Educational Department

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 4, 1915

Educational Department

Frederick Griggs — General Secretary W. E. Howell — N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary

The Opening of the School Year of 1915-16

[These reports from our various schools were begun in the previous issue of the Review.]

R. W. BROWN, principal of Oak Park Academy, Nevada, Iowa: “School opened at the usual time, with an enrollment of seventy. At the end of the first month it has reached eighty-four. This is a little less than last year, but the difference is caused by a smaller attendance of young students from the village. The number in the home is larger. We now have twenty-four boys, and three others are expected any day. Twenty is the largest number of boys ever in the home before. Several students are more mature and stable than those we had last year. School has started with a good spirit. The students seem to be very ready to take part in social meeting and other religious work. Financially we are in much better condition this year than last, and have made some improvements besides. We have installed a steam laundry and a new hot-water tank, also made some additions to the laboratory. The library has been increased from a little over six hundred volumes to nearly eleven hundred. Later in the year we are planning to begin a manual training class for boys, particularly the younger ones. I hope it may grow into something of real benefit. We have begun to adapt ourselves to the recommendations of last summer’s educational council.”

K. M. Adams, principal of the Singapore Training School: “The enrollment for the first seven months of 1915 is sixty-three. We have three departments, English, Chinese, and Malay. The English department is the church school. The Chinese and Malay classes, under Mr. Rantoong and Mr. Low, are the training department. We have eight different nationalities in the school, namely, English, Eurasian, Chinese, Tamil, Japanese, Battak, Singhalese, and Amboonese. In the English we teach up to the ninth grade. There are sixteen in the school home.”

H. G. Lucas, principal of San Fernando (Cal.) Academy: “Our school opened on September 15, with a larger number present on the opening day than ever before. Regardless of the hard times, our attendance increased this year about twenty per cent over last year. We have one hundred and twenty-five enrolled in the academic department, and fifty in the church school, making one hundred and seventy-five in the entire school. We have approximately the

same faculty as we had last year, and the teaching force is working together harmoniously. The spiritual condition of the school is good, and we are much encouraged with the prospects. We have a number of mature young people in our school who are a help to the entire student body. We are very much pleased with the character of the students that have come to us, and we believe they have come with a determination to work hard and accomplish things.”

R. U. Garrett, principal of Cedar Lake (Mich.) Academy: “School opened September 12. We were glad to have Elder McVagh, president of the West Michigan Conference, present at the opening exercises. Our school began with a new faculty. By the close of the first week our enrollment had reached forty-seven. The rooms in the dormitory are nearly all full, and prospects are good for a number more. We are well pleased with the class of students we have. Every one seems bent on preparing for service in the cause of God. One young man earned his scholarship by selling our books, while several others spent part of the summer in that work.”

Stanley L. Clark, principal of Hazel (Ky.) Academy: “On the fifteenth of September, Hazel Academy opened with an enrollment of twenty-seven in the home. A few days of association have shown us that we have an earnest body of students. While only three have been assisted to school by canvassing, yet, encouraged by the spirit manifested, we hope to see the Harvest Ingathering campaign heartily entered into by the whole student body.”

Geo. E. Crawford, principal of Clearwater Lake (Wis.) Industrial School: “We have no glowing report to make of overflowing attendance, but we do feel that we can send an encouraging report of the beginning which has been made to overcome some difficulties that have stood in the way of the success of this school. There is a growing spirit of harmony and cooperation, and we confidently look for the blessing of God to attend our efforts to make this school what God would have it to be.”

N. S. Ashton, principal of Mount Vernon (Ohio) Academy: “Mount Vernon Academy opened with an enrollment of one hundred students, twenty-five have come since, and others are expected. Our students are of an excellent class. The school home is much fuller this year than last. A few of our students earned scholarships, and others were engaged in the canvassing work during the summer. On the whole, the outlook for the school is very encouraging.”

S. C. Rockwell, principal of Royal Intermediate School, Cottage Grove, Oregon: “As our school opened three weeks earlier than usual, the attendance is less than it was last year. Others are planning to come when their books are delivered, or as soon as they can leave their work. We are pleased with the spirit of earnestness manifested from the start by the students. It is an evidence of God’s Spirit preparing them for service. Our young people appreciate the meetings of the Missionary Volunteer Society, while even those who make no profession say that the prayer meetings are enjoyable occasions.”

A. W. Hallock, principal of Walderly School, South Range, Wis.: “Walderly School opened its fall term September 15, with fifty students in attendance. Most of these have been in the school during the summer, and have taken up their class work with interest. No change has been made in the teaching force. Our physical and our literary work are well balanced, and we look for a good school year.”

