"Let the school be conducted along the lines of the ancient schools of the prophets, the word of God lying at the foundation of all the education given. Let not the students attempt to grasp the higher rounds of the ladder first. There are those who have attended other schools, thinking that they could obtain an advanced education; but they have been so intent on reaching the higher rounds of the ladder that they have not been humble enough to learn of Christ. Had they placed their feet on the lower rounds first, they would have made progress, learning more and still more of the Great Teacher. CT 208.1"
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
The EGW passage directly encourages learning from Christ, echoing the call in Matthew 11:29 to 'learn of me' and emphasizing humility in the learning process.
"The instructors will find it greatly to their advantage to take hold disinterestedly with the students in manual labor, showing them how to work. By co-operating with the youth in this practical way, the teachers can bind the hearts of the students to themselves by the cords of sympathy and brotherly love. Christian kindness and sociability are powerful factors in winning the affections of the youth. CT 208.2"
"So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."
Both passages highlight the importance of leaders/teachers forming a close, affectionate bond with those they lead/teach. The EGW passage speaks of binding hearts through sympathy and brotherly love, while 1 Thessalonians 2:8 describes a willingness to impart not only the gospel but also one's own soul.
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet."
Both passages emphasize the importance of leaders/teachers demonstrating humility and service to those they lead/teach. John 13:14 is about Jesus washing the disciples' feet as an example of service, and the EGW passage is about teachers engaging in manual labor with students to build connection and show them how to work.