History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 226
19. School
Past
It was reported by Rev. Bixby on May 8, 1862, “Mrs. Bixby has an interesting day school,
which is increasing in number already more than thirty have been in attendance and many of them are
from the very best families in Toungoo. They are taught the Scriptures daily and are required to attend
Sabbath school and Sabbath worship. We study the Bible the first hour every morning. During the year
five of the pupils have been baptized and all over ten years of age are Christians. We are looking for
them to become the preachers, teachers and Bible women in the near future.” 96 Bixby started school
within a year after arriving Toungoo. Missionaries used to start their missions by establishing schools
and hospitals. Education was one of the main missionaries’ arms in reaching Shan. It was what the
people needed most. Even though they were not interested in gospel, the parents certainly wanted their
children to get education. Learning scriptures and attending Sunday worship were compulsory for the
students in mission school. Even though students were non-Christians they had to follow. Parents
agreed. Some students later believed and baptized. They were later trained to become preachers and
teachers.
Rev. Young in KengTung reported in 1927, “There is a SaoPha‘s school in town where free
education is given but despite this competition many parents prefer to send their children to the Mission
School where both the teaching and the discipline are better. Even the SaoPha sends some of his family
to our Mission School“ 97 Mission Schools had good reputation and achievement in education and
discipline. Most parents wanted to send their children to mission schools despite school fees were much
higher than public school. There were mission schools in every mission field.
Present
All mission schools were nationalized and taken over by the military government in 1962. No
more mission or Christian school exists today. Nowadays Shan Churches do not provide any kind of
education neither to the public nor Church members except some Churches have nurseries. Shan
Churches should have a literary teaching classes for their member because many younger generations
do not know Shan literature. Shan literature is not taught in government schools any longer after
military takes over the governance of the country. Some Shan Churches use Burmese Bible, Burmese
Hymn and Burmese language instead of Shan because they are either not good in Shan or do not know
Shan any more. There will be no more Shan Churches if Shan Churches do not use Shan language and
literature. Shan Churches need to provide teaching Shan literature to their people who do not know
Shan so that they can read Shan Bible and sing Hymn, praise and worship in Shan language. I am
wondering, even though we put our greatest effort in translating Bible into Shan language in new Shan
writing, who are going to read it if they don’t know Shan literature? I have seen many Shan pastors and
Christians are using Burmese Bible. Most of our pastors have got training from Bible Schools and
Seminaries in Burmese language.
Churches should also provide other educational lessons to their members such as civil, health,
agriculture and technology since there are some experts in our Churches.
Exodus 18:20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are
to perform.
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things
your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children
and to their children after them.
96 Letter From Mr. Bixby, May 8, 1862, Toungoo.
97 History of The KengTung Mission, Telford 1927