Article November 17, 1956 Issue

TRUE EDUCATION

[Of Special Interest to Young People]

GERALD STANWELL

In writing of the training of young people, Plutarch once said, "The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in the felicity of lighting on good education." The word "felicity" means "happiness"; therefore good or true education must inevitably lead to a happy career. The word "education" is derived from a Latin verb meaning to lead forth. True educative systems should lead us forth from the belief in material existence into the understanding of spiritual existence, from darkness into light, from ignorance into true knowledge.

This leading forth is a spiritual process which the earnest student is always looking for in every activity of his curriculum. Especially will this apply to the young student of Christian Science. He has already learned some of the basic truths of God and His Christ, and of man and the universe. The Christian Scientist will find to his joy that although during his school or college days he is not exempt from the learning which is based on human knowledge, many of his studies take on a fuller significance because of his understanding of Science. He will see his mental horizons extended, and right academics will more quickly be appreciated, understood, and assimilated.

The Christian Scientist will then find life more interesting, because his motives for gaining a true education are noble and unselfish. If he desires to be led forth from materiality into spiritual understanding, to benefit the world, he will live according to Jesus' rule (Matt. 7:12): "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Then everything good will aid him in his upward course. As he progresses step by step he will gain compassion for every living thing and will find himself educated out of all that is selfish and mortal.

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