I am looking for feedback on our schools?

1) Boarding Academy - A thing of the past?

2) Educational Hierachy- should we have more local control or more conference control?

3) What is your experience with adventist schools (K-12 only please).

Mr. D

In my personal experience, the grade schools were not christ centered in the children's behavior nor was their bad behavior punished by the administration. If we are to excuse bad behavior as "kids will be kids" then why spend over $2000.00 to send them to christian schools? At least in the public schools I have a legal recorse to wrong done to my children, while the SDA's schools just said if you don't like it here, leave. Oh, and your bill is due.

Academy...sex, drugs and rock & roll. Need I say more...there were more sex, drugs and rock & roll then the public school my sister went to...and that was years later that she went to public school!!! Bullying, lying...got real good at that...I could lie to you and look you in the eyes at the same time b/c it was all about how you looked!

I would go to public school if I had a chance to do it all over again. Pretty sad, huh?

I wouldn't trade my academy days for anything.

Yes...there are going to be some public schools that are better as far as atmosphere goes, but they are schools that are much worse. Just because the public school that your sister went to was better than the SDA school your sister went to does not mean that all public schools are going to be better! It depends on the year, the people, etc. And honestly, you get what you look for in any school. If you go to a school wanting party, you will find it. If you go to a school wanting study, you'll find that too.

You also need to look at boarding academies as a different animal. With boarding school you see the same people all the time therefore more things will happen on campus as opposed to a public school where things can only happen on campus from 8 - 4 or so.

1 and 3)I personally went to Monterey Bay Academy. I loved it there. It was good for me because that it where I first REALLY found Jesus. It started me down the path of being a musician, I found my girlfriend whom I have been with for more than 4 1/2 years, I have made friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life there. Yes, there were a few downs, but honestly, any school I went to would have given me downs. So no, I do not think that boarding schools are past their time. I think they are still needed.

2) I think that schools should be a little more local control. The teachers and parents and students are there all the time whereas the higher ups maybe come every few months. (if that) The bigger boy should listen to the locals a lot more when it comes to the school. I mean, make a general set of rules that we have to live by, and then let us interpret those rules as we see fit.

My two cents...

I went to church school up to grade nine and then on to public school high school. For college and university I went to our schools. following college I taught in our church schools for 11 years.

When I compare my years in church school to my years in public school I would have to say that though I loved the public school, I would not send my children to public school. Yes, our schools have problems, but I learned things in public school which I still struggle with today and much of what I know and remember in the Bible I learned in Bible class in church school. No, I would not want to take a chance of loosing my child/ren for all eternity by sending them to public school.

The years I spent in our college and university I look back on as the best years of my life. A person will always get out of our schools what you want to get. If you are looking for a 'good time' you will find it. If you are looking for scholastic excellence, you will find it. What you want is what you get.

As far as a local church or community taking more control over a school than a conference, as a teacher my response is a definate, NO. The quality of education is a responsibility of the conference. They have more knowledge of government requirements and how to work with the red tape, etc. than would a local church or community. It is their duty to know this. And as a teacher I feel that if there was more local input, the discipline of the school would also decline. Parents are linked too emotionally with the student, their own child/ren to act impartially.

Darlene,
Very well put! The conference administration knows the law, and is also necessary if there is a local problem.
I teach in an Adventist school. Our students are not perfect, but they are disciplined when necessary, and loved all the time. With the public school you will never have a child go home and pick up a Steps to Christ because of a need for a closer relationship with Christ as a result of a month long worship topic.
I've had my children in both schools and I am grateful to God that they went to the Adventist schools. Did they have a bad time in public? No. Did that school help them in their relationship with God? Again, no. And that is one of the main reasons they need Adventist education. What does it benefit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?
dedicated

I have two children. I recently took my oldest (15 year old) son, out of church school and sent him to a local state school. At church school he was undisciplined and his grades were declining fast, but after being at this new school, his grades have improved and his attitude to life has also improved. The main reason I first took him out of church school was because of financial reason as I have found that our education system is only for wealthy Adventists. I know he is not receiving spiritual input in his school life, but at home we have regular worship time and attend church every week.

