Welcome to Issues and Answers. 00:00:28.16\00:00:29.72 Today, our topic is Every Child's Chance. 00:00:29.76\00:00:32.53 Researches have described the key essential learnings. 00:00:32.56\00:00:35.36 Common Core State Standards have been adopted nationwide. 00:00:35.40\00:00:38.67 Psychologists have found 00:00:38.70\00:00:40.07 17 factors that are necessary for children to thrive. 00:00:40.10\00:00:43.20 But what is the chance that every child deserves. 00:00:43.24\00:00:46.07 Our guest today is Walter M. Turner Jr. 00:00:46.11\00:00:48.84 He grew up in Los Angeles, California. 00:00:48.88\00:00:51.28 And Principal Turner went to Walla Walla, 00:00:51.31\00:00:53.65 got his masters from there, 00:00:53.68\00:00:55.05 had his undergraduate degree from Oakwood University 00:00:55.08\00:00:58.19 in Ministerial theology and education, secondary, 00:00:58.22\00:01:02.96 you got a lot of degrees there. 00:01:02.99\00:01:04.33 Just a few. 00:01:04.36\00:01:05.69 And you served in different capacities 00:01:05.73\00:01:08.33 as principal, dean, missionary, evangelist 00:01:08.36\00:01:11.00 in the United States and abroad. 00:01:11.03\00:01:12.83 Welcome to the program, Principal Turner. 00:01:12.87\00:01:14.97 Thank you for coming. Thank you, thank you. 00:01:15.00\00:01:16.57 Thank you so much. I appreciate the invite. 00:01:16.60\00:01:18.31 And I know you had to stop the school day 00:01:18.34\00:01:19.77 and everything to be able to come 00:01:19.81\00:01:22.21 but we are so glad to have you 00:01:22.24\00:01:23.71 and you're here to share with us 00:01:23.75\00:01:25.31 about what is every child's chance. 00:01:25.35\00:01:28.12 What does every child deserve? 00:01:28.15\00:01:30.75 The word says that "All thy children 00:01:30.79\00:01:32.62 shall be taught of the Lord 00:01:32.65\00:01:34.16 and great shall be the peace of thy children." 00:01:34.22\00:01:37.03 I believe that, I teach that, I preach it, I live it 00:01:37.09\00:01:40.56 and it started with me way back in the third grade 00:01:40.60\00:01:43.70 when I had to repeat the third grade 00:01:43.73\00:01:46.57 for not doing well academically. 00:01:46.60\00:01:50.14 And but it was not until the sixth grade 00:01:50.17\00:01:52.54 that I had teachers that cared about me 00:01:52.57\00:01:55.54 and were determined that I would be a success 00:01:55.58\00:01:57.51 and not a statistic. 00:01:57.58\00:02:00.32 And we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior 00:02:00.35\00:02:03.72 in the sixth grade. 00:02:03.79\00:02:05.15 In the sixth grade. In the sixth grade. 00:02:05.19\00:02:06.96 Continued on in public school 00:02:06.99\00:02:09.12 and went to Whaley Junior High School 00:02:09.16\00:02:11.39 in Compton, California. 00:02:11.43\00:02:12.76 Wow. 00:02:12.79\00:02:14.10 And it was that year 00:02:14.20\00:02:15.50 that I decided that I needed out of public school. 00:02:15.53\00:02:19.13 So you had just kind of gotten into a new faith, 00:02:19.17\00:02:22.64 had repeated the third grade 00:02:22.67\00:02:25.01 and now we're thinking that 00:02:25.04\00:02:26.88 you needed a new kind of school, 00:02:26.94\00:02:29.41 coming from Compton, what did you do next? 00:02:29.44\00:02:31.95 You know, what is your family? 00:02:31.98\00:02:33.31 What kind of decisions do they make for you 00:02:33.38\00:02:34.78 so that you'd be successful? 00:02:34.82\00:02:36.15 Well, there are five of us. Wow. 00:02:36.18\00:02:38.65 And we couldn't afford it. 00:02:38.69\00:02:41.86 And my dad said, I would not give one penny 00:02:41.89\00:02:44.69 for Christian education because I pay taxes. 00:02:44.73\00:02:47.46 Wow. 00:02:47.50\00:02:48.80 And my mother stepped out in faith 00:02:48.83\00:02:50.93 through the encouragement of a dear sister 00:02:50.97\00:02:53.67 that brought her to the Lord and said, 00:02:53.70\00:02:56.10 and said, I'm gonna put you in." 00:02:56.14\00:02:58.94 We're gonna put the children in one at a time. 00:02:58.97\00:03:00.78 And so I started at LA Union. Oh, yeah. 00:03:00.81\00:03:03.95 In the seventh grade. Wow. 00:03:03.98\00:03:05.91 And it was in the seventh grade while I was having worship, 00:03:05.95\00:03:10.09 the Lord said, "Walter, I want you to be a minister." 00:03:10.12\00:03:13.36 In the ninth grade, He says, "I want you to be a teacher." 00:03:13.39\00:03:17.76 And that's where he instructed me 00:03:17.79\00:03:19.29 to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." 00:03:19.33\00:03:22.50 And that's what we have been doing for the past 32 years. 00:03:22.53\00:03:24.93 Wow. Teaching all nations. 00:03:24.97\00:03:27.40 So when you got that calling, 00:03:27.44\00:03:28.80 'cause not everybody gets a calling on their life 00:03:28.84\00:03:31.17 you know where a direct kind of voice from God 00:03:31.21\00:03:33.54 at such a young age. 00:03:33.58\00:03:34.91 How did you receive that? 00:03:34.94\00:03:37.41 You know, what steps did you take after ninth grade 00:03:37.45\00:03:39.88 to be able to become that minister, teacher? 