A Witness University?

[Friend of Peace]

Just throwing around random ideas:
 

 

If we think about it, young people from 18-40’s could apply to be part of a Witness university where you’d have to meet certain criteria. It would be similar to SKE/Gilead but for a bigger chunk of the organisation to become enrolled. No payment is required to attend the school, just a commitment needed to be part of the university for a year and to expect reassignment at graduation. The lecturers could be SKE Graduates and then also visiting speakers from Bethel or recorded lectures from helpers/GB members. 
 

The ciriculum could be balanced between worship/trade skills from witness traders who teach the trade and then a similar schedule to SKE/Gilead to help maintain spirituality. You could also have language classes included in that too. Many of the classes that go on currently in Bethel and lectures given at theocratic schools could be used in the weekly schedule. The decision to live on campus would be similar to living at Bethel. 
 

By the end of the year, those that graduate are fast tracked either to serve in a foreign land, become substitute CO’s, field missionaries, special pioneers, Bethelites, Branch Committee members, etc.

 

It would create a bigger number of graduates to fill the needs in the field quicker than SKE or Gilead could accomplish in a single year!
 

What do you think?  

Edited January 16 by Friend of Peace

[Qapla]

 

reinvent the wheel
phrase

• waste a great deal of time or effort in creating something that already exists.
• There's no need to put energy into reinventing something that already exists and works well
• To reinvent the wheel is to attempt to duplicate—most likely with inferior results—a basic method that has already previously been created or optimized by others ... in this case by the FDS

[Friend of Peace]

10 hours ago, Qapla said:

waste a great deal of time or effort in creating something that already exists

This is true. I know the phrase well. I was thinking along the lines of a way of filling the needs in the field in a quicker way in line with the AGM, compared to the amount that graduate SKE/Gilead schools every year.
 

It’s just me having a little bit of fun.  

[LeolaRootStew]

It might be more feasible online.

[BLEmom]

I think this would be cool. To have trade skills needed for our organization as specific classes combined with spiritual training sounds fun to me!

My only complaint is that you capped out over 40.  😂

I’m ready to learn something new and be reassigned to live and work where needed. 

[Friend of Peace]

1 hour ago, BLEmom said:

My only complaint is that you capped out over 40.  😂

Okay then, let’s say up to 65 😉 

[TheKid23]

There’s already many schools where we receive training. Also, if you put in a A-2 application and join the LDC you have access to unlimited possibilities, both on site and online courses. 
 

The online courses are currently available in 46 counties, so if anyone wants to reach out and do more, I’d definitely recommend speaking to your service committee, putting the A-2 application in and get involved!

Edited Thursday at 07:25 PM by TheKid23

[Israel]

AFAIW, there's already schools managed by the organization (Gilead, elder's school, etc.) and that's no need for the typical university structure (very long hours and long semesters with anxiety-ridden exam seasons, dorms, corporative certifications, that kind of stuff etc), since (1) things move fast in the organization's work and preparation for skills must be done efficiently, (2) there's no need for years-long "trust building" exercises that worldly people need to do due to their different and conflicting worldviews, objectives, etc. since we all share the same goals, and (3) the skills will be used internally in the organization, which is managed centrally by the GB and its helpers, so there's no need for career building either. 

 

And whenever skills are needed that the organization doesn't have the resources to teach, I understand that the organization supervises bethel workers into college for trades (or at least they used to do this).

 

Edit: and since unlike other religious organizations, ours does not seek profit (through thiting, collections, etc) it would be a waste of resources to create a facility for higher education, get government accreditation, etc. only to educate Witnesses.

Edited Thursday at 07:29 PM by Israel

[Cool.As.Ice]

Just gonna throw this out there, it’s related the main point OP brought out:
 

Personally, what would really interest me is a truck driving course for those wanting to deliver literature, sound, and stage equipment to KHs, AHs, and conventions throughout the country, maybe even doing some inter-branch transfers, things like that.

 

You could travel the country, meet friends in many different places, and because the supply chain is wholly controlled by us, there would be almost no danger of someone getting to an accident, having drug/alcohol issues, or being late with the product.

 

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 07:50 PM by Cool.As.Ice
Grammar and punctuation

[Qapla]

2 hours ago, Cool.As.Ice said:

what would really interest me is a truck driving course

 

The organization used to have a fleet of semis and their own drivers to deliver literature in the 80's and 90's. They sent brothers to truck driving school to get certified. The fleet was discontinued when shipping by carrier became less expensive than the cost of keeping and maintaining our own fleet.

 

While it is true that our drivers did not drink and drive and were more conscience of obeying the laws, that did not prevent them from experiencing road delays caused by traffic and roadwork nor did it prevent accidents caused by others.

 

 

 

21 hours ago, Friend of Peace said:

It would create a bigger number of graduates to fill the needs in the field quicker

 

It is not about speed and numbers; it is about spirituality - which is why the current system does not need augmenting or additions to make things "quicker" ... we do not need a reinventing of the wheel.

[Friend of Peace]

1 hour ago, Qapla said:

 

It is not about speed and numbers; it is about spirituality - which is why the current system does not need augmenting or additions to make things "quicker" ... we do not need a reinventing of the wheel.

I did mention how the schedule in the OP maintained the spirituality of those who attended and it is over a year of this also. I am sorry for any offence caused by my idea. 

[Shawnster]

*** cf chap. 18 p. 186 par. 12 “Continue Following Me” ***

12 A father and mother need to go on a trip. They cannot take their children along, so they hire a babysitter. Their instructions to her are simple: “Take care of our children. Feed them, make sure they are clean, and keep them from harm.” When the parents return, though, they are shocked to see that their children are famished. They are dirty, sickly, and miserable. They are crying for the babysitter’s attention, but their cries go unheeded. Why? She is up on a ladder, washing the windows. Furious, the parents demand an explanation. The sitter replies: “Look at all that I did! Aren’t the windows clean? I made repairs to the house too, all for you!” Would the parents feel better? Hardly! They never asked her to do those jobs; they just wanted their children cared for. Her refusal to heed their instructions would infuriate them.

 

Christendom has acted like that babysitter. Jesus left instructions with his representatives to feed people spiritually by teaching them the truth of God’s Word and helping them to be spiritually clean. (John 21:15-17) Yet, Christendom has dismally failed to obey his direction. She has left people spiritually starved, confused by falsehoods and ignorant of basic Bible truths. (Isaiah 65:13; Amos 8:11) Even her attempts to better this world can hardly excuse her willful disobedience. After all, this world system is like a house that is slated for demolition! God’s Word makes it clear that Satan’s world system is soon to be destroyed.—1 John 2:15-17.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=1102007061&srctype=wol&srcid=share&par=16

 

Jesus mandate is clear. The Faithful and Discreet Slave is entrusted with the dispensing of spiritual food in order to make sure the Kingdom good news is preached. They were not assigned to provide a physical university style education  on secular topics nor to teach a trade. To do so would take time and effort away from what they are assigned to do. 

 

The physical skills our brothers and sisters are taught on projects like LDC are in order to further Jesus commission of disciple making. Everything the Slave does, including every education program, is in furtherance of that commission. 

[Mike047]

Good point, Shawn. In a sense we are all in the greatest centre of learning among Jehovah's educated people.

[Parale]

You mean like BYU?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigham_Young_University

 

https://www.byu.edu/

[Ishaya]

To run a private university is too expensive and will require a lot of lobbying and dishonest activities to stay in business.i don't think we need that as a theocratic organization.