The majority of the experiences I had in church school was horrible. We were dirt poor. Mom, a single parent with 7 children, made sure we all went to church school.

90% of the students were from financially secure families. We were outcasts; and were treated as such by our fellow classmates.

I had a child, adopted 5 more. I sent each and everyone to church school. Can you believe it, the same thing happened! Our daughter drove a VW Rabbit that was 3 years old. Didn't have a scratch on it and kept it clean, but the "rich" kids told her she couldn't park her trash near their cars-BMW's-Mercedes- she had to park in the back of the lot and walk even though she was there before the rich kids.

I still sent them because I believe they need to learn the christian as well as education in Christion Education.

Did I do wrong? I don't believe so. Did we all suffer tramatic experiences? Yes. Some have left scars that are still deep and sore, but we all know the truth! They know how NOT to treat their fellow man. They have compassion on the poor. They are always willing to help. (Except my last one! He is Lazy!)

After being on school boards for years, I believe the true mission of christian education has been forgotten.

I believe in using excess capacity. If a teacher can teach 25, but only 22 have enrolled for that grade, I believe we should place 3 student in that class that could not pay the regular fees.

I also believe that the parents of those 3 students should be required to pay something. They need to sacrifice along with the church. It increases their committment and they will show the child just how important the Christian is in Christian Education.

I fear that as time flies by, we are loosing sight of what we are supposed to do with our children.

Guess I am old fashioned. I have always believed that Christian Education does not cost, it pays!

Well, I guess I am out voted here. I have seen so many kids trained in a strict environment as in our schools, go astray and into the world because they felt like they led a sheltered life. School should not be for a Christian education, it should be for secular education only. Christian education and religion are for the home and church.

I went to SDA schools thru Hi school, and they are largely responsible for where I am today: Not married, not a success at anything, and a drop out. I went to one of those ritzy high class schools where everyone was a doctors son or daughter or a ministers son or daughter. They wouldnt give me the time of day. A few ago I got the e-mail address of one of the brothers of one of the ministers sons in my class. This guy is a Conference president. He wouldnt even give a small reply after all these years. Dirt poor - still dirt. I never went to any of the class reunions. And now by accident I joined Classmates.com and registered. There are very few of my class there. And since they want $36 to send an e-mail to a classmate - I wont buy into that, probly only to get another rejection. Let these rich kids contact me.

But God still led my life and this life on this world doesnt count. The next world does. Sure hope its not like California.
--Ðøug ™

Wow! I really feel badly for those of you that have had such a horrible experience. I know that it is hard to move past that even when you leave school. Where are these schools? I know that some schools are pretty much run by those with money, but I wonder what the rich kids lives would be like if they act like that in church school if their religious education were left to the home and church. My dauaghters all had a wonderful experience in Chkristian schools-ours-and we did not have money either. And at our school that I teach at we have children that receive help and no one else knows about it and they are treated no differently and love the school. Yes, we have privileged children too, but the school (K-10) is like a large family and even our eldest students are wonderful with the youngest. Maybe it's the Midwest, maybe it's the families, maybe, but I like to be believe it is because God is asked to be a part of our school throughout the day. We had a student this year that flunked in public school last year, hang around with the wrong crowd, etc...at our Adventist school he made the honor roll, started avoided his high school buddies because of their activities and is planning to be baptised this summer. Hasn't anyone else out there had a positive experience. And for those less than ideal times, sometimes it probably seemed pretty stinky on the ark too, but Noah probably worked to make it better... dedicated

Wow, when I posted this topic last week I wasn't sure what I would learn. I would like to respond to some of the responses already made.

Background
While I do not have the breadth of teaching experience as some of you, I have taught the past three years at three different SDA Schools. There are clearly children that belong in our schools, and those that would be better off in other schools. I have found that NON-SDA students are not generally happy (though I have always enjoyed having them in the class, and probably identify with them better).

