Board of Education

The Board of Education of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, was formed by Mary Baker Eddy in 1898. She envisioned it as carrying on the work of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, which she had discontinued in 1889. Initially courses taught in the Board of Education included Primary, Normal, and Obstetric classes, but within a few years, the Board was responsible only for teaching Normal classes.

These Normal classes are held every three years, beginning on the first Wednesday in December, and last no longer than a week. Prospective students must have practiced Christian Science healing successfully for at least three years, and anyone teaching  Primary classes in Christian Science healing worldwide must be a graduate of  a Normal class. The instruction in Normal classes is based on two sections of Eddy’s book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: the Christian Science Platform (pages 330-340) and the chapter “Recapitulation” (pages 465-497). The Board consists of three members, a president, vice-president, and teacher of Christian Science, and is governed by the By-Laws in the Manual of The Mother Church (pages 83-92).