00:03:39.91\00:03:43.45 Well, I listen to the Lord. 00:03:43.49\00:03:46.49 I spend a lot of time in Bible study and prayer. 00:03:46.52\00:03:48.89 I did a lot of evangelism, 00:03:48.92\00:03:51.36 worked with the former George Rainey, 00:03:51.39\00:03:54.66 our pastor, Samuel Meyers in Los Angeles. 00:03:54.73\00:03:57.93 I worked with other evangelists in the LA area 00:03:57.97\00:04:01.34 where we raised a church every year 00:04:01.37\00:04:03.91 for about eight or nine years, a brand new church. 00:04:03.94\00:04:05.91 Wow. 00:04:05.94\00:04:07.28 So I have a lot of experience in evangelism 00:04:07.31\00:04:09.94 and then as I was growing and studying, 00:04:09.98\00:04:12.95 the Lord said, "Go to Oakwood." 00:04:12.98\00:04:15.68 And I went to Oakwood and went right in education, 00:04:15.72\00:04:19.22 got my degree in theology and minor in history, 00:04:19.25\00:04:21.49 secondary education. 00:04:21.52\00:04:22.89 And from then on, rest has been history. 00:04:22.92\00:04:25.99 They are rolling ever since. They are rolling ever since. 00:04:26.03\00:04:27.60 So now like, tell us some of the experiences 00:04:27.60\00:04:29.73 that you've had like, you know, your first school, 00:04:29.76\00:04:32.67 was it all equipped? 00:04:32.70\00:04:34.04 Did you have, you know, every single thing 00:04:34.10\00:04:36.71 that you possibly could need in the class room? 00:04:36.77\00:04:39.54 What was that like? 00:04:39.57\00:04:41.08 That was in San Francisco. Oh. Wow. 00:04:41.11\00:04:43.01 Matter of fact, I was hired with a telephone interview 00:04:43.04\00:04:47.72 and my mother called me, she says, "Walter, 00:04:47.75\00:04:52.15 a Mr. Stigner has called you." 00:04:52.19\00:04:53.96 I said, "Mom, he's Stigner?" 00:04:54.02\00:04:56.32 So I called the number. 00:04:56.36\00:04:57.69 It was Mr. Stigney, very fine Christian gentleman 00:04:57.73\00:05:00.96 and he interviewed me. 00:05:01.00\00:05:02.33 Next thing I knew, 00:05:02.36\00:05:04.10 my wife and I were headed to San Francisco. 00:05:04.17\00:05:07.64 Did we have everything? No. 00:05:07.67\00:05:09.24 But it was a great school 00:05:09.27\00:05:10.74 and several of the students that we have taught 00:05:10.81\00:05:12.94 have gone on to be Christian professionals 00:05:12.97\00:05:16.14 in our Christian school, in our small Christian school. 00:05:16.18\00:05:19.05 It went from K through tenth grade. 00:05:19.08\00:05:21.42 Yeah, I'm familiar with the San Francisco 00:05:21.45\00:05:23.28 Bay area, right. 00:05:23.32\00:05:25.09 Worked there and lived there myself 00:05:25.12\00:05:27.19 and so that's a kind of a interesting situation. 00:05:27.26\00:05:31.53 You got a city, a big city environment there 00:05:31.56\00:05:34.93 and a lot of private schools, 00:05:34.93\00:05:36.67 good private schools that are there. 00:05:36.73\00:05:38.07 But kind of going on to what, 00:05:38.10\00:05:41.04 why was it so important do you think for people 00:05:41.07\00:05:43.47 to send their kids 00:05:43.51\00:05:44.84 to a Seventh-day Adventist school in San Francisco? 00:05:44.87\00:05:47.78 Several of the parents understood 00:05:47.81\00:05:51.41 that the foundation of their children, 00:05:51.45\00:05:54.75 the educational foundation of their children, 00:05:54.78\00:05:57.15 what they were doing at home was important, 00:05:57.19\00:06:00.42 in doing for Sabbath school, church is very important. 00:06:00.49\00:06:04.46 But they also needed another tier 00:06:04.49\00:06:06.29 and I believe in the home, school and the church approach. 00:06:06.33\00:06:09.20 You need all three tiers 00:06:09.23\00:06:10.57 and if one of those tiers is broken, 00:06:10.60\00:06:13.64 your children, many times would be deficient. 00:06:13.67\00:06:16.71 And it has been proven through studies, 00:06:16.74\00:06:18.71 that the longer our children are in our church schools, 00:06:18.74\00:06:23.55 the likelihood of them staying in the church 00:06:23.58\00:06:26.41 and growing in the church increase. 00:06:26.45\00:06:29.72 It increases, they have done the studies. 00:06:29.75\00:06:32.12 It's been proven. 00:06:32.15\00:06:33.49 And so San Francisco was a challenge 00:06:33.56\00:06:35.12 but it was good. 00:06:35.16\00:06:36.49 And several of those students, I've kept in touch with them 00:06:36.52\00:06:38.99 and they are still in the church today. 00:06:39.03\00:06:40.63 Wow. Amen. 00:06:40.70\00:06:42.00 And you said they are also serving in capacities 00:06:42.03\00:06:44.63 as Christian educators around the country. 00:06:44.67\00:06:47.54 Educators, doctors, they worked in banks 00:06:47.60\00:06:52.34 and other professions in the San Francisco area. 00:06:52.37\00:06:56.08 It's been a blessing. Wow. 00:06:56.11\00:06:58.15 So now you left San Francisco and did you go to, 00:06:58.18\00:07:01.78 I know we've talked about 00:07:01.82\00:07:03.15 some of your boarding school experiences. 00:07:03.18\00:07:05.05 Share us some of those life experiences with the kids. 00:07:05.09\00:07:08.36 What are some of the memories that you have from there? 