"Rich Adventists"
I was a product of public education till into my college years. I was raised Lutheran, and became an SDA in my 20's. I did graduate work at an SDA university. So, I can't identify with those of you who went through the "system". I did go through a public Elementary school that was ranked number six in the USA, and some of the community leaders included the Governor, members of Congress, corporate leaders in the retail and banking industry, and personal friends of the then President of the United States. Yet, even the rich were not snobs to poorer students. I did see some examples of "rich Adventists" in college and at a school I taught at.

"Public vs. Christian"
I teach the Junior High group, a hard group from what I have been told by others. I see students who are part child part young adult, struggling to share one brain and one body. They are very perceptive of others, especially adults. Most may be Baptised, but most can't tell you much about Adventism except "keep the Sabbath Day Holy". They compete for the attention of their peers, and struggle with the temptations of a world that was far different when we were young. They have to watch what they say on the internet to a faceless person who might be 14 as they claim, or an adult predator waiting for them to slip and provide information which could help them be located. (I had at least three female students in my class this year who bragged that they spent most of the evening in chat rooms communicating with males of all ages.) They need a stronger base in Christianity and Adventism. Something our schools do not seem to provide. I teach some of our fundamental beliefs once we finish the standard religion text book.

"Conference vs. local control"
Financial concerns do account for lack of enrollment. But, so does the teacher, other faculty, the administration, other students, and the school board. There are no doubt some wonderful schools out there. I have experienced one good one out of three (I wish I wouldn't have transferred). There are wonderful teachers and administrators, and then there are some who to share an old college proverb...some who are only there because they couldn't make it anywhere else. The only problem with that is that from my experience, we don't "police" ourselves. The local board is made up of parents, pastors, and concerned local, I say local people members. The Conference may be physically located nearby, or may be a state away. Teachers are conference employees, and the conference has the power to make more changes than the board. What about public schools? The Superintendent answers to an elected public School Board, with the Board having the last say. An Administrator in the public system must have completed a required degree in Administration, our schools do not require that, but may require courses over a period of several years.

I suggest that we...

1) Return to Christian Education as the main point, but provide a strong academic base. (The students will have to earn a living until the Lord returns).

2) Return full school control and the hiring/firing of teachers to the local School Board, with a representative of the Conference available for a legal opinion if needed. We need to "police" ourselves at a local board level. (Teacher credentials and training are already monitored and supervised by the Union Registrar, so the conference doesn't handle that).

3) Make more of an effort to be mission schools, and provide more outreach activities to the non-SDA students, while strictly upholding our fundamental beliefs not pushing our lifestyle preferences "down their throats".

4) Financial - Get away from "us and them" and ask each member of the local congregation who can to help support a student fund for any student who wants to go to their own church's school. Return to local church schools. Small local schools instead of a larger consituency school. Sister White seems to support this. Also, perhaps some of that academy money the conference spends could be diverted to elementary schools.

P.S. Doug, I think you make a big difference, I really enjoy your comments, but I don't agree with all of them.

Mr. D

[ June 15, 2002, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Mr. D ]

Mr D. Thanks for your post. This is an interesting topic and you have some valuable suggestions. I admire people who teach those grades. They are not easy to teach.

I agree that church schools are not what they should be. Our focus should be on academics and a stronger Bible emphasis. Though they are not what they should be, they are still places where children learn positive Bible truths that affect them for their whole lives.

Some of you sound like you had a very difficult time at church school. My family did too. There were eight children and we were dirt poor. Yes, we had the rich and poor kids in our church school. Yes, we were picked on terribly and we hold some very bad memories. However, that made us grow up stronger people and helped us to be what we are today. We are all strong in the Lord and the majority of us became teachers ourselves. Seeing both sides has made us compassionate and sensitive towards all children and I think that was reflected in our classrooms.

I have had children from large poor families in my classroom. Yes, they were not always treated well by their peers, but I have noted three things:

1. They grew up being stronger and more compassionate people.

2. Most became adults who contributed much to the world and to the church.

3. Though their childhood may have been difficult they have a positive outlook on life.

No doubt, there is room for impovement in our schools and the public system seems to be very inviting at times, but having seem both sides, I would still go through all the bad times I had in church school again. I am determined to 'make heaven my home' and I feel that church school has helped me more in that area than the years I spent in public school.

