Adventist on YouTube

[Stan]

[beekind]

BIG DISAGREEMENT WITH THIS VIDEO FROM MY EXPERIENCE.

Some of that information on this propaganda film may be true for some schools but the three schools that we have been involved with at various levels has shown us that many of our schools have lost their mission. They have become so elitist that the skewed 80% compared to 14% for students going on to college makes sense when you remember that they tend to cherry pick their students.

The lack of humble Christian spirit we experienced and unwilling to go the extra mile made this evident in the schools our family was connected with. I can only state this for the three that I know, but in these the teacher's unwillingness to allow special help in the classroom, refusal of help from outside and make simple accommodations when it was not hard and easily in their power to do so, mocking one of my children in class for memory disability and the rejecting them when they had passing grades make me certain of my stance that our educational system is often lacking the sweet spirit of mercy and grace that comes from the Lord.

My greatest hope was that my children could get a Christian education, but in these cases I realized that this type of education was drawing them away from Jesus because of the arrogant attitudes of some of the teachers.

It is my hope that teachers recommit their souls to Jesus and consistently ask for His wisdom and grace when dealing with the precious souls created by Him. My prayer is that the Lord will grant them repentance for the pain they have caused in my family and in the hearts of my two children who are baptized members of the church. It is also my hope that teachers take to heart their great responsibility before the Lord as a leader for His children and if they feel that they cannot do it with the love and acceptance Jesus expects then they should move on to a job that does not impact the very lives of souls for the kingdom. Only heaven knows the amount of souls that have turned away from the kingdom because of the abuse of some teachers.

[darlene]

Alot of the positive results of Adventist Education depends on the parent/s, not only the school. From my experience, if a parent is supportive and help their own child/ren along with the Adventist School personnel, the child will have a positive and growing experience while attending an Adventist School. If the parent is nonsupportive then it affects the education the child receives. Why do I say that? I say that because in my teaching experience I have seen that time after time. Children need to know that the parent supports the Adventist School and what it is trying to accomplish or the child could not care less whether he/she learns anything. Parents and teachers MUST work together or the child will not be successful.

[beekind]

Darlene,

I am sorry but I have to respectfully disagree. We found the opposite to be true. The teachers did not want me or my husband involved at all. Well I should add the disclaimer that they did want mute support. Fund raising or any such volunteering activity, but involved and questioning our children's intruction, no way. My effort to advocate for my children led to them being treated worse.

My husband is a high school teacher in the public realm. He has often said that if teachers did in his district what he has seen at sda schools they would be called on the carpet and fired if they did not comply.

We have seen schools that have an elitist attitude that want to keep it that way possibly because higher ability students makes them look better and they only know how to teach in their little box. With that attitude our schools are going to be gone in the next ten to twenty years because their are so many students with needs that take a little extra time.

Our frustration is that in classes at public schools which are three times the size teachers manage to make accommodations. Sda school teachers who should have more time with less students and should have a missionary spirit seem to have instead a job that they are just going through the motions with the cream of the crop.

So in closing I need to focus on that last statement of yours that "Parents and teachers MUST work together or the child will not be successful". I believe also along with that teachers MUST let go of the elitist self serving attitudes and be open to teaching outside of their little box in order to help the children be successful that may not be at the top of the class.

Not all children are easy to love. I know this from personal experience teaching Sabbath school at every level in the past 16 years. I have at times had to ask the Lord to give me a love for a child that was difficult and He certainly has done that. I have tailored the lesson to fit all the children's needs. I just wish that more teachers in our schools saw their job as a ministry instead of a paycheck.

[John317]

Great ad for Adventist education.

Naturally, it is describing the ideals of our educational system, not the way things are for every student. I strongly believe in those ideals. Unfortunately, however, a lot gets lost in the application.

I went to SDA schools most of my life, from first grade through college (PUC and LLU). I also attended public schools and graduated from public colleges, so I have that experience to compare with the Christian education I received.

I have really wonderful memories of SDA education and feel tremendously blessed that I attended our schools. We need to pray for and support our teachers.

[beekind]

Very good post John317. Thanks for reminding me of this. You are so right that our schools really need prayer. We are all sinners saved by the wonderful grace of the Lord. And schools are run by sinners like you and me.

It is disappointing to me though that my children get better treatment in public school then they did at one of our schools. My dream when they were young was to attend an Adventist school, so it was a double disappointment for us.

Thank you for your comments that helps to balance my criticism.

[darlene]

You may disagree with me Beekind. That's okay. People will often have difference experiences. I can only go by my own experience.

I taught four years in a couple of elementary schools where I only had one or two SDA's in my classroom and was paid by the government. My classrooms had 30-33 students in them. It was different than some of the other SDA Schools I taught in. I loved it and the parents were very cooperative. It was a joy to teach there.

