Educational Department by W. C. John

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1915

Educational Department

By W. C. John

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 REVIEW of October 28.]

Prof. C. W. Irwin, of Pacific Union College, St. Helena, Cal., writes: “Within a month after the opening of school, the enrollment reached 240 in the academic and collegiate departments. The interest in the spiritual and missionary phases of our work is good, as shown by the fact that a satisfactory number of students have enrolled in each of the four bands composing the Missionary Volunteer Society. The numbers are as follows: Prayer bands, 84; foreign mission band, 60; literature and correspondence band, 28; ministerial band, 10. Eighty-five have volunteered to engage in the Harvest Ingathering campaign.”

J. H. Paap, principal of Lodi (Cal.) Academy: “Lodi Academy began another school year September 28. We were glad to have with us Elder E. W. Farnsworth and Prof. M. E. Cady, of the Pacific Union. Our enrollment for the first week has reached eighty-four in the academic, and sixty-five in the church school. This attendance is a little stronger in the academic grades than last year, but less in the church school. We are much encouraged by the general character of the students. We expect a few others to enroll in the next week who at present are working in the fruit harvest. The spiritual condition among our students is good. At our first Friday evening meeting every student stood, expressing his consecration to the message.”

A. F. Schmidt, of the Sheyenne River Academy, Harvey, N. Dak., writes: “The enrollment during the first week of our school this year is only forty-six. Last year it was sixty-five. The reason for this is that the late crops in North Dakota have kept our young people from being present at the beginning. Out of our sixteen students who were out in the canvassing field during the summer, six have earned scholarships. The prospects for a larger enrollment than we had last year are very favorable. The new dormitory, which is nearly completed, will be appreciated by the young people, for heretofore they have been crowded. I believe that I never saw a more earnest class of students than we have here this year. They all seem to have come with the purpose of gaining a speedy preparation for work in the cause of God. The spiritual condition at the opening of school was very good. In the Friday evening prayer and social meeting, there was greater freedom than we have experienced in previous years at the opening of school.”

T. D. Rowe, principal of Buena Vista Academy, Ontario, reports: “Our school opened with an attendance a little larger than that of last year. From the first, an excellent spirit has been manifested. During the first month of school seven were baptized. This is the first year we have attempted to do definite practical

normal work. Under the guidance of Miss Johnston, our normal director, we have an excellent class of young people who are preparing to become teachers. Notwithstanding the depression caused by the war, the Lord is blessing us financially. As teachers, we look forward to the time when our students will be active workers in this and other lands.”

Glen Wakeham, principal of Stanborough Park Missionary College, England, writes: “The college opened with an enrollment of 65, an increase of seven over last year’s opening. The enrollment has since risen to 85, which is a record number for the institution. Twelve students, among them one young woman, are attending college on scholarships. A great effort was made to get all the students in promptly at the opening, and this was largely successful, so that only one or two more are expected. The college home is already quite full. With two exceptions all the students are baptized church members, and all these are preparing for home or foreign missionary work. The spiritual atmosphere in the institution is excellent. Most of the students are manifesting a quiet yet earnest enthusiasm in their work, and we have reason to expect a most successful year.”

D. C. Ludington reports concerning the school work in Burma: “The name of our school in Burma is the Meiktila Technical School. We have just opened another school in Mandalay, under the direction of Miss Elsie Lonsdale. Most of the children are Buddhists. The Meiktila school is a mission school. Only one boy has Adventist parents. We carry work corresponding to the eight grades at home. Both English and Burmese are taught. In connection with the literary training, carpentry, sloyd, shoe and all leather work, and cane furniture making, as well as agriculture, are taught. Two hours a day are required in trades. Our industries are supported by the sale of the completed articles. The average yearly enrollment is about sixty, and the average age of the pupils is twelve to twenty. The boys are beginning to accept Jesus. Eight have been baptized this year so far. A number will soon be ready for work. Four are actively engaged at present, while others spend their vacation in the canvassing work. There are four teachers in the school besides the superintendent, who have government certificates for teaching. We are of good courage.”

The following letter from Brother Floyd E. Bates regarding the plans for school work in Amoy, China, is of interest: “The great problem of education in China is one which demands greater attention now than ever before. Here in Amoy Adventist students cannot attend the schools of other denominations, and we have no school of our own. We have students of about the tenth grade, and we must meet the new demands made upon us by the closing of other schools to our students. It is partially on account of this action that we are especially anxious to have a first-rate school here for the benefit of our young men, the future workers in this part of the world. Our attendance will comprise largely young converts or sons of church members, who will be in school with the idea of preparing for active missionary work among their own people. We hope to make the school so efficient as to draw students of other classes also. In age the pupils will range from fourteen up, and as to classification — well, that is a very hard question. It is probable that a large percentage of them will be able to read at least a little, and some will know how to write a limited number of characters; but as to what we term the common branches, they will be absolutely ignorant. The Chinese language has no grammar, so that very important member of the common branches will be entirely eliminated from the course of study here. Practically all that is taught in the outschools which we are operating is Bible and Chinese. This condition we are very anxious to change. But before we can do that, some must be educated and trained so they can teach the other branches; so all points to the need of this one training school. The length of time that the students will be with us is very uncertain. We shall try to keep them at least two years, and more, if possible. We are putting up good buildings, with room enough to accommodate fifty or sixty pupils, to be finished about the first of the year. We expect to open the school as soon as they are finished.”

