The Opening of Our Schools by H. R. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1911

The Opening of Our Schools

By H. R. S.

Fernando Academy

“Our school opened September