00:07:08.39\00:07:11.33 Our first boarding experience was in a little small school 00:07:11.36\00:07:16.10 in Pennsboro, West Virginia. 00:07:16.13\00:07:18.00 Self supporting school. 00:07:18.03\00:07:20.04 And that was a blessing 00:07:20.07\00:07:22.37 'cause one of these students that graduated from that school 00:07:22.40\00:07:26.21 is now a minister and has done great work 00:07:26.24\00:07:28.94 in the Adventist church. 00:07:28.98\00:07:31.18 From there, another boarding school we worked in 00:07:31.21\00:07:33.72 was Auburn Adventist Academy in Auburn, Washington. 00:07:33.75\00:07:37.59 Great school. 00:07:37.62\00:07:40.16 We love Auburn and I encourage anyone, 00:07:40.19\00:07:43.22 if you are looking for a school where you can, 00:07:43.26\00:07:47.40 your children need to go away, please send them to Auburn. 00:07:47.50\00:07:49.63 To Auburn. 00:07:49.66\00:07:51.00 Okay, of course, you know, everybody is boarding, 00:07:51.03\00:07:52.37 schools gonna say, 00:07:52.40\00:07:53.74 send them there, send them there, so. 00:07:53.80\00:07:55.14 There's no place like Auburn. Okay, great. 00:07:55.17\00:07:57.17 So tell me about Auburn. 00:07:57.21\00:07:58.54 Tell me about some of the kids and some of the families 00:07:58.57\00:08:00.91 and some of the situations that you dealt with there? 00:08:00.94\00:08:04.21 Auburn was, it was wonderful. 00:08:04.28\00:08:06.31 We would on Sabbath afternoon knowing that kids in the dorm 00:08:06.35\00:08:11.75 loved home cooking, 00:08:11.79\00:08:14.32 I would cook on Friday afternoon 00:08:14.36\00:08:16.52 expecting another 15 or 20 to come to the house. 00:08:16.56\00:08:19.53 Some would come on Friday night after worship and eat 00:08:19.56\00:08:23.26 and some would come Sabbath afternoon. 00:08:23.30\00:08:25.40 We would see them mattering across the campus. 00:08:25.43\00:08:30.21 I said, "Young people, had you checked out the dorm?" 00:08:30.24\00:08:32.51 Do the deans... 00:08:32.54\00:08:34.31 Know that you are out? 00:08:34.34\00:08:35.68 And they would say, "No." 00:08:35.71\00:08:37.05 I'd say, "Okay, well, come on in, come on in. 00:08:37.08\00:08:39.21 And there is the kitchen. 00:08:39.25\00:08:41.25 Go eat and call the dorm and let the deans know." 00:08:41.28\00:08:46.22 It was just, it was, that was one experience. 00:08:46.25\00:08:48.19 Something else that happened. 00:08:48.22\00:08:50.16 Our second year there, our, 00:08:50.23\00:08:53.70 I encouraged the juniors to take their campus for Christ 00:08:53.73\00:08:58.87 and they started their own prayer meeting. 00:08:58.90\00:09:01.60 Really? What did they do? 00:09:01.64\00:09:02.97 They divided in a several segments. 00:09:03.00\00:09:05.24 One was Bible studies, one was testimonies, 00:09:05.27\00:09:09.01 one was the music ministry, they had different ministries. 00:09:09.04\00:09:11.98 My job was simply to open the door 00:09:12.01\00:09:13.75 and to monitor, make sure the kids were doing with, 00:09:13.78\00:09:15.88 they were conducted themselves. 00:09:15.92\00:09:17.72 And it was wonderful. 00:09:17.75\00:09:19.25 Several of the young people that they brought in seniors, 00:09:19.29\00:09:22.79 they brought in freshmen, sophomores. 00:09:22.82\00:09:25.39 And then around my third or fourth year there, 00:09:25.43\00:09:28.60 'cause I worked there for six years, 00:09:28.63\00:09:30.47 there were students that, they said, "Mr. Turner, 00:09:30.50\00:09:32.80 we need to have our own Bible study 00:09:32.83\00:09:35.34 in the afternoon. 00:09:35.37\00:09:36.71 So I opened up the dorm, 00:09:36.74\00:09:39.51 I mean, up the chapel, at the school 00:09:39.54\00:09:42.14 and it started off with 10 kids, 15, 25, 30. 00:09:42.18\00:09:46.38 Next thing you know, we were in the library. 00:09:46.41\00:09:49.02 It was scores of children. Wow. 00:09:49.05\00:09:51.02 Just voluntary, 00:09:51.05\00:09:52.52 not required worship, just on their own. 00:09:52.55\00:09:54.96 Yes. On their own. 00:09:54.99\00:09:56.73 So was every child perfect at the school 00:09:56.76\00:09:58.69 that you had no problems with any of them, right? 00:09:58.73\00:10:01.90 Well, being the, I went, 00:10:01.93\00:10:04.13 I started there as the 11th and 8th grade, 00:10:04.17\00:10:07.14 I mean, the Bible 11 teacher. 00:10:07.20\00:10:10.07 And I there I taught some math and some history on the side. 00:10:10.11\00:10:14.14 My fourth, fifth and sixth year, 00:10:14.18\00:10:16.81 I became the vice principal and village dean. 00:10:16.85\00:10:20.58 And someone had told me that I was gonna be a dean 00:10:23.35\00:10:25.12 and I said, "Oh, no. I'd never be a dean. 00:10:25.15\00:10:27.22 But yes, I became, I became the dean, 00:10:27.26\00:10:29.86 the village dean, the head dean 00:10:29.89\00:10:31.23 and there were some students that we had to ask 00:10:31.26\00:10:34.46 not to return unfortunately. 00:10:34.50\00:10:36.83 One of them 00:10:36.90\00:10:38.63 that we had to ask not to return. 