Mission Schools in the South by C. P. BOLLMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 17, 1908

Mission Schools in the South

By C. P. BOLLMAN

WITHIN two years the number of our mission schools for colored children has increased from nine to thirty. The increase in the number of pupils has nearly kept pace with the increase in the number of schools. It is making only a very conservative statement to say that the thirty schools of the Southern Missionary Society have an enrolment of twelve hundred pupils, and that at least three times that number of persons are brought more or less directly under their influence.

One interesting feature of the mission schools is the class of people reached by them. Such schools as Fisk, Walden, and Roger Williams universities in Nashville, Booker T. Washington’s school at Tuskegee, Ala., and the Spellman University at Atlanta, for the most part reach only the better class of colored people, or at least that class having the most means. The mission schools, however, reach the poorer class of people. In these larger institutions the students are taken away from their homes, and they only are directly influenced by the schools, whereas the mission schools are established right among the people, and their influence is felt every day in the home.

In these humble homes, where it is frequently the case that the older people are unable to read, the school and its work are matters of much greater interest than in many more pretentious homes. The parents are eager to hear from the children what they have learned during the day. This is especially true of the Bible lessons; and it is frequently the case that the parents receive from the children much valuable instruction in Bible truth.

Another influence that is carried into the home is the instruction that is given in every-day home duties. The children are taught how to sew. In many instances they are given lessons in simple cookery, the care of a house, and the care of their own bodies. These lessons, in turn, form the subject of conversation and discussion in the home, outside of school hours. So there is a constant uplifting influence exerted in hundreds of families by these schools.

In the larger and more pretentious institutions of learning which have been mentioned, the commercial idea is predominant. The ambition to be somebody according to the world’s standard,—to be able to secure a good position and to earn a good salary,—is kept uppermost in the minds of the students. The graduates from these institutions are to be found as porters in business houses, upon Pullman cars, in hotels, and of course some of them become teachers. Many of them go North for employment.

The formation of right characters is kept uppermost in the minds of the pupils of the mission school. They are taught that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” The motive set before them is not primarily to be able to secure good positions and to earn good salaries, but to do good to their fellow men, and to win souls for the kingdom of God. The church-school seeks to create in the mind of the pupil a desire to become a worker for God.

Many of the pupils of our mission school are finding their way to Huntsville, and, in turn, the Oakwood School, instead of sending its graduates out to seek lucrative positions in the world, is sending them to teach in the mission schools.

But it may be asked, How does this work compare in the matter of expense with other kinds of missionary effort? Do not these schools cost a large amount of money?—Yes, in the aggregate, the mission schools do cost a great deal of money. Scarcely any of them are self-supporting: they will always require more or less help. For the purpose of controlling the attendance at these schools, and also of making each teacher as self-helpful as possible, the society requires that tuitions shall be collected as far as possible. In very few instances are these tuitions sufficient to pay the salary of the teacher. Indeed, in many cases they are not sufficient even to pay the incidental expense of the school. And yet they are a financial help. In cases where parents are absolutely unable to pay any tuition, and in cases where they are able but unwilling, there is usually some way to make arrangements for the payment of a small tuition, in order that the children may not be deprived of the advantages of a Christian education. So in no case is the real object of the school made subservient to the financial phase of the work.

What has been done in establishing these schools serves only to show what can be done. The thirty schools maintained by the Southern Missionary Society are scattered over seven States. This number must be multiplied many times. We have been told by the Testimonies that many such schools should be established: we have barely entered upon this work. Many more openings are presenting themselves than we can possibly fill, because of lack of teachers, and of means to equip the schools and to pay the salaries of the teachers.

In only a few of the places where mission schools have been established do we own school buildings. Several buildings have been provided within the past

two years. New buildings have been erected in Greenville, Yazoo City, and Natchez, Miss. Quite extensive repairs have been put upon the school and church building in Nashville. Repairs have also been made upon the buildings in Vicksburg.

A building which is being remodeled to serve for school and church purposes, has just been purchased in Atlanta, Ga., at an expense of twelve hundred forty-eight dollars. This building was constructed for a military barracks. It is well located, and at an expense of a few hundred dollars can be admirably adapted to school and church purposes.

Most touching appeals are received from different places almost every week, either to establish schools or to provide needed facilities for those already established. We are doing all that we can under the circumstances, with the means provided by the liberalities of our people. This we shall continue to do. Meanwhile we are praying the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth laborers into his harvest; and not only so, but that he will stir up the hearts of his people to contribute to the support of those who become laborers.

C. P. BOLLMAN, Secretary Southern Missionary Society.