Restricted Movement

Unlike universities, where students usually have the freedom to come and go as they please, boarding schools restrict the movement of children.  Many of these  schools do not allow pupils to leave the school compound except on Sunday, and some do not even permit that.  An 11-year-old boarding school student named Eru says:  "The school authorities  never allow us to go out to meetings, let alone in the field service. Inside the school, there are services only for Catholics and Muslims. Every student must choose one of the two or face intense antagonism from both teachers and students.  Students are also forced to sing the national anthem and church hymns." 

When parents enroll their children in such a school,  what message are they sending to their youngsters? The message could will be that secular education is more important then gathering for worship and sharing in the disciple-making work- even more important than integrity to God.  -Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Hebrews 10:24, 25. 

In some boarding schools, Witness students manage to study the Bible together, but even this is often difficult.  A youth named Blessing, who is 16, says this about the boarding school she attends:  "Every day the so-called Christians come out to pray. We Witnesses try pleading with them so that we can have our study, but the seniors tell us that our organization is not recognized.  Then they try to force us to pray with them. If we refuse, they punish us. Appealing to teachers makes matters worse.  they call us all sorts of names and tell the senior students to punish us." 

Next time: Standing Out as Different

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997