00:10:38.67\00:10:41.57 It was rough. Yeah. 00:10:41.60\00:10:43.37 His mother, his mother and father were very hurt by it 00:10:43.44\00:10:46.64 but they knew it was the best thing. 00:10:46.71\00:10:48.71 About a year later, 00:10:48.74\00:10:51.85 I spoke to the young man and his parents. 00:10:51.88\00:10:55.32 He is now giving Bible studies and bringing others to Christ, 00:10:55.35\00:11:00.16 for the same reason that he was asked to leave, 00:11:00.19\00:11:02.52 he is now ministering to those type of individuals. 00:11:02.56\00:11:04.83 Wow. Wow. 00:11:04.86\00:11:06.80 And he said, the best thing for him 00:11:06.83\00:11:08.13 was for us to ask him to depart. 00:11:08.16\00:11:11.30 It turned his life around. 00:11:11.33\00:11:12.67 How about academically? 00:11:12.70\00:11:14.04 You know, a lot of times people say, 00:11:14.10\00:11:15.44 "Well, it's really great to be able to send your child 00:11:15.47\00:11:17.81 to a Adventist school but the academics, 00:11:17.84\00:11:21.18 you know, you know, 00:11:21.21\00:11:22.54 they are gonna get Jesus and everything 00:11:22.58\00:11:24.21 but, you know, 00:11:24.25\00:11:26.21 do you have any stories of where you've seen 00:11:26.25\00:11:27.98 people's lives totally turn around? 00:11:28.02\00:11:29.62 Some kids, maybe they came in low and you know, 00:11:29.65\00:11:32.42 share with us that? 00:11:32.45\00:11:33.82 I have several. 00:11:33.86\00:11:36.99 There was one young man in San Francisco. 00:11:37.03\00:11:39.89 He was not doing well academically. 00:11:39.96\00:11:42.10 And he was a discipline issue. We had to encourage him. 00:11:44.90\00:11:49.04 Back in those days, 00:11:49.07\00:11:50.44 you could use other methods to help them, to... 00:11:50.47\00:11:54.34 And now we cannot. Yes, amen. 00:11:54.38\00:11:57.71 But I learnt that by taking this young man 00:11:57.75\00:12:00.45 and putting him in the dirt, having him digging the dirt, 00:12:00.52\00:12:04.92 it did something to burn out that extra energy 00:12:04.95\00:12:08.12 and his mother says, "Mr. Turner, 00:12:08.16\00:12:11.36 what are you doing to my son?" 00:12:11.39\00:12:12.73 I said, "Oh, oh, wait, wait, wait, Mrs. Ramo, 00:12:12.76\00:12:15.30 what do you mean what I'm doing to your son?" 00:12:15.33\00:12:17.03 My son is not getting in trouble. 00:12:17.07\00:12:18.50 His grades have gone up. What has happened?" 00:12:18.53\00:12:20.70 I said, "Oh, simple. I put him in the dirt." 00:12:20.74\00:12:23.47 "In the dirt?" 00:12:23.51\00:12:25.91 Teacher was sending him to my class, 00:12:25.94\00:12:27.28 he'd get in trouble, 00:12:27.34\00:12:28.68 I send him out into the garden and say, 00:12:28.71\00:12:30.81 "E.K., I need two rows, I want all the weeds taken out. 00:12:30.85\00:12:35.68 I want you to dig it up, take all the weeds out." 00:12:35.72\00:12:37.85 He did a beautiful job. 00:12:37.89\00:12:39.55 His academics went up, 00:12:39.59\00:12:42.06 his disciplinary issues went down. 00:12:42.09\00:12:44.36 The same young man 00:12:44.39\00:12:46.66 started attending Sabbath school. 00:12:46.70\00:12:48.10 And he was there 00:12:48.13\00:12:49.46 before the Adventists were for Sabbath school. 00:12:49.50\00:12:52.07 He was there at 9 o'clock 'cause he had to catch a bus. 00:12:52.10\00:12:53.87 Wow. 00:12:53.90\00:12:55.24 And he also joined Pathfinders, he and his brother. 00:12:55.27\00:12:58.11 And thank God, it was a miracle that happened years later, 00:12:58.14\00:13:03.21 I was the only teacher 00:13:03.24\00:13:04.58 that he invited back to his wedding. 00:13:04.61\00:13:05.98 Wow. My wife and I. 00:13:06.01\00:13:07.92 That's really great. 00:13:07.95\00:13:09.28 So that's just one 00:13:09.32\00:13:10.69 and now there have been other young people... 00:13:10.72\00:13:12.05 Tell us some more. 00:13:12.09\00:13:13.66 That have struggled over the years. 00:13:13.69\00:13:16.56 And I remember one young man, I taught in Las Vegas. 00:13:16.59\00:13:21.33 And the pastor said, 00:13:21.36\00:13:24.87 "My son has never done well in school. 00:13:24.90\00:13:29.77 And he has turned it around 00:13:29.80\00:13:31.97 and it's all because of Mr. T." 00:13:32.01\00:13:33.64 And I said, "That's not me. It's Jesus." 00:13:33.68\00:13:36.01 I'm just loving the kids 00:13:36.04\00:13:38.18 and helping them to know Jesus as their personal savoir 00:13:38.21\00:13:40.98 and putting before them 00:13:41.02\00:13:42.35 that they can be whatever they want to be. 00:13:42.38\00:13:45.79 And so, yes, there have been students throughout the years 00:13:45.82\00:13:48.56 that have just, they did just enough to get by 00:13:48.59\00:13:51.53 and I've held the fire to them, 00:13:51.56\00:13:54.23 I said, "You could do better than this." 00:13:54.30\00:13:57.43 There is no mind, we've been told, 00:13:57.50\00:13:59.03 there's no mind that is too dull to learn, 00:13:59.07\00:14:01.04 no mind. 00:14:01.07\00:14:02.57 So I believe it and I tell kids, 00:14:02.60\00:14:05.54 "Regardless of your past scores, 00:14:05.57\00:14:07.21 regardless of your low grades, 00:14:07.28\00:14:09.41 you are intelligent, you are smart." 