E. D. Dick, principal of the Alberta Industrial Academy, Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, reports: “School opened October 13, under most favorable conditions. Though the enrollment for the first week was not what we had hoped, the spiritual condition of the school is very satisfactory. Eighty-five students are at present enrolled, thirty of whom are in the church school. Our small enrollment is readily explained by the weather conditions throughout the province. On account of the late threshing, our canvassers are not in from the field, the delivery of their books being greatly hindered. Last year one hundred and eighty-one students were enrolled, and we think that the total enrollment this year will be as good, or perhaps better. A new church school building is practically finished, and satisfactory work is planned in this department. To meet the needs of our educational work in the province, an elementary normal course has been opened, and encouraging progress is being made in this line. In view of the strenuous times, we feel that the spiritual condition of the student body was never better. All seem to be here with the one purpose of fitting themselves for definite service in the Master’s cause.”

Dr. M. E. Olsen, in the absence of President Shaw, who is attending the fall council at Loma Linda, sends us the following words concerning Washington Missionary College: “They took us by storm, those two hundred and fifty-odd students that flocked into our buildings and upon our grounds in the opening weeks of the present school year. And then for a few days a number of men occupied two rows of tents out on the campus. Later these young men found very good accommodations in West Cottage, a new dormitory rented from the Sanitarium. And still the students kept coming. The preceptor and matron racked their brains to think of a place to put them. Rooms were rented presently in houses in the neighborhood, and in this way some were accommodated. The chapel has been seated with chairs in all three aisles, on both sides of the rostrum, and in front, and the doors have been removed in order that future students may be seated in the hall.” We are very thankful for the large attendance of earnest, consecrated young people, and we trust that by another year we can find room for an even larger number of students. Already the board is laying definite plans for ample enlargements of the buildings, and for increasing the equipment so as fully to meet the growing demands. The advanced students are enjoying the opportunities offered by the Library of Congress and the National Museum. The ministerial section has already begun its practical work, under the direction of Elder Votaw, in the towns and suburbs adjacent, with tokens of success. Altogether, we think that the students are making rapid progress in character building as well as in their studies.”

C. C. Lewis, principal of the Fireside Correspondence School, says: “We are glad to note an increasing interest in the work of the Fireside Correspondence School. Our enrollment of new students for 1915 has already reached 171, and the number of certificates sent out for subjects completed is already 54. This number is larger than that of any other year since the school began, and it will be considerably increased before the close of the year. The General Conference Department of Missionary Volunteers has placed before the workers in that organization, as a prominent feature of their work this fall, the effort to get every young person who cannot attend one of our resident schools, to take up one or more studies in the Correspondence School. That this effort is bringing results is seen by an order for thirteen hundred copies of our leaflet entitled ‘The Fireside Correspondence School in a Nutshell,’ from the secretary of the Nebraska Young People’s Department, and another for one thousand copies from the New Jersey Conference. A number of new studies have recently been added, including logic, and Bible studies for the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. One of our students is a prisoner of war in the island of Malta, but he has just sent in, under those conditions, the last ten lessons of the course in second-year Greek. One of our colleges, not wishing to organize a class for only two students in second-year Greek, arranged with the Correspondence School to conduct this work for them through correspondence. Thus the mission of the Fireside Correspondence School is gradually being extended to the homes of our people, among our advanced schools, and in regions beyond.”

Our Educational Progress

The reports of the educational work given in recent numbers of the REVIEW are of a nature to give the church greatly increased confidence in the outcome of the work committed to its charge.

In spite of the greatest of world crises, when uncertainty and distress are everywhere in evidence, we see almost without exception a marked increase in attendance at our schools, and a deeper appreciation of the meaning of Christian education for this time. The trend of our college reports indicates a large increase of mature students who are fitting themselves for efficient work in the Master’s cause. The news from the academies and intermediate schools is full of promise. Our younger boys and girls, as well as those who are more mature,

are beginning to feel the need of thorough Christian training.

Our buildings and equipment are fast becoming inadequate to meet the demands made on them. The increasing number of students earning scholarships by the sale of our literature indicates that this plan is growing more and more useful, not only because of its financial features, but also for its value in pointing out those who are sincere and earnest in their missionary educational purposes.

Now that the fall opening has past, it behooves every Adventist youth who cannot attend our regular schools to enroll in the extension department of our school system, the Fireside Correspondence School.

No young man or young woman who can obtain fifteen dollars and can find one hour a day for study, should overlook the opportunity for definite self-improvement. The rapidly increasing enrollment of this school, as well as the large number who are completing the different courses, goes to show that the work of the school is fully satisfactory with respect to method, content of subject matter, and control of scholarship.

The Lord, in his wise providence, has ordained these educational agencies for developing a noble and devoted company of youth who will be willing and capable instruments in his hands for the salvation of many souls.

W. C. JOHN.