Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students is Ellen G. White's comprehensive 572-page guide for Christian education, presenting God's plan for developing mind, body, and soul in harmony. This foundational work establishes principles distinguishing true education from mere instruction, emphasizing that education involves whole being—physical, mental, spiritual. White traces education from Eden through patriarchal times, showing God's original plan before sin corrupted human learning. The book addresses every aspect of school life: curriculum emphasizing Bible above all, teacher qualifications requiring genuine conversion, maintaining discipline with love, avoiding worldly amusements, proper physical exercise, healthful diet, appropriate dress. Special sections address higher education dangers—pride of learning divorced from practical skill, philosophy and science taught contrary to Scripture, preparing for worldly professions rather than self-supporting missionary work. White calls for educational reform returning to simplicity, combining mental training with manual labor, emphasizing character above academic achievement. The work concludes with urgent appeals to youth, parents, and teachers to cooperate in preparing students for usefulness here and eternity hereafter.
Essential for Christian educators establishing schools or reforming existing ones. Powerful for parents choosing between educational options. Students in secular universities need warnings about philosophical dangers. Church leaders supporting education systems require this foundational philosophy. Anyone questioning whether Christians should pursue higher education finds balanced counsel.
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“Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children.”
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men who will not be bought or sold, men who are true to duty as the needle to the pole.”
“A knowledge of science of every kind is power, and it is in God's purpose that advanced science shall be taught in our schools as a preparation for the work that is to precede the closing scenes of this earth's history.”