosophical idealism, an age skepticism and philosophical idealism, an age of humanism and narcissism, and age of of humanism and narcissism, and age of atheism and agnosticism, what better place atheism and agnosticism, what better place to get help to mold the minds of your children to get help to mold the minds of your children spiritually, than in a Christian school? spiritually, than in a Christian school?

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Adventist education has helped millions of Adventist education has helped millions of people and will continue to do so. Many people and will continue to do so. Many successful business persons, professionals, successful business persons, professionals, and blue collar workers will quickly admit and blue collar workers will quickly admit that, had it not been for an Adventist that, had it not been for an Adventist education, (a system that took them in education, (a system that took them in when other public schools rejected them when other public schools rejected them or that they were not qualified to enter or that they were not qualified to enter those schools), they would not be the those schools), they would not be the success story they are today.success story they are today.