I can tell you that the academies that I know of as being terrible are:
1)Auburn Adventist Academy, Auburn Washington
even the members of the AAA church wonder what is going on at the school, but really have no control over what happens at the school. I really resent that the academy did not address the issues of bullying, and elietism, they just treated it as "kids will be kids". I was not involved in drugs or drinking, but knowing what I know now and looking back, that is a big part of the reason that I was the odd man out. When the main thing to talk about is Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show, how good is the education being done? There was a history teacher there when I was a student (83-87) that was still a teacher until a couple of years ago!!!! And he was already teaching the kids of kids he had taught!!! Boring...the church schools are part of the reason that I left the church...pretty sad.

I was the odd girl out because I:
1)wore conservative dresses
2)didn't wear make-up
3)didn't date
4)didn't have my own car.

If following the SDA standards place a student in the "geek factor", what are we using our schools for?

Speecher:

I am sorry to hear you left the SDA Church over their Educational System. I am leaving the system after three years, part of the reason being the poor leadership and lack of policy. Yet, I have no plans to leave the SDA Church. They are separate parts of the same big enity. You should try to effect change from within before leaving the church. I have done so, although I admit that it is not easy. Please re-examine your beliefs and pray, pray, pray. The end times will bring a big shaking, and it is my hope that this will flush some of the non-repentant "bad apples" from our SDA Church. Think about it. If you want to vent, please e-mail me at davedavison@kc.rr.com

Mr. D.

I have fond memories of my 3 yrs in SDA academy. I was baptized while there. Oh yeah, there were tormentors there, two were preacher's sons, and one a teacher's son. I feel a good foundation was laid for me there.

My son had a totally different experience. I sent him to our church schools from first grade thru high school. His miserable experience started when he was skipped from first to third grade. The kids he caught up with in third grade made it hell for him.

We are by no means rich or poor, yes, he is a doctor's kid, but he was treated like a pariah in high school; he was never in with the "in" group. So after h.s. I sent him to a public university. Today, he goes to a Baptist church, and has nothing good to say about our schools or the church. I had little inkling of what he was going thru in h.S., otherwise I would have sent him to another school.

GerryC

I have listen to this thread with interest. My wife is a principle and a teacher in the Washington conference...

Our experience here is totally different than in Idaho Conference...The people here are of a broader spectrum of liberal and conservative in thier behavior and thinking...Children here are more spontaneous, less disciplined, and treat each other with less respect than in Idaho...My wife is working to instill this into the children..early on...[she teaches grades 1-4]. This is our first year here in Washington, but I believe that she has laid a good foundation for next year and that next year, the kids will be better yet...

Parents are the key and the teacher is the one who makes the observation. The Parent[s] need to work with the teachers to help make the whole school a good safe enviorment for kids to learn, about the world and themselves...

What was learned by my family in SDA schools:

1. How to be excluded - how to have a very strong "us and them" sense, and if anyone was different in any way - how to make them feel awful.

2. How to be sexually abused and see the school take no notice of it or admit any responsibility - in fact work actively to smear the name of the family in the community.

3. How to make kids who spend 14 years in SDA educational systems despise studying the Bible.

4. How to ensure that the church is viewed as loveless, rejecting, abusive, intolerant, and unkind.

Jack

Gee, aren't advestist schools great! What a winner attitude they have instilled in so many of my friends. None of my friends are church members anymore. One of my clearest memories from the academy is that of a girl being kicked out of school because of how she cut her hair...the message was loud and clear that if you don't look a certain way, Jesus and the SDA church want nothing to do with you!!! She worked hard, got good grades, and I doubt she attends church anymore. What a message that was, I never changed how I looked for fear I would be kicked out!!! Church schools stink!!!

I never went to a SDA School.
My friend Don Laing did.

Our graduation from High School was the same year.

My clas has a lot of people doing menial work and only a few of us went on to further our education. Many of my class have died.

His class, with all of its 'restrictions and rules' created a group of people that is contributing much more to society, (I am talking about MD's, Dentists, lawyers etc,) in my opinion than my class has. One of his class has died and she was murdered.

