Meiktila (Burma) Industrial School
By R. B. Thurber
THE third year of the school began May 20. We have been greatly encouraged by the increased attendance. On the opening day thirty-five boys enrolled, and this number was increased to fifty by June 1, three times the number in attendance at the same time last year. At this writing (August 15), our enrolment is seventy-seven, and every week other boys are coming. Last year many came and soon left, mainly because the Burman likes a new thing better than he likes work; but this year our students are of an older, more industrious class, and we have held nearly all. Two boys were sent home because they became leprous. We have seventy-two in regular attendance. Housing room for these boys is greatly needed. They have been crowded into every available space. Five sleep on the floor in a ten-by-twelve-foot room. You will understand when I say that again and again our place has been so full that we could not hold another one. Yet how can we turn them away? I would attribute this increase partly to the fact that people have seen that we can weather the blast of opposition and reaction, and partly because we have started two new trades that were desired. Through the kind help of a brother in the church at Singapore, we procured by contract for one year a Chinese skilled workman in cane. He can not speak any of the languages known here, but through the universal language of signs we manage to work with him quite well. There are six boys in his class learning to make cane furniture. While the Burman, unlike the Chinaman, does not naturally like to work, yet he is very quick to learn. In my school experience, I have not seen boys learn so quickly as do these. As a people, they have natural skill at the lighter trades. Leather work was started soon after school began, a native shoemaker of Madras, India, being hired as instructor in this work. He is a first-class workman in his line. The boys in this trade begin by making Burmese sandals; and after they learn to sew, they are put on simple repair work. We have all we can do so far in making and repairing shoes for the people in the town. One government officer made a special trip to the school to tell how well he liked his patent-leather shoes we had made. And indeed, they look just as well as any of the best makes in America. We have had no difficulty in marketing any of our products without advertising. There are eight boys in the leather class. The carpentry class has been engaged for several months on our house, which is being built on the school compound, with money from the $300,000 Fund. It is nearly finished, and we expect to occupy it next month. We will then send a picture and a description of it to the REVIEW, with heartfelt thanks to those who have sacrificed for our comfort. The carpentry class has ten boys, who are fast becoming proficient with their tools. The reason we have only one third of the boys in the trades is that it is early in the year, and we do not give a boy a chance to learn a trade without previous trial in unskilled labor. The learning of a trade is held out as a prize. A boy who is afraid of a blister made by a shovel handle will deal too tenderly with one caused by a plane. We speak of unskilled labor; yet nearly all work is skilled labor to most of the boys. The efficient use of hoe, shovel, pick, and wheelbarrow is unknown to them at first. In the trades, a small wage is given at the beginning, and is increased as progress is made. Later I shall give a fuller description of our industrial methods. In each of these trades there is a Karen boy, from among that hill people for whom so many calls have been made, and for whose help recruits are now in preparation. They are a lovable people, and these boys bid fair to make a success of their education, and return to their friends with this truth. They, with others, show their inclination by giving silent testimony in the student prayer-meetings, and taking keen interest in the Sabbath-school lessons and memory verses. We hope for a harvest of souls this year; but the enemy is hard at work, and at times the darkness of heathenism seems almost to overwhelm us. We greatly need a workshop and a dormitory, each of which will cost about $1,200. We have $200 worth of material on hand for the former, and Brethren H. H. Votaw and R. A. Beckner are now in the oil-fields, soliciting donations. We have also made a call for an American mechanic to act as the backbone of our industrial department. Then we need a nurse. A nurse could teach a few classes in the school, and thus relieve the writer, so that he could better attend to the school management. There is a wide field for medical work among the boys and neighbors. Nothing would more effectually break down prejudice, and give an impetus to our work.