Title Page

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FOREWORD 7
1 Source and Aim of True Education 13
2 The Eden School 20
3 The Knowledge of Good and Evil 23
4 Relation of Education to Redemption 28
5 The Education of Israel 33
6 The Schools of the Prophets 45
7 Lives of Great Men 51
8 The Teacher Sent From God 73
9 An Illustration of His Methods 84
10 God in Nature 99
11 Lessons of Life 102
12 Other Object Lessons 113
13 Mental and Spiritual Culture 123
14 Science and the Bible 128
15 Business Principles and Methods 135
16 Bible Biographies 146
17 Poetry and Song 159
18 Mysteries of the Bible 169
19 History and Prophecy 173
20 Bible Teaching and Study 185
21 Study of Physiology 195
22 Temperance and Dietetics 202
23 Recreation 207
24 Manual Training 214
25 Education and Character 225
26 Methods of Teaching 230
27 Deportment 240
28 Relation of Dress to Education 246
29 The Sabbath 250
30 Faith and Prayer 253
31 The Lifework 262
32 Preparation 275
33 Co-operation 283
34 Discipline 287
35 The School of the Hereafter 301
36 Topical Index 315
 Summary on the book Education written by Ellen G. White
Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range. There is need of a broader
scope, a higher aim. True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It
means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and
with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the
physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this
world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.

The source of such an education is brought to view in these words of Holy Writ, pointing
to the Infinite One: In Him "are hid all the treasures of wisdom." Colossians 2:3. "He hath
counsel and understanding." Job 12:13.

Love, the basis of creation and of redemption, is the basis of true education. This is made plain in
the law that God has given as the guide of life. The first and great commandment is, "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with
all thy mind." Luke 10:27. To love Him, the infinite, the omniscient One, with the whole
strength, and mind, and heart, means the highest development of every power. It means that in
the whole being-- the body, the mind, as well as the soul--the image of God is to be restored.

The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a model for
man throughout all aftertime. As an illustration of its principles a model school was established
in Eden, the home of our first parents. The Garden of Eden was the schoolroom, nature was the
lesson book, the Creator Himself was the instructor, and the parents of the human family were
the students.

Adam and Eve was committed the care of the garden, "to dress it and to keep it." Genesis
2:15. Though rich in all that the Owner of the universe could supply, they were not to be idle.
Useful occupation was appointed them as a blessing, to strengthen the body, to expand the mind,
and to develop the character.

It was through created innocent and holy, our first parents were not placed beyond the
possibility of wrong-doing. God might have created them without the power to transgress His
requirements, but in that case there could have been no development of character; their service
would not have been voluntary, but forced. Therefore He gave them the power of choice--the
power to yield or to withhold obedience. And before they could receive in fullness the blessings
He desired to impart, their love and loyalty must be tested.

Man was not abandoned to the results of the evil he had chosen. In the sentence
pronounced upon Satan was given an intimation of redemption. "I will put enmity between thee
and the woman," God said, "and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou
shalt bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15. This sentence, spoken in the hearing of our first parents, was
to them a promise. Before they heard of the thorn and the thistle, of the toil and sorrow that must
be their portion, or of the dust to which they must return, they listened to words that could not
fail of giving them hope. All that had been lost by yielding to Satan could be regained through
Christ. By sin man was shut out from God. Except for the plan of redemption, eternal separation
from God, the darkness of unending night, would have been his. Through the Saviour's sacrifice,
communion with God is again made possible. We may not in person approach into His presence;
in our sin we may not look upon His face; but we can behold Him and commune with Him in
Jesus, the Saviour. "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" is revealed "in the face of
Jesus Christ." God is "in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 4:6; 5:19.

The true teacher is not satisfied with second-rate work. He is not satisfied with directing
his students to a standard lower than the highest which it is possible for them to attain. He cannot
be content with imparting to them only technical knowledge, with making them merely clever
accountants, skillful artisans, successful tradesmen. It is his ambition to inspire them with
principles of truth, obedience, honor, integrity, and purity--principles that will make them a
positive force for the stability and uplifting of society. He desires them, above all else, to learn
life's great lesson of unselfish service.

The system of education was centered on the family and Christ stands as the
representative of the Father, the connecting link between God and man; He is the great teacher of
mankind. And He ordained that men and women should be His representatives. The principles
taught in the schools of the prophets were the same that molded David's character and shaped his
life. The world of God was his instructor. "Through Thy precepts," he said, "I get understanding.
. . . I have inclined mine heart to perform Thy statutes." Psalm 119: 104-112. It was this that
caused the Lord to pronounce David, when in his youth He called him to the throne, "a man after
Mine own heart." Acts 13:22.

It presents many noble examples of men whose characters were formed under divine
direction, men whose lives were a blessing to their fellow men and who stood in the world as
representatives of God. Among these are Joseph and Daniel, Moses, Elisha, and Paul--the
greatest statesmen, the wisest legislator, one of the most faithful of reformers, and, except Him
who spoke as never man spake, the most illustrious teacher that this world has known.

Christ had been communicated as every ray of divine light that had ever reached our
fallen world. It was He who had spoken through everyone that throughout the ages had declared
God's word to man.

The most complete illustration of Christ's methods as a teacher is found in His training of
the twelve first disciples. Upon these men were to rest weighty responsibilities. He had chosen
them as men whom He could imbue with His Spirit, and who could be fitted to carry forward His
work on earth when He should leave it.

As you learn to study the lessons in all created things, and in all life's experiences, show that the
same laws which govern the things of nature and the events of life are to control us; that they are
given for our good; and that only in obedience to them can we find true happiness and success.

This book covers every aspect that human needs to walk in the path in which God wants us to
follow.