As far back as most of us can remember, children have gone to school, but until the 19th century, in America “education was a private matter, either handled by parents, churches, or communities that joined together and paid a teacher to educate their children.”¹ The system that predates all others is “the Creator’s plan, the plan of the Eden school.”²

For the Hebrews, “The home and the school were one,”³ yet after 3,000 years, God directed Samuel to start schools. These schools were not for children, but for young men called by God to teach the people His ways.⁴ A thousand years later, the Jews had schools, but God used the Eden School plan for His Son.

Jesus followed the divine plan of education.⁵

The schools of His time, with their magnifying of things small and their belittling of things great, He did not seek.⁶

School keeps children out of the home roughly eight hours a day.⁷ A good night’s sleep takes another eight hours or more. That leaves eight out of 24 hours with a parent. Five days a week, strangers get equal time with parents to form children’s characters.

We are admonished not to send children to public school, and we have read that all schools among us will soon be closed. What options will we have when that happens, other than God’s ancient plan? If that time seems far off, the speed at which prophecy is fulfilling may prove otherwise.

What if, right now, there were no safe schools for our children, and our only hope was the Eden School plan? As loyal angels helped in the model school, those qualified by their connection with God may help parents now. Would you need help teaching the Bible?

It does not seem possible to us now that any should have to stand alone, but if God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be brought before councils and before thousands for His name’s sake, and each one will have to give the reason of his faith. Then will come the severest criticism upon every position that has been taken for the truth. We need, then, to study the Word of God, that we may know why we believe the doctrines we advocate.⁸

Opening God’s word with prayer is an excellent way for parents and children to prepare together for that time, knowing that:

1) “The Bible was written for the common people as well as for scholars, and is within the comprehension of all.”⁹

2) “The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed.”¹⁰

3) “Christ has given the promise: ‘If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.’ John 7:17.”¹¹

4) "Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself.”¹²

The Eden S0chool garden is an appropriate model for the time when God’s people will not be able to buy or sell.¹³ We will need to work the soil for our food. Country living provides space for vegetables, berries, fruit, even flowers, but wherever we are now, we can start by growing sprouts on a kitchen counter.

We can learn to read God’s lesson book of Nature now, along with Useful Work and the Experiences of Life, and start sharing what we learn from them. God has put spiritual lessons in those books for us, and if we ask Him, He will teach them to us. The principle is,

As in the natural, so in the spiritual world.¹⁴

Here is an example. In the garden, thinning out seedlings and controlling weeds helps cultivated plants take root and grow. So in teaching, thinning and weeding the curriculum gives the essential subjects room to take root and grow.

This is not a time for students to be gathering up a mass of knowledge that they cannot take with them to the school above. Let us carefully weed out from our course of study all that can be spared, that we may have room in the minds of the students in which to plant the seeds of righteousness. This instruction will bear fruit unto eternal life.¹⁵

All unnecessary matters should be weeded from the courses of study, and only such studies placed before the student as will be of real value to him.¹⁶

What shall we teach, then?

Teach fundamentals. Teach that which is practical.¹⁷

If you are faithful in teaching the common branches, many of your students could go directly into the work as canvassers, colporteurs, and evangelists. We need not feel that all workers must have an advanced education.¹⁸

Teaching is not mysterious, and it is not that hard if we will prayerfully put our minds to it. Our attempts may bring up character issues and relationship problems that we need to address. God can solve them as we humbly confess our faults and pray.

A schoolteacher with ten to thirty children, only some of whom are paying attention, cannot be expected to do a better job teaching our children than we can, if we will ask God for wisdom.

We are blessed with knowledge of future events. May we avail ourselves of our opportunities to get our families ready, for

The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.¹⁹