On the other hand, Military Academies, can make out schools look like a Sunday School picnic when it comes to rules. They produce world class leaders.

Stan

I went through our school system from Grades 1 though 16 or college. During that time I went to four elementary schools one academy and one university. Yes there was rules but being on the west coast we were more liberal and since I was sort of on the conservative side on my dress style and hair cuts anyway I never had any problems. I greatly enjoyed by adventist school system experience. Both my kids are going through our school system same as me and they to have no problems.

I think you guys are looking at all the negative stuff and not looking at the good stuff in our schools. Yes our schools make mistakes but remember this. According to a survey done by the church most kids left the church NOT because of the school but because of their home experience. If the parents are over restrictive it will tend to drive the kids out of the church. After all the kids can come home and get away from those rules at the school anyway.

Jim

Stan, could it be that contributing to military success at producing leaders is that those schools attract that kind of person. And lawyers dont contribute to the society. And I know a lot of MDs who are charlitans and butcher people and suck their money dry. Dentists arent far behind either.
--Ðøug ™

Jack:

Sexual abuse in our schools? If the school didn't do anything then the authorities should have been notified. I know that the states I have taught in require teachers to report any suspicions of abuse to the police. This includes our schools. Look at what is happening in the Catholic Church right now.

Mr. D

My daughter is currently attending an adventist school and I must say that I am truly disappointed.
I have a few issues
1: Because most of the staff have been placed due to their connection with someone else within the school there is no real recourse. For example. The chaplains wife and sister are both teachers. The Head is best friends with one of the teachers who is friends with the conference presidents wife. Where do you go when you have an issue????

2: Problems are smoothed over with no real satisfactory result. When issues are raised no one comes back to you. It's as though it never happened.

3: The "if you don't like it leave attitude." Why because there inevitably lots of kids on the waiting list ready to get into such a school

4: We are all christians together so don't cause a scene thank you very much.

5: The it will do attitude, not all but some schools are happy with the conditions they work in the fact that the children don't have the best equipement, teachers, resources is not a problem. It will do!!

6. When a parent told her head teacher that her child was being bullyed she was told that it couldn't possibly happen!!!!

If I sound a little bitter, it's not quite the case. It's just the dissapointment overwhelms me sometimes
For me the christian schools have a higher calling, a high level of professionalism must be seen. God wants us to stand head and shoulders above the rest as a beacon to the world. An example of what God can do when he is our focus.
It should be a means of witnessing as parents and children witness christianity in action.

For those of you whose experience was life changing for the better. Praise the Lord. If we could concentrate on making that the norm then what a witness we would be offering.

I hope that those of you with children in church schools will push for change where it is necessary.

Blessings

Fifiqueen

[ June 20, 2002, 02:57 PM: Message edited by: fifiqueen ]

May I add to the fifiqueen (my wife's) post.
This frustration has prompted us to relocate our child next term to a non-SDA school.

They have more accountability, education and I suppose the onus is more on us to provide the spiritual backbone at home (nothing new!!).

This may not be the case for all parents, but alarm bells must start ringing when adventist professionals (or not) start moving their children from our schools because their needs are not being met. It hurts more especially when you are paying for it!! I try not to see the negative, and am even on the board, but the apathy and lack of vision is mind numbing!!

Stay blessed

[ June 20, 2002, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Psalms Too ]

One of the real discouraging things to me was working at the academy and getting $2.00 an hour applied directly to my bill, and that was only in '87! Minimum wage was way above that! What a rip for cheap, almost child labor. I was told they could do that b/c it was a private christian school. What are kids paid now at adventist schools?

Mr D,

re: "Call the authorities".

Did. The guy who did it had already committed suicide. The state told us that since there was no prosecution, that they had nothing to do. The school, on the other hand, made it their mission in life to attempt to run us out of town as liars and generally horrible people. The principal was heard to say, "They deserve what they get", and refused to meet with us. The vice principal and the Educational Secretary for the conference did meet with us, and said that a) they don't believe anything happened to our kids and b) they CERTAINLY weren't going to give these ridiculous charges any credence, and weren't gonna contact any other parents who had had this teacher for their kids.