G. J. Boyd, principal of Oakwood Manual Training School, Huntsville, Ala.: “Our school opened September 21, with sixty students. The opening chapel remarks were well received, and a spirit of deep earnestness was manifested by all; At our social service, a few evenings later, nearly all renewed their consecration and expressed a determination speedily to prepare for the work. Students are continuing to come nearly every day. Our colporteur students will not all arrive until about the last of October. A number will succeed in earning their scholarships. We believe our attendance will be exceptionally good. We are just finishing Henderson Hall, a new and comfortable dormitory for our girls. Our course of study has been strengthened by the addition of several new subjects, our faculty has been increased, and we have every reason to believe that the present year will be the best in the history of the school.”

H. H. Howard, principal of Hill Agricultural Academy, Downs, Kans.: “Our school opened on Thursday, September 16. We were glad to have with us a number of parents and visitors. Each member of the faculty and the members of the local board present spoke, encouraging the youth to perform their work faithfully. Brother C. D. Comas related some of the earlier experiences of the school, and Brother Hill spoke of the earnest, sacrificing spirit that characterized the pioneers in this work. Our enrollment at the present time is larger than at the same time last year, and has doubled since the first day, and others are planning on coming. We have room for only two more students in the dormitory, and are wondering what we shall do with others whom we are expecting. We are glad to report that three of our former students are in college this year as a result of their faithfulness last year and their efforts in the colporteur work this summer. A number of our new students are intending to canvass as soon as school closes in the spring, and we plan to fit them for this work. Remember us in your prayers.”

R. A. Hare, principal of Maplewood Academy, Maple Plain, Minn.: “The school year which opened September 15 is our twelfth year. The enrollment for the opening day was slightly less than that of last year. This was due to a late season throughout the northwestern States. The difference was shown by the relatively small number of young men present at the opening, as quite a number of them were compelled to come a few weeks late. The enrollment now approaches one hundred. There seems to be a good spirit among teachers and students, and we confidently expect to spend a pleasant year together.”

Newton G. Evans, president of College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, Cal.: “The opening exercises of the College of Medical Evangelists was held September 26 in the college chapel. In addition to the members of the faculty, there were present Elder E. E. Andross, president of the Pacific Union Conference, and Elder W. F. Martin, president of the Southeastern California Conference. The attendance of the school is very full; and in addition to the usual enrollment, a large special medical evangelistic class begins this year. For the training of this class special arrangements have been made for the direction of the missionary field work by Elders Luther Warren and G. B. Starr. There is an unusually good spirit and enthusiasm among both students and teachers for the coming year’s work.”

W. H. Buxton, principal of Meadowglade Academy, Battle Ground, Wash.: “The uncertainty which existed during the summer regarding the future of the Meadowglade Academy has caused the attendance to be smaller this year than in the past. School opened September 21, with a faculty of five and about sixty students. At the present everything is moving as smoothly as could be desired. The higher grades are well represented. There are seven candidates for graduation from the academic course. Everything seems to indicate a school of good quality, though small, for the coming year; and we hope by next year to fill the buildings to the limit of their capacity.”

Ida M. Salton says of the Nez Perce School (Idaho): “If you could go with me to a small station in northern Idaho, and then drive about ten miles into the rolling country, you would find a live, wide-awake little company. Most of them accepted present truth about two years ago. They soon felt the need of proper education for their children. Before the time for seed sowing, they set apart a portion of land to be used in raising money for a church school. The Lord blessed every effort, and in July they sent in an application for a teacher. They already had more money on hand than would be needed to carry the school through the year. A teacher, Miss Anspauch was sent, and the school opened Sept. 14, 1914. The county superintendent visited the school the first month, intending to close it. She found Miss Anspauch better qualified for her work than the public-school teacher who was employed in the district; and upon leaving she complimented Miss Anspauch, and said nothing about closing the school. The parents have wished to do all they could to make the school successful, and when Miss Anspauch presented the home credit plan, they readily accepted it. One mother told me that the plan had worked a transformation in her boys; that she had very little trouble in getting them to do things that before had been a trial to them. The plan followed was that outlined in the October, 1914, number of Education.”

G. E. Nord, principal of Broadview Swedish Seminary, La Grange, Ill.: “Our seminary enrollment the first week was thirty-eight, eight above the first week last year. The students seem to be earnest and consecrated, and have taken hold of the work with an admirable zeal, both in their studies and in the work they have been assigned to do. There are fifteen who have each earned one scholarship, and two have earned two each, one by selling books and one by selling papers; so that there are seventeen who will go through school on scholarships. At present the enrollment is forty-one, and about thirty others are expected. The prospects for a good school year were never brighter. Deep earnestness is manifested by everybody, and the spiritual tone of the students is

most gratifying. The school is equipped to do better and stronger work than it has at any time in the past.”