I taught in 2 SDA elementary schools where I only had 18-25 students and the parents there were very cooperative.

However, I have seen other teachers torn to shreds by SDA parents. I have seen some very poor SDA teachers.

I attended church school until grade 9 and then attended public school to grade 12. I had some wonderful Adventist teachers. I had some poor Adventist teachers. I had some wonderful public school teachers and some very poor public school teachers.

What am I trying to say by this? I'm saying that we cannot paint the Adventist School System or the Public School System as all bad or all good because of one or two teachers or one or two parents experience. I think that we all need to work together to improve either system and not paint one system as all black or all gold. Each system is made up of imperfect people.

[Planey]

Some SDA education systems are better than others.

For instance our local conference took quick advantage of an opportunity to improve the quality of teaching here. After I resigned to look after my terminally ill father and be with my mother, they quickly made sure that I was not employed again. I now work for an Anglican (Episcopalian) diocesan Grammar School.

SDA's gain, Church of England's loss.

Graeme

[darlene]

Hey, Planey, you can't be that terrible a teacher! We all have our strengths and you are problably better in some areas than others, just as my strengths are better in some areas than others.

[Planey]

Perhaps the Education Secretary at our conference was more perceptive than his equivalent at the C of E department.

Just ask Bravus. He's seen me teach (and he's an expert in Education.)

Graeme

[beekind]

Quote from Darlene

What am I trying to say by this? I'm saying that we cannot paint the Adventist School System or the Public School System as all bad or all good because of one or two teachers or one or two parents experience. I think that we all need to work together to improve either system and not paint one system as all black or all gold. Each system is made up of imperfect people.

I totally agree with you Darlene regarding not throwing the baby out with the bathwater here. I am sure there are spirit-filled teachers that truly are led by the Lord. You are probably one of those. So the shoe does not fit in your situation. If you take a second read of my original post you will see that it was not just one school, but three in my experience. And I have talked with several other parents in my situation that had a similar experience and have not been so vocal. I believe it is much more than a few isolated incidents.

I also failed to mention that in those years I made calls to the conference to file a complaint about the situations and was greeted with indifference. The people in charge just spent the entire conversation covering over the faults of the teachers in the situation. It was appalling. I saw no softness of the Lord in the two I talked with to find the resolution in the Lord's way. It made me very disappointed in our leaders and it made me feel that the corruption was from the top down.

Seems like I read somewhere in prophetic words about the last days that the biggest problem will be with a lack of true Christian love and compassion and corruption at the highest levels. I am sad to say that our family has found this to be true. Are we going to leave the church for it?.... In the words of Peter to Jesus... where should we go as you have the words of eternal life?"

In other words ... the other churches that seem to have that love don't have the truth. Love without truth is a shame. Truth without love is also, but what are we to do? The sad truth is that my husband is not a member of the church. He believes our message, but the unchristlike attitudes he has seen in those who lead in our churches and schools has really turned him off to joining. The way his children have been treated by those who should love them is the big reason. Please pray that the Lord helps him to see that it is Jesus we should focus on and not church members who don't represent Him well.

[Bravus]

'Tis true that I've seen Planey teach, but it was lo these many years ago (ack, more years than I really care to recall or say!), and I have to admit the memory is hazy. But I'm sure I would have remembered if he was memorably terrible! I think he's just being self-deprecating in describing some of the rather... unique notions about service and sacrifice 'The System' sometimes has...

I was a product of Adventist schools, and seem to have turned out OK, but chose to send my own kids to (good, well chosen) public schools. Make of that what you will.

[darlene]

It sounds like Planey doesn't realize just how good a teacher he really was.... :- )

Having problems with teachers from three schools does sound a little strange. I do realize that not all teachers or schools are perfect. I'm sure we can find something wrong with every teacher and every school if we look.

[Planey]

I feel that the Adventist School system in Australia/NZ is generally of a good standard. There are some shortcomings but mostly (mostly, I say) are reasonably well-run and for the most part well staffed.

My own problems with the system came from personal problems with the Education secretary at the local conference level. Too much authority invested in just one person, in my opinion.

Graeme

[darlene]

See Planey, it sounds like your teaching ability may not have been a major part of the problem. It could have played just a minor part of the problem. :-)

[Planey]

I don't think my ability (or lack thereof) contributed to the situation at all. I believe it was primarily a personality clash.

I had one.

Graeme

[darlene]

See, it wasn't your teaching ability. These kind of personality clashes do happen. That is sad but, it is an individual thing and like you have indicated, it does affect our SDA School system but, not necessarily the quality of teaching.