The North American Division's response was, "See your local school leaders" and "are you gonna sue us?" They DID assemble a panel of four lawyers who came up here to investigate us in preparation for a possible future lawsuit, even though we told the NAD that we didn't believe in suing the church or school.

Yep. It was certainly a great experience, having our kids in a "christian" school. Neither one of them attend SDA churches today. I wonder why?

Jack

What are kids paid now at adventist schools?

I don't know......I got 35 cents an hour at Milo Academy in 1957.

Hi Jim,
I am sure that your experience in school was great and I agree as parents we are responsible for making the difference in our childrens lives. However are a lot of us having a difficult experience within the Adventist School system.

I have to agree with Jack, I have found that no-ones really interested in my child as an individual it's all about the "organisation". If I showed you my daughter Rianna's school report you would understand where I was coming from. The teacher does not know my child, yet there are only 14 children in her class. She can't tell me where my childs weak/strong areas are, because doesn't know. When the issue has been raised it has been reasoned out with no action taken.

I have seen children chided like they were the teachers own, even though they didn't do anything really bad. It is the norm for a child to be left till last if the teacher doesn't like them or if the child is a head of the rest. It is too much work for them to deal with that child one on one.
I know of a child in my daughters class (the nursery) who has a reading age of 8. The teacher is not interested, the child is bored. This child is given simular homework as the rest of the class. Why give a child phonics when they read better than you??? (Not all teachers are like this!!)

My child can sing all the choruses and talk about Jesus, yet the focus on academic education is reduced. Don't get me wrong I don't expect my child to be a boffin before her time. But the balance has to be right.

Too much time is spent ignoring the issues and playing happy families, when under the surface is rotten!! It's a bit like a the hollow pie bedtime story. It looks great on the outside, bite into it and it's empty.

This is my opinion and my experience, again it is not the same for all. But no one wants to create a scene, no one wants to expose wrong as wrong. It's just too easy to cover it up, and when you complain you are a trouble maker. But then how can you push your issues forward when nepotism is rife from the conference right down to the local church.

I pray that God will give us the willpower to stand for right even when everyone else is standing for wrong.

Blessings

Fifiqueen

Fifiqueen

Every school has its pros and cons. Just because one child's past educational experience has been good doesn't mean it will be the same for others.

I am grateful to all of you who have the courage to post the TRUTH about your past experiences without the fear that it may be misconstrued as "negative". Not everyone has POSITIVE feedback on everything that is SDA. SDA is NOT the sinless organization with sinless members.

I'm grateful for C/A for having a message board where we as SDA members can share information with one another without the hesitation of sounding negative or angry.

By the medical profession, the cause of anger comes from being hurt and not knowing of any other way to deal with the pain.

I wish I could say that SDA schools are the epitome of a "Peculiar people, a peculiar nation" as the bible describes Christ's Bride (church).

I went to public school for 1st and 2nd grade. It was a very big school. Then for third grade, (my father being an SDA pastor) took me to SDA elementary school. It was small, four grades in one classroom. Gr. 1-4. At first I loved it and it felt I had brothers and sisters. Then the kids made fun of my lunches. First, it was my taking a lunch box instead of brown paper bag. Then, it was not taking a paper napkin but using a cloth one. (We came from Europe and my mother was used to cloth). My mother had a hard time explaining to me why my "brothers & sisters" in Christ were mocking me while the ones of the world in public school didn't.

When it came to 4th grade, my parents let me go to public school which was within walking distance. I spent 4-6th grade there. My mother instilled in me that I need to set an example to those and be a witness of Christ's love and example. So, eventhough some did kid around with me in a hurtful way, I didn't seem to mind as much, since I knew they didn't know better and I just prayed for them.

Grades 7-Academy was in SDA schools. Yes, the Bible I know I learned the most from those schools. I also learned to defend myself verbally, stand up to bullying, snap back at my teachers to be accepted into the "peer group" and was offered a cigarette by another pastors kid. These are facts. Not any negativity.

