In spite of the fact that much is said relative to the importance of educating for the state, the words of Herbert Spencer give a clear idea of the home as the center of the true system. He says: “As the family comes before the state in order of time—as the bringing up of children is possible before the state exists, or when it has ceased to be, whereas the state is rendered possible only by the bringing up of children, it follows that the duties of the parent demand closer attention than those of the citizen.” The plan of Christian education goes a little farther, and recognizing the earthly family as a type of the heavenly, places the parents in God’s place to the young children; hence the home should be the only school and “the parents should be the only teachers of their children until they have reached eight or ten years of age.” [Sidenote: Lessons for the home school] “The mother should find time to cultivate in herself and in her children a love for the beautiful buds and opening flowers.... The only schoolroom for children from eight to ten years of age should be in the open air, amid the opening flowers and nature’s beautiful scenery. And their only text-book should be the treasures of nature.” [Sidenote: The church school] With such a training, the first ten years the child should develop a strong body and a strong mind. He should then be able to spend the next five or six years under the instruction of a consecrated Christian teacher in an elementary school, where teacher and parents may co-operate. The threefold nature must be developed so that when the age of manhood or womanhood is reached, strength of character has also been gained. [Sidenote: The industrial school] The youth should then continue his mental culture in some industrial school, located in the country, where there is freedom from the evils of city life, and where the rapidly developing physical nature can be correctly guided into lines of practical duties which will fit him for real life. In the meantime, mental culture and spiritual training are continued, for character is being formed for eternity. [Sidenote: Training school for Christian workers]