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Ellen White's Guidance on the Mother as Primary Teacher

Until what age should a mother be her child's only teacher?

AdventAI

What did Ellen White say until what age the mother should be the only teacher for a baby?

AdventAI

The mother should be the only teacher for her child until they have reached the age of eight or ten years. During the first six or seven years, which are defined as the period of infancy, the focus of a child's life should be on physical training and the development of a strong constitution rather than intense intellectual study.

The Home as the First School 🏠

  • The Mother's Role: The mother is the head teacher in the home school, and her instructions are essential in the formation of character during a child's tender years.

  • Nature as the Textbook: Instead of using books, parents should open before their children the "book of nature," teaching them about God through flowers, trees, and the heavens.

  • Physical Freedom: Up until age six or seven, children should be left "free as lambs" to play out of doors and enjoy fresh air and sunshine to lay a foundation for health.

  • Character Development: Lessons in respect, obedience, and self-control are the first that should be taught in the home.

The Dangers of Early Schooling ⚠️

  • Mental Overtaxation: Forcing young minds into a schoolroom setting too early can ruin a child's health and even lead to premature death.

  • Physical Deformity: Placing "mere babes" in ill-ventilated schoolrooms with poorly constructed benches can cause their tender frames to become deformed.

  • The Goal of Maturity: Mental effort should be delayed until the physical constitution is strong enough to endure it, which is generally between the ages of eight and ten.

Instruction in Practical Life 🌱

  • Helpfulness: As soon as a child has sufficient reasoning power, they should be taught to perform simple household duties and find joy in service.

  • Spiritual Foundation: Every child of a tender age should be taught that they are a child of God, and parents must preoccupy the soil of the heart with good seed before the enemy can sow tares.

  • Parental Responsibility: Parents are the ones responsible for the salvation of their children and should not shift this burden to teachers until the child is at least ten years old.

The Bible underscores this beautiful responsibility of parents to guide their little ones toward the Creator: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6. Just as Jesus grew in wisdom and stature while being subject to His parents in a humble home, children today are best nurtured under the direct care of a godly mother and father Luke 2:51-52.

Sources · 18
  1. CE 8.4Christian EducationEllen Gould White
  2. RH July 14, 1885, par. 15The Review and HeraldEllen Gould White
  3. SA 133.1A Solemn AppealEllen Gould White
  4. PH140 13.3Home and Church School ManualEllen Gould White
  5. CG 119.1Child GuidanceEllen Gould White
  6. FE 60.3Fundamentals of Christian EducationEllen Gould White
  7. Advocate February 1, 1900, par. 1The AdvocateEllen Gould White
  8. CT 107.1Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and StudentsEllen Gould White
  9. SpM 263.5Spalding and Magan CollectionEllen Gould White
  10. PH140 14.2Home and Church School ManualEllen Gould White
  11. CT 80.2Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and StudentsEllen Gould White
  12. T22 21.1Testimony for the Church — No. 22Ellen Gould White
  13. CG 36.1Child GuidanceEllen Gould White
  14. PH086 42.1Special Testimony to Battle Creek ChurchEllen Gould White
  15. 15LtMs, Ms 43, 1900, par. 36Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)Ellen Gould White
  16. 2TT 197.1Testimony Treasures, vol. 2Ellen Gould White
  17. 16LtMs, Ms 75, 1901, par. 1Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)Ellen Gould White
  18. YI January 1, 1874, par. 11The Youth’s InstructorEllen Gould White

한국어로 작성해줘.

AdventAI

엘렌 화잇은 자녀가 8세나 10세가 될 때까지 어머니가 유일한 교사가 되어야 한다고 권면했습니다. 어린 시절의 처음 6~7년은 신체적 건강을 다지는 시기이므로, 지적 공부보다는 신체 단련에 더 세심한 주의를 기울여야 합니다.

최고의 학교인 가정 🏠

  • 어머니의 역할: 어머니는 가정 학교의 수석 교사로서 자녀의 어린 시절 품성 형성에 결정적인 역할을 합니다.
  • 자연이라는 교과서: 부모는 책 대신 꽃과 나무 등 자연이라는 하나님의 책을 통해 자녀에게 창조주를 가르쳐야 합니다.
  • 신체적 자유: 6~7세까지 아이들은 신선한 공기와 햇빛 속에서 "어린 양처럼" 자유롭게 뛰어놀며 건강한 체질의 기초를 닦아야 합니다.
  • 품성 교육: 존중, 순종, 경외심, 그리고 자제력은 가정에서 가장 먼저 배워야 할 교훈들입니다.

조기 교육의 위험성 ⚠️

  • 정신적 과부하: 너무 어린 나이에 지력을 강요하고 신체 강화를 소홀히 하면 평생 건강을 해치거나 심지어 사망에 이를 수도 있습니다.
  • 신체적 변형: 환기가 잘 안 되는 교실에서 잘못된 자세로 앉아 있는 것은 아이들의 연약한 몸에 변형을 일으킬 수 있습니다.
  • 성숙의 목표: 정신적 노력은 신체 구조가 그것을 견딜 수 있을 만큼 튼튼해질 때까지 미루어야 하며, 이는 대개 8세에서 10세 사이입니다.

실생활 교육과 영적 기초 🌱

  • 도움 주는 습관: 아이가 충분한 판단력을 갖추게 되면 즉시 가정의 간단한 의무를 수행하며 봉사와 희생의 기쁨을 배우도록 가르쳐야 합니다.
  • 영적 기초: 부모는 사단이 악한 씨를 뿌리기 전에 자녀의 마음 밭에 선한 씨앗을 심어 그들을 하나님의 자녀로 양육해야 합니다.
  • 부모의 책임: 부모는 자녀의 구원에 대한 엄숙한 책임을 지고 있으며, 적어도 10세까지는 부모가 직접 가르치고 보호해야 합니다.

성경은 부모가 어린 자녀를 창조주께로 인도해야 할 아름다운 책임을 다음과 같이 강조합니다: "마땅히 행할 길을 아이에게 가르치라 그리하면 늙어도 그것을 떠나지 아니하리라" Proverbs 22:6. 예수님께서 겸손한 가정에서 부모에게 순종하며 지혜와 키가 자라나셨던 것처럼, 오늘날의 자녀들도 경건한 부모의 직접적인 돌봄 아래서 가장 잘 자라날 수 있습니다 Luke 2:51-52.

Sources · 17
  1. CE 8.4Christian EducationEllen Gould White
  2. PH140 14.2Home and Church School ManualEllen Gould White
  3. RH July 14, 1885, par. 15The Review and HeraldEllen Gould White
  4. 16LtMs, Ms 75, 1901, par. 1Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 16 (1901)Ellen Gould White
  5. SA 133.1A Solemn AppealEllen Gould White
  6. PH140 13.3Home and Church School ManualEllen Gould White
  7. CG 119.1Child GuidanceEllen Gould White
  8. CT 107.1Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and StudentsEllen Gould White
  9. FE 60.3Fundamentals of Christian EducationEllen Gould White
  10. Advocate February 1, 1900, par. 1The AdvocateEllen Gould White
  11. SpM 263.5Spalding and Magan CollectionEllen Gould White
  12. CT 80.2Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and StudentsEllen Gould White
  13. CG 36.1Child GuidanceEllen Gould White
  14. PH086 42.1Special Testimony to Battle Creek ChurchEllen Gould White
  15. 15LtMs, Ms 43, 1900, par. 36Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)Ellen Gould White
  16. 2TT 197.1Testimony Treasures, vol. 2Ellen Gould White
  17. YI January 1, 1874, par. 11The Youth’s InstructorEllen Gould White