If I had a choice of sending my child to public school or SDA...... it would be SDA with great demand.... that they do what is required of them from GOD.

It is first up to the parents/family to install in a child at a very early age the importance of having a "relationship" with CHRIST (not fear from authority) that will last a lifetime.

I'm happy I'm an SDA
I'm sad about the organizations flaws
I hope to make a difference in a child's life
That is why SafeChurch forum has been set up.

ss

Hey to All Well a lot has been said
let me say that I became and SDA later in life
and I spent all year 1-12 in public schools and
public college. But I have 3 sons and they have
either been in SDA Church Schools or home schooled
The SDA church schools may have there problems but
the Public schools have more. How do I know this
I have been teaching in public schools all my
life 28 years then Itook a early retirement and I
have sub taught in Public school ever since. I have seen the public schools go down hill. Now back to SDA Church schools Hey if the SDA schools
are not the best then lets look at the SDA church
and the world yes we as a chruch as slipped but I would not want to leave the SDA church for the world and maybe our Church school are not the best
but I would not want any child have to go to Public School because the public schools are worst.


a public school teacher who knows

and as for the ones who has had bad times in our
SDA schools maybe we need to look at our own
morals and values and morals becuase does not the
children learn from their parents???????

just thinking

DGveggie50

Doug,

This maybe just a little unfair to the parents being addressed here.

>and as for the ones who has had bad >times in our
>SDA schools maybe we need to look >at our own
>morals and values and morals >becuase does not the
>children learn from their >parents???????
>just thinking

Under any circmstances can the suggestion be made those that posted concerning sexual abuse of either themselves or their child had anything to do in any way with hte morals of the parents. Would this in your opinion indicate a reason for the lack of response by those in leadership.
What about those that have described less than christian experience do to being poor. Is this a issue of morals of the parents.

Our sons went to the boarding academy and did thrive and are thankful they went. It was far from perfect, I did not expect it to be.
But most children picked on and abused are not victims because of the morals of the parents.

There are parents that treat it as an expensive reform school, when they realize their child is out of control. They are not the ones abused and picked on, they are generally the ones that do it, many times in full view of the staff, who does or says nothing.

Bonnie

Sylvia said:

quote:

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Every school has its pros and cons. Just because one child's past educational experience has been good doesn't mean it will be the same for others.

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I have found this to be true. I was chastised for homeschooling instead of sending my kids to church school. But I am glad I persevered- my kids got a social experience and probably scholastic experience that helps them even today.

I might be out of it to say this, but there are some kids who thrive at public school. There are some that thrive at church school. There are some that thrive who are educated at home. I don't know if there is any one answer- I am just happy that we have a choice.

It pains me to have to take my child out of Adventist education. As Education Leader for my local church I am unable to promote this particular school at present. I recognise that state schools can be less desirable. Gail said it though, some schools work for some children and others don't.

One thing that we can't get away from is the nepotism. I beleive that it is one of the reasons why issues such as abuse in our schools does not get dealt with. Those in authority are either related, friends or friends of friends. This is a problem that we can't get away from.

At present I don't feel that my child is protected so I will move her out. I would like be in a position where I could leave her in, but basic protocols are not followed. Such as Risk Assessment for school trips!

However a at an Adventist school on in another city, my neice and nephew are doing very well. Input from parents is welcomed and issues are dealt with very quickly. Unfortunately this is not the norm.

It is my responsibility to teach my daughter about my God and to show her Him in my actions. I don't pass that responsibility on to school or church, my child is a gift that God gave to me not to others.

Sometimes as Adventists we don't take things seriously, sometimes we are too willing to let things go. We stand strong for our doctrines, but not so strong for our children or issues that are not necessarily doctrinal based. Call a spade a spade, that's how I was brought up. Sometimes we like to call a spade cotton wool and then can't understand why someone hit us with the cotton wool!!

I hope I make sense

Blessing

Fifiqueen

My head is spinning!

I realize that all organizations and churches have problems. As for the guy who taught in public schools 28 years, how many years did you teach in SDA Schools?