00:14:09.44\00:14:11.75 And they said, "I am?" 00:14:11.78\00:14:14.55 And then I helped them, take them where they are 00:14:14.58\00:14:17.49 and then build them up 00:14:17.52\00:14:18.85 and then as they see success, breed success 00:14:18.89\00:14:21.29 and that's very, very important audience must understand. 00:14:21.32\00:14:24.73 Success breeds success. 00:14:24.76\00:14:26.09 So if every parent, teacher, educator, church member, 00:14:26.13\00:14:32.10 would simply take the kids where they are 00:14:32.13\00:14:34.97 and continue to give them positive encouragement, 00:14:35.00\00:14:37.94 they will climb. 00:14:37.97\00:14:39.54 And as a result, 00:14:39.57\00:14:40.94 some have become great leaders in our church today. 00:14:40.98\00:14:43.18 They baptized many souls so God says, 00:14:43.21\00:14:45.85 He said, "Walter, go take this gospel to all the world, 00:14:45.88\00:14:48.45 teach all nations, I've done that 00:14:48.48\00:14:50.69 and those students have gone throughout the world. 00:14:50.75\00:14:53.36 Some have been missionaries. 00:14:53.42\00:14:55.76 Students have been my own children. 00:14:55.79\00:14:57.76 Wow. 00:14:57.79\00:14:59.13 And that has been a blessing. 00:14:59.16\00:15:01.23 Well, I've been in a Christian education too 00:15:01.26\00:15:03.10 as a Christian educator. 00:15:03.13\00:15:04.47 I got my shirt on, okay. 00:15:04.50\00:15:06.40 And my children have gone through. 00:15:06.43\00:15:07.97 Amen. 00:15:08.00\00:15:09.34 But what can you share with the audience? 00:15:09.37\00:15:11.61 What is special, what happens like in a typical day 00:15:11.64\00:15:15.28 at an Adventist school? 00:15:15.31\00:15:16.64 What's so special about there as opposed to maybe, 00:15:16.68\00:15:20.15 another kind of a school? 00:15:20.22\00:15:21.55 Why, why again, we got to go back to that 00:15:21.58\00:15:23.25 because a lot of people are asking that question. 00:15:23.28\00:15:25.59 Yeah, you know, if I take my kid to, 00:15:25.62\00:15:27.89 my children to church 00:15:27.92\00:15:29.49 and I'm, you know, helping them after school 00:15:29.52\00:15:32.16 and we're having worship in our home, 00:15:32.19\00:15:35.30 you know, and the cost for Christian education... 00:15:35.33\00:15:39.07 The cost, I'll deal with that first. 00:15:39.10\00:15:40.74 The cost. 00:15:40.80\00:15:42.20 It's an investment. 00:15:42.24\00:15:44.94 It's not, it's not, 00:15:44.97\00:15:47.34 yes, I could drive a nicer car today, 00:15:47.38\00:15:50.51 I could have nicer cloths and fancy house, 00:15:50.55\00:15:54.62 but knowing that my children 00:15:54.65\00:15:57.45 and I call them, text them on Sabbath morning, 00:15:57.49\00:16:02.52 they text me and told me, "Daddy, we are in church." 00:16:02.56\00:16:07.73 I said, "Why are you testing me in church." 00:16:07.76\00:16:09.53 "Well, there's something happening in the church." 00:16:09.56\00:16:11.77 And it was as it-- 00:16:11.80\00:16:13.13 something exciting was happening in the church 00:16:13.17\00:16:14.50 'cause they want me to know about it. 00:16:14.54\00:16:17.77 That is very, very important. 00:16:17.81\00:16:20.21 The foundation that we set with the morning worship, 00:16:20.28\00:16:24.48 with Sabbath school, and then school. 00:16:24.51\00:16:27.65 Why school? 00:16:27.68\00:16:29.65 We're taught, we're told about the serving the Lord 00:16:29.68\00:16:33.56 and it's that early education, those first few years, 00:16:33.59\00:16:38.96 many wait till college 00:16:38.99\00:16:40.90 and I said it kindly, it's too late, 00:16:40.93\00:16:43.37 because their habits have already been formed. 00:16:43.43\00:16:46.53 So we, over the 32 years, 00:16:46.57\00:16:50.07 the teachers that I've worked with 00:16:50.11\00:16:51.57 were shaping and melding characters. 00:16:51.61\00:16:53.88 When a child has an issue, we can stop and we can pray, 00:16:53.94\00:16:58.18 we can encourage them, we can put our arm around then. 00:16:58.21\00:17:01.48 And they are hurting on the inside. 00:17:01.52\00:17:03.42 They are coming from situations where home may be broken, 00:17:03.45\00:17:07.39 and we can say Jesus is there with us. 00:17:07.42\00:17:10.86 We can do this in Jesus. 00:17:10.89\00:17:12.56 The Lord is going to anoint, 00:17:12.59\00:17:13.93 He's gonna work this situation out. 00:17:13.96\00:17:15.83 I've had to bury students, 00:17:15.86\00:17:17.57 I have to deal with those that have lost loved ones 00:17:17.60\00:17:21.10 and when you can take that 00:17:21.14\00:17:22.77 that spirituality and the academics, 00:17:22.80\00:17:27.01 then you have a holistic person and they are well rounded. 00:17:27.08\00:17:30.55 And they can go on and do great things. 00:17:30.58\00:17:32.28 So the typical day, yet but the typical day, 00:17:32.31\00:17:36.28 we start the day out with the worship. 00:17:36.32\00:17:38.05 Start it off with Jesus. 00:17:38.09\00:17:39.72 I've had parents tell me, 00:17:39.75\00:17:41.19 "Mr. Turner, I know my child is active 00:17:41.22\00:17:45.89 but one thing that I'm loving above all things 00:17:45.93\00:17:48.83 is him coming home quoting Scripture, 00:17:48.86\00:17:52.13 singing the Christian songs, excited about his studies." 