it just would not paster correctly:
1967 "Parents who are Jehovah's witnesses have another very sound reason for channeling their children's lives into useful trades. They know from fulfilled Bible prophecy that today's industrial society is near its end. Soon it will be given its death stroke by Almighty God himself. After that, in God's new order a reconstruction work will be done to transform this entire earth into a paradise. Trades of many types will be very useful then, as will skills in agriculture and homemaking. So by guiding their children away from the so-called 'higher' education of today, these parents spare their children exposure to an increasingly demoralizing atmosphere, and at the same time prepare them for life in a new system as well." {AWAKE Jun 8 1967 38}
1969 "In view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this system of things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous .. Many young brothers and sisters were offered scholarship or employment that promised fine pay. However, they turned them down and put spiritual interests first." {KMIN Jun 1969 3}
THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR TEACHINGS ON HIGHER EDUCATION [compare with WT Nov 1 1992 18 "If .. minimal or even high school education will only allow them to find jobs providing insufficient income to support themselves as pioneers, then supplementary education or training might be considered. This would be with the specific goal of full-time service." A complete volte-face.]
1969 "'What Influences Decisions in Your Life?'
Many schools now have student counselors who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them. Do not let them "brainwash" you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to make something of yourself in this world. The world has very little time left! Any 'future' this world offers is no future! .. Make pioneer service, the fulltime ministry, with the possibility of Bethel or missionary service your goal. This is a life that offers an everlasting future!" {WT Mar 15 1969 171}
[statistics having revealed that people possessing anything more than the most basic level of education HIGH SCHOOL were unlikely to be converted to 'the truth', there was a danger that upon educating themselves, even existing followers would leave]
1969 "If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. Why not? Because all the evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the 'last days' in 1914, Jesus foretold: 'This generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.' Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way towards its finish, if not actually gone! This is why parents who base their lives on God's prophetic Word find it much more practical to direct their young ones into trades that do not require such long periods of additional schooling.. True, those who do not understand where we are in the stream of time from God's viewpoint will call this impractical. But which is really practical: preparing yourself for a position in this world that soon will pass away? or working toward surviving this system's end and enjoying eternal life in God's righteous new order?" {AWAK May 22 1969 15}}
just think [The poor high school youngster would now be 45+ years old and still be waiting..]
. Awake ,5/22/69,pg15,
: If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never
: grow old in this present system of things. .....all evidence
: in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is
: due to end in a few years. ....as a young person you will never fulfill
: any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and
: thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps
: even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But
: where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the
: way toward its finish, if not actually gone!
THIS IS A POST FROM A WITNESS CHAT BOARD DISCUSSING THE JW VIEWS ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Posted by N.H. [Pravo] on August 10, 1999 at 04:43:19 {.5VYJ7MmZUHSG.vl05doX.sgIvMbfw}:
Some times when reading WATCHTOWER SOCIETY literature, one wonders about the mental processes of the writing staff in Brooklyn. Take a look at this little gem from the May 1973 KM and notice what the WTS call"encouragement"
NOTICE THAT THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE WAS HELD UP AS AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW BY MILLIONS OF JW YOUNG PEOPLE
*** km 5/73 6 What is Your Heart's Desire? ***
An elder in Korea encouraged his four children to pioneer. At a circuit assembly he and the children were interviewed. The oldest daughter related how she had been the highest scholastically in her high school. She herself wanted to go to college at one point. However, her father informed her that, while she was free to choose such a course, she could not expect financial support from him. She changed her mind about college, and now she is enjoying many blessings as a pioneer. The next oldest, a son, told how he also at one time wanted to go to college and follow a worldly course. But his father sat down and reviewed the Scriptures with him. His father also told him that, if he insisted on following a worldly course, he would also have to find another place to live. He heeded his father's counsel and is very grateful that his father was kind but firm in his stand. The two younger children explained that they were impressed by what happened to the two older ones. From the beginning they planned to become pioneers. The youngest son gave up his high school education to pioneer.
So with this kind of "encouragement" who can blame the JW youth? "Of course you are free to go to college girl, but I won't pay for it! How "encouraging"! "If you go to college son, I will throw you out of the house! Wow, how "encouraging" that must have been folks! Of course the younger children learned a lot from all this wonderful display of "encouragement" from their father, the elder, so they gave up all thought of an education. This was in 1973, and in a competitive society like the Korean, I am sure they have enjoyed a long life of window cleaning by now, while distributing the same WT "encouragement". This little story from the 73 KM really captures the fundamental insanity of the WTS in an excellent way. It illustrates so clearly the tragedy of how they manage to rob people out of their whole lives, by forcing them to make insane "decisions" about their personal future.
Norm.