Yes, we have problems, we should or Satan is not interested in us. My suggestion is that we develop an across the board way of dealing with legitimate complaints, and have them investigated. Things do get pushed under the rug, I have personally witnessed that in our schools as a teacher.

Mr. D

I grew up in what was a significantly SDA town and for a variety of reasons attended the public school. It was country and relatively unsophisticated and I did not have any real problems there. However I felt it socially, my school friends were not my church friends and at church, everyone else knew each other from school.

For these and other reasons my 4 children attended SDA schools for almost all their grade school lives. We tried to back that up with appropriate worship and home life. And today not one of them considers themseves SDA, and only one has any activity in any form of organised religion. They are basically decent people and I love them dearly - but of course this is a source of concern and sadness.

Any form of generalisation is difficult. We make decisions which seem like the right ones at the time, entered into prayerfully - and sometimes the outcome seems entirely negative.

So it is back to square 1 for me - to continue to pray for the well being, spiritual and physical, of my family.

There has been some interesting stories, some happy, some sad. Any suggestions on how we can address some of these probelsm, so they don't happen again?

How can we make SDA schools better?

Dave Davison

Step 1: Pray and pray hard

Step 2: Don't let issues go. Fight the good fight with all your might. Go to the top if you have to, our children are at stake

Step 3: Get involved in the school, so that you know first hand what is going on

Step 4: Pray and pray hard.

One other, give credit where credit is due

These are not answers for every problem.

Blessings
Fifiqueen

I attended an SDA school for 3 years. The first year I was miserable and had no friends so my mom took me out and homeschooled me for two years before we tried it again. The second time I had a mixed experience. I do have fond memories and enjoyed it, but many of the issues raised on this forum also occurred there. I was teased for doing the things Adventists are supposed to support and issues weren't dealt with well. Because of the things I've heard from my peers about our local school, I will be sending my daughter to a private Christian school but not our academy. I am teaching her what we believe and why, myself. But I do want her to recieve a Christian education so I will chose a private Christian school instead of a public one. (She's 2 right now, so she doesn't attend yet )

Yes, I have known a mother who had sent her SDA child to a private Christian school as well.

Basically I think what we all want are happy, Christian kids who grow up to be happy, Christian adults. The trouble is that sometimes our round kids don't fit the square holes of a certain environment...

Yet in spite of all the shortcomings of our school system, the Valuegenesis study reveals that more of our children who go through our schools stay in the church because of itthan those who do not.

I wish though that the study could have included in their survey how many leave the church because of their experience in our schools.

GerryC

You may have answered your own question.
If we begin to ask questions as to how many leave as a result of our schools ,we may not like the numbers. If we look at a 100 that stay because of our schools and don't look at the numbers that leave, we end up with quite impressive stats.Those that leave are dumped into the bin of mal-contents.Ellen White says we will have those and must not let them dissuade us from our true mission. The numbers saved will only be a few in number. No one has a reason to leave and it would be wise not to listen to those thst do,lest they pull us with them.

Chimmy

Ellen White says we will have those and must not let them dissuade us from our true mission. The numbers saved will only be a few in number. No one has a reason to leave and it would be wise not to listen to those thst do,lest they pull us with them.
__________________________________________________
Cimia:

You said the above in your posting. Did Sister White say the whole paragraph or only the first sentence?

Please let me know where that reference can be found.

Dave Davison

Dave,

The statement was not meant to be an exact quote. Ellen White says many places throughout her writings that few will be saved. I believe the numbers 1 in 20 Seventh Day Adventists are accurate. She gives stinging rebuke to any that would critizie those that God has placed in authorty in our denomination. They should not be allowed to spread to spread discontent.
Which goes right to the heart of your question, of what we can do.

Change almost always requires criticism, a unhappiness with the way things are done
Most Seventh Day Adventists are conditioned from early on to resist change of any kind.It become a great concern if that change is required of those in authority over us are expected to change if the current actions or polices are seen as harmful.

A reference was made in another thread here about pretty feelings,anything that is not pretty by our definition is resisted.
The charity shown a homeless person paints a pretty picture of our christian caring and concern. To have to own up to the fact that single mother with yo