00:17:52.17\00:17:56.24 What else can I say, it just 00:17:59.94\00:18:01.98 and then you're just continuing to build on that 00:18:02.01\00:18:03.91 and continue to build on it and as a result, 00:18:03.98\00:18:07.18 every school, every school that I've ministered in, 00:18:07.25\00:18:11.79 several have given their life to Jesus, several. 00:18:11.82\00:18:15.79 And that's the most important thing, 00:18:15.82\00:18:17.29 you know, that's the big why 00:18:17.36\00:18:19.53 that we want to have the kids be able to give their hearts 00:18:19.56\00:18:22.06 to the Lord. 00:18:22.10\00:18:23.47 You mentioned something that I want to go back to. 00:18:23.50\00:18:25.17 You said that you had to bury some students. 00:18:25.20\00:18:27.44 Yes. How old were they? 00:18:27.47\00:18:29.47 One was in the, 00:18:29.50\00:18:31.71 I believe she was a first grader. 00:18:31.74\00:18:33.48 She had cancer. First grade. 00:18:33.51\00:18:35.54 So there is no guarantee 00:18:35.58\00:18:36.95 that children are gonna live a certain life 00:18:36.98\00:18:39.05 and then we hope maybe when they get older, 00:18:39.08\00:18:41.02 then they'll accept Christ and they'll kind of come back. 00:18:41.05\00:18:45.49 First grade, that's kind of young. 00:18:45.52\00:18:47.56 And what was the other age of the other one? 00:18:47.59\00:18:49.02 There have been, there have been, 00:18:49.06\00:18:50.96 there was one young man. 00:18:50.99\00:18:52.33 He was in his early 20s. 00:18:52.36\00:18:55.43 He had a disease. Took his life. 00:18:55.46\00:18:58.63 But there's one thing that inspired me, 00:18:58.67\00:19:00.50 he came to my house and said, "Mr. T, 00:19:00.57\00:19:03.37 I know you are here. I just came by to see you." 00:19:03.44\00:19:05.51 And he began to tell me his experiences with Christ. 00:19:05.54\00:19:08.51 He says, "I have this disease. 00:19:08.54\00:19:11.28 The doctors have it in check." 00:19:11.31\00:19:14.92 But the greatest thing that moved me was, 00:19:14.95\00:19:18.92 him sharing how he's grown in Christ, 00:19:18.95\00:19:22.92 how he is growing in Christ. 00:19:22.96\00:19:24.59 Then a few months later 00:19:24.63\00:19:25.96 we've learned that he took his life. 00:19:25.99\00:19:28.76 So I've had a few and it hurts, but knowing that the children 00:19:28.80\00:19:32.77 are resting in Jesus... 00:19:32.80\00:19:34.14 Yes. 00:19:34.17\00:19:35.50 I can't, that's worth it all. Yeah. 00:19:35.54\00:19:39.31 It's worth it all. 00:19:39.34\00:19:40.68 It is, it is. 00:19:40.71\00:19:42.54 So let's say a parent decides, 00:19:42.58\00:19:45.01 okay, we're gonna just figure out 00:19:45.05\00:19:47.22 some kind of way to pay for this education 00:19:47.25\00:19:51.22 and they bring the child to your school 00:19:51.25\00:19:54.69 and the student is low. 00:19:54.72\00:19:57.76 What kinds of things you said about little successes, 00:19:57.79\00:20:00.23 what kinds of things do you implement 00:20:00.30\00:20:02.80 to be able to help children achieve? 00:20:02.83\00:20:05.67 I've had students that couldn't speak English. 00:20:05.70\00:20:08.84 So I, one thing I did with him, this is a fifth grader, 00:20:10.97\00:20:14.28 couldn't speak English and I had a few of them. 00:20:14.31\00:20:17.01 And so I worked with phonics, very important. 00:20:17.05\00:20:22.85 So not only did I have my non English speaking students 00:20:22.88\00:20:27.02 do phonics, I had everyone do phonics 00:20:27.06\00:20:29.22 because as you break up the phonics, 00:20:29.26\00:20:30.99 whole language is good, you need it 00:20:31.03\00:20:33.66 but there is something about phonics 00:20:33.70\00:20:35.76 because that's what turned me around. 00:20:35.80\00:20:37.70 I could not read. I could not see the board. 00:20:37.73\00:20:39.97 I needed glasses 00:20:40.00\00:20:41.64 and but the teacher taught me phonics. 00:20:41.67\00:20:46.01 Once I finally caught on that education is important, 00:20:46.04\00:20:49.58 and my mother wasn't gonna accept anything else less than, 00:20:49.61\00:20:53.45 and she caught my attention. 00:20:53.48\00:20:55.62 Right. 00:20:55.65\00:20:57.02 But the key was phonics. 00:20:57.05\00:20:59.22 So I've taught kids phonics. 00:20:59.25\00:21:01.09 I believe in taking 00:21:01.12\00:21:02.92 the rudiments of building up their comprehension 00:21:02.96\00:21:07.60 and 'cause if you build up the comprehension, 00:21:07.60\00:21:11.23 there's various things that we are using at our school 00:21:11.27\00:21:12.93 in Elsie. 00:21:12.97\00:21:15.04 And as we are building up their comprehension, 00:21:15.07\00:21:17.84 we have discovered that as you build that up, 00:21:17.87\00:21:21.74 the test scores start going through the roof. 00:21:21.78\00:21:24.61 Because then they can start reading all types of genre 00:21:24.65\00:21:28.08 because you built up the reading. 