Response of Teachers in North America to the Competing Claims Regarding the Purpose of Adventist Schools

Abstract

This chapter begins by surveying the various competing objectives that have been put forward for the Seventh-day Adventist education system since its inception in the late 1800s. A selection of these objectives was presented to the teachers in Seventh-day Adventist schools in the North American Division in a survey which was conducted in 2018. The top two goals identified by the teachers were, “Create an environment that makes it more likely that each student will accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and friend”; and “Act in a manner which contributes to the physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing of our students / patients / clients.” There were two objectives that stood out as things that teachers are least concerned about: “Make money to support the activities of the Adventist Church” and “Be competitive in the sector or market place in which it operates.”