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Garhwal Industrial School

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 1, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 35.

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Garhwal Industrial School

By L. J. BURGESS

L. J. BURGESS
IT was about four years ago that the people of this district in the Himalayas sent us a petition for a school. It has taken some time to get to the place where we were able to answer this call. A year ago we were granted some land by the government, and began building a small mission bungalow. The work on this was somewhat delayed, so that the house was not ready for occupancy until the first of June. At that time we moved into our quarters in one room of the bungalow, reserving the other two rooms for the school. We also erected two buildings twenty-four feet long and eight feet wide, built of bamboo and grass, to serve as dormitories for the boys.
On the first of June over forty boys put in their appearance; this number has since grown to fifty-eight, ranging in age from twelve to twenty-four years. The students bring their food from home, which they cook for themselves with wood gathered from the jungle. They also wash their own clothes at a mountain spring not far distant.
From half-past eight to half-past ten we have industrial work. We are now teaching simple manual training, which consists in this case of digging dirt to level the yard. After this we hope to teach stone masonry, carpentry, and agriculture. Before we opened our school, we were told that these boys would not take to the industrial work; and some did wish to pay fees instead of working. But we held strictly to the industrial plan, which we believe to be the better, and the experience thus far indicates that there will be no difficulty in this matter. I have never seen boys work with a better will. One of our teachers, Moti Singh, is especially helpful in encouraging the boys.
The school hours, from eleven to three, are spent in study. It would be hard to find more studious, earnest boys. Most of them are Hindus, who had never heard of the gospel of salvation, and their interest in the Bible studies is very encouraging.
We are also trying to teach music; but as the boys are entirely unacquainted with what we consider melody and harmony, it will take some time to educate the ear and voice. However, we hope to develop some singers from among them.
Will the reader kindly remember this work in prayer?
India.