00:21:28.12\00:21:29.92 And then of course, with the math. 00:21:29.95\00:21:31.42 We've done several things with our math, 00:21:31.45\00:21:34.02 with a new math system we have in our Adventist system. 00:21:34.06\00:21:36.39 And our kids are making strides. 00:21:36.42\00:21:39.69 And so we are looking, 00:21:39.73\00:21:41.30 what I like to see with my students 00:21:41.33\00:21:43.83 is two years of growth in one year. 00:21:43.90\00:21:46.50 So if the student is low, very low, 00:21:46.53\00:21:48.54 you take them where they are, you build on those low areas 00:21:48.57\00:21:52.14 and success breeds success and next thing you know, 00:21:52.17\00:21:55.41 the child says, "I am intelligent, 00:21:55.44\00:21:57.48 I can learn and he starts taking off. 00:21:57.51\00:21:59.48 Right. 00:21:59.51\00:22:00.92 So where does the word of God come into this reading 00:22:00.95\00:22:04.95 and math and science and social studies. 00:22:04.99\00:22:08.36 How is that integrated in Adventist schools? 00:22:08.39\00:22:11.69 Throughout the whole curriculum. 00:22:11.73\00:22:13.23 Bible is not just taught in Bible class. 00:22:13.26\00:22:16.73 Biblical principles are expounded upon, are shared, 00:22:16.77\00:22:20.60 and all of, in every aspect, 00:22:20.64\00:22:22.84 I've heard it from all of my teachers, 00:22:22.87\00:22:24.27 I walk to their classrooms, 00:22:24.31\00:22:26.47 one of which is yours. 00:22:26.51\00:22:28.58 Yeah. 00:22:28.61\00:22:29.94 And I've heard the word of God being expressed in science, 00:22:30.01\00:22:32.75 I've heard it expressed in social studies. 00:22:32.78\00:22:35.28 That is not going to happen in pubic school. 00:22:35.32\00:22:37.89 It can't happen in public school. 00:22:37.92\00:22:39.35 Right. It's the opposite. 00:22:39.39\00:22:41.29 They aren't sure whether or not we came from monkeys. 00:22:41.32\00:22:43.19 Yeah. I share it with my students. 00:22:43.22\00:22:45.83 I know individuals that look like monkeys, 00:22:45.86\00:22:48.23 they may have act like monkeys 00:22:48.26\00:22:49.60 but none of us have ever come from monkeys. 00:22:49.63\00:22:51.60 They are not our cousins. We are made by the Creator. 00:22:51.63\00:22:55.04 We come from His hand. 00:22:55.07\00:22:56.84 And so there's like this whole new curriculum 00:22:56.87\00:22:59.37 that's out with Adventists that's by design. 00:22:59.41\00:23:02.81 Tell us a little bit of that as it relates to science? 00:23:02.84\00:23:05.85 It's excellent. It is excellent. 00:23:05.88\00:23:08.25 I've had parents tell me that is that what she, 00:23:08.28\00:23:11.75 one of the parents mentioned to me just recently 00:23:11.79\00:23:13.96 that what she is doing in nursing, 00:23:13.99\00:23:15.89 what she is studying in nursing, 00:23:15.92\00:23:17.53 it's been presented on a easier lower level 00:23:17.56\00:23:21.46 in our seventh and eighth grade curriculum 00:23:21.50\00:23:23.37 and she is saying, she's excited. 00:23:23.43\00:23:25.23 She said, this is the best science program 00:23:25.27\00:23:27.40 she has ever seen. 00:23:27.44\00:23:29.10 We are one of the best in the country. 00:23:29.14\00:23:30.57 Wow. 00:23:30.61\00:23:32.01 So what about the Common Core State Standards 00:23:32.04\00:23:34.71 and you know, all of these other kinds of things 00:23:34.74\00:23:37.11 that are, you know, does it, 00:23:37.15\00:23:38.51 will students coming to an Adventist school 00:23:38.55\00:23:40.88 get that? 00:23:40.92\00:23:42.25 That plus. Oh, yeah. 00:23:42.28\00:23:44.29 We have, it's been proven 00:23:44.32\00:23:45.95 that a student will be average in our schools 00:23:45.99\00:23:49.46 leave and go to public school 00:23:49.49\00:23:51.99 and actually now they are top of their class. 00:23:52.03\00:23:55.43 And the parents say, "Well, how can that be?" 00:23:55.46\00:23:57.50 It's real simple 00:23:57.53\00:23:58.87 because we, we don't have the discipline issues 00:23:58.90\00:24:01.17 of public school. 00:24:01.20\00:24:02.84 So our teachers can teach. 00:24:02.87\00:24:06.01 We are held to a higher standard. 00:24:06.04\00:24:08.08 So we are able... What standard? 00:24:08.11\00:24:09.61 When you say you are held to a higher standard, 00:24:09.64\00:24:11.38 what does that mean? 00:24:11.41\00:24:12.75 The word. 00:24:12.78\00:24:14.12 The word of God. The word of God. 00:24:14.15\00:24:15.48 God says that our children are to be taught. 00:24:15.52\00:24:17.19 They are to be the head and not the tail. 00:24:17.22\00:24:20.06 That's true. 00:24:20.09\00:24:21.42 He wants our kids to be the head, not the tail. 00:24:21.46\00:24:23.43 So since He wants our kids to be the leaders, 00:24:23.46\00:24:27.60 I share it with my parents and my students. 00:24:27.60\00:24:30.27 There are ten people looking for a job. 00:24:30.33\00:24:34.40 There are only two jobs. 00:24:34.44\00:24:35.77 Shouldn't those two jobs go to us? 00:24:38.71\00:24:41.14 And what has happened over the years, 00:24:41.18\00:24:43.61 our Adventist children are well prepared 00:24:43.65\00:24:46.45 to go into every aspect of service. 