H. C. Hartwell, president Western New York Conference: “I feel glad that we have been able to double the number of our church schools this year, and from reports that have been coming in, all the schools are now well under way.”

J. H. Schilling, president of Clinton German Seminary: “Our school has made a good beginning. We have enrolled one hundred and ten students, eighteen more than last year at this time. They manifest an earnestness both spiritually and educationally. Our meeting last Friday evening was a most excellent one. The Lord was present, and nearly all took part in the meeting. We are still expecting a large number to come. The harvest out West is about four weeks late, hence some of the students will be coming late this year. According to all appearances we shall have a number more than last year. Of those already enrolled fourteen have earned their scholarships.”

L. O. MacBain, principal of Williamsdale Academy, Williamsdale East, Nova Scotia: “Williamsdale Academy opened its thirteenth year on September 8, with an attendance of twenty-seven, which is more than were here for the opening last year. Still other students are expecting to come within a short time, and we look for our total enrollment to be over thirty. We feel that God has greatly blessed our efforts to obtain students this year, as times are hard now in Canada, and people are feeling the strain that is laid upon them because of heavy demands made on account of the war. Our students are of excellent spirit, and have begun the year admirably. They are deep in study, and seem to be happy and contented. We have a good, strong faculty, and expect to accomplish much this year. All our graduates of last year, with the exception of one, are in higher schools preparing for the Lord’s work. If all finish who are planning to, we shall have fourteen graduates this year. God is blessing us, and we are working to attain the highest degree of efficiency in his service.”

B. F. MacBain, principal of South Lancaster (Mass.) Academy: “South Lancaster Academy opened September 15. Students began to arrive on Friday, and by Monday evening it seemed that we were to have about the usual attendance this year. On the opening morning a large number of young people presented themselves for matriculation, and before evening it was evident that this would be a record year. All chapel seats are now taken, and we have several students yet to be seated. We were pleased to have Elders Daniels, Haskell, and Quinn and other visiting brethren with us. Elder Daniels told of the needs of the mission field, and a number of our best students have signified their intention to prepare for foreign work. We have a fine class of students, and it is noticeable that there is a larger number of more mature young people than we have had in South Lancaster for several years. Our new teachers are taking hold of their work in earnest, and are winning their way with the students. We are looking forward with much interest to the coming year’s work, and trust that as God has blessed us in the beginning, his presence will be with us during the entire year.”

W. J. Blake, principal of Battle Creek (Mich.) Industrial Academy: “Our school opened very encouragingly, with an enrollment of one hundred and fifty-six. This is about twenty-five more than we had last year at the opening. We carry all grades up to and including the tenth. We are looking forward to a successful school year.”

H. T. Elliott, principal of Bethel (Wis.) Academy: “The enrollment for Bethel Academy on the opening day was forty-five, the same as last year. However, this year we reached fifty-three at the close of the first week. Last year we enrolled fifty-six by the first week in October. I think we shall pass that number this year, and keep up the attendance better. We have older boys than we have had for two years, and they seem to be of a more stable type of character. Most of them are here on their own resources or partially so. This year each teacher is leading in some line of manual work, and it is having a wholesome influence on the students. The class work is divided among the teachers according as they are especially qualified, or as they have a liking for the subjects.”

C. R. Callicott says of the colored mission schools of the Georgia Conference: “We have only two colored mission schools in the Georgia Conference, one here in Atlanta and the other in Savannah. The conference owns the building where the school is conducted in Atlanta, but the union conference holds the title. The one in Savannah is using a rented building. These schools are a kind of evangelizing agency for reaching the colored people with the truth through their children who attend these schools. Of course our Adventist children are not debarred from these schools, but the purpose of the schools is to reach those who are not of our faith. In the main, the teachers follow the same course of studies as do the regular church-school teachers. The school here in Atlanta has two teachers, and an enrollment of eighty-seven. The one in Savannah has one regular teacher, but one of our Bible workers helps her some in the teaching. They have an enrollment of fifty-two.”

F. R. Isaac, principal of Keene Academy, Keene, Tex.: “It was indeed a great pleasure to see one hundred and twenty-five students enroll during the first week. I wish you could have seen how many passed to their respective divisions for the prayer bands the first morning, in response to the announcement that fifteen minutes would be used each day for prayer. It is manifest that almost every student came for a definite purpose. It means much for these young people to be here. Crop conditions were such that many are not able to come to school this year, but our number increases daily, and we are looking for as large an attendance as Keene has ever had. The enrollment in the normal department the first week was sixty, which makes a total of one hundred and eighty-five. We believe the Lord is blessing our school, and we are endeavoring to prepare our students to do efficient work for him.”