00:24:46.48\00:24:51.12 I've had, I've known individuals 00:24:51.15\00:24:52.82 that attended Oakwood 00:24:52.85\00:24:54.92 and because of their academia and because of them pushing 00:24:54.96\00:24:57.53 and doing well on their test scores, 00:24:57.59\00:25:00.23 as well as in their school work, 00:25:00.26\00:25:02.30 they have been offered jobs. 00:25:02.33\00:25:04.20 One for the CIA, 00:25:04.27\00:25:08.37 so I know this happens. 00:25:08.40\00:25:10.97 Wow, wow. 00:25:11.01\00:25:12.51 So where does, 00:25:12.54\00:25:13.88 okay, so we've talked a little bit about the spirit, 00:25:13.91\00:25:15.71 we've talked about the academics. 00:25:15.74\00:25:17.88 What about social? Social? 00:25:17.91\00:25:20.62 That's very, very important 00:25:20.65\00:25:21.98 because our kids, just like any other children 00:25:22.02\00:25:27.49 come to us with their issues 00:25:27.56\00:25:32.03 and so we encourage going spiritually, 00:25:32.06\00:25:36.36 mentally and socially. 00:25:36.40\00:25:37.93 We encourage our kids 00:25:37.97\00:25:39.30 on how they are to speak to each other, 00:25:39.33\00:25:42.54 how they are to relate to each other, 00:25:42.57\00:25:45.01 how they are to respect each other. 00:25:45.04\00:25:48.08 And if a student decides 00:25:48.11\00:25:50.98 they don't want to be respectful, 00:25:51.01\00:25:53.25 obedient, courteous, kind, 00:25:53.28\00:25:56.75 then we have to ask them, 00:25:56.79\00:25:58.12 maybe this is not the place for you. 00:25:58.15\00:26:00.29 But for the most part, after much prayer, hard work, 00:26:00.32\00:26:04.53 the majority of them, 00:26:04.56\00:26:06.13 through the anointing of the Spirit, 00:26:06.16\00:26:07.76 turn it around and say, I want this. 00:26:07.76\00:26:12.27 And I've got so many parents say, 00:26:12.30\00:26:13.94 "There is something different about my child. 00:26:13.97\00:26:16.00 What is it? I said, "I don't know." 00:26:16.04\00:26:19.01 Wow. 00:26:19.04\00:26:20.38 But I guess I do know what it is. 00:26:20.41\00:26:21.98 It's the Spirit. The Holy Spirit. 00:26:22.01\00:26:23.85 'Cause God has promised that in the last days, 00:26:23.88\00:26:26.28 He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. 00:26:26.31\00:26:28.52 That's a promise. And so I claim it. 00:26:28.55\00:26:30.49 I claim for the anointing of God upon the children. 00:26:30.52\00:26:33.96 And then not only the children but upon their parents 00:26:33.99\00:26:38.16 and as a result of the children hearing about Jesus, 00:26:38.19\00:26:41.43 we have had non-Adventist parents accept Jesus 00:26:41.46\00:26:45.07 as their personal savoir. 00:26:45.10\00:26:47.40 One school I taught just recently, 00:26:47.44\00:26:50.51 the whole family was baptized because of the daughter. 00:26:50.57\00:26:54.81 I made a call during one chapel 00:26:54.84\00:26:57.31 and the girl went to the bathroom, 00:26:57.35\00:26:58.68 got on her knees, gave her life to Jesus, 00:26:58.71\00:27:01.45 went home, told her parents about it. 00:27:01.48\00:27:04.35 And the whole family was baptized. 00:27:04.39\00:27:06.15 Well, Principal Turner, 00:27:06.19\00:27:07.52 this has really been enlightening, 00:27:07.59\00:27:08.92 it's been fantastic. 00:27:08.96\00:27:10.29 We didn't really get a lot into the sports, 00:27:10.33\00:27:11.66 but does sports have a part to play 00:27:11.69\00:27:13.76 in Adventist education, just briefly? 00:27:13.83\00:27:15.76 Briefly. Sports does. 00:27:15.80\00:27:18.27 But I encourage young people, 00:27:18.30\00:27:20.54 God has not called us to be professional athletes 00:27:20.57\00:27:24.51 and yes, I do know some individuals 00:27:24.54\00:27:26.54 that have had the opportunity to go into professional sports 00:27:26.57\00:27:29.01 but they have not. 00:27:29.04\00:27:30.68 Because of the Sabbath issue. Right. 00:27:30.75\00:27:32.58 Play the sports, have fun but don't forget Jesus. 00:27:32.61\00:27:36.82 Well, I want to thank you so much 00:27:36.89\00:27:38.22 for coming to the program today. 00:27:38.25\00:27:39.59 It's just been very enlightening. 00:27:39.62\00:27:41.06 We really appreciate your coming. 00:27:41.09\00:27:44.13 We always like to end with a prayer 00:27:44.16\00:27:46.26 for the families that are part of this, 00:27:46.29\00:27:48.26 so we probably close out today with our prayer. 00:27:48.30\00:27:51.87 Would you offer a prayer for us? 00:27:51.90\00:27:53.40 Yes. Let us pray. 00:27:53.44\00:27:54.77 Father God, in the name of Jesus, 00:27:54.80\00:27:56.77 we want to thank you for this privilege 00:27:56.81\00:27:58.14 to be here today to share and to experience You. 00:27:58.17\00:28:03.08 There are many people that are listening today 00:28:03.11\00:28:06.18 that need to put their children in church school. 00:28:06.21\00:28:08.62 They need to make a decision. 00:28:08.65\00:28:10.72 They may not be able to afford it. 00:28:10.75\00:28:13.09 They may not know where the school is, 00:28:13.12\00:28:15.22 but please dear Lord, open the door 00:28:15.26\00:28:17.46 just as You did for me. 00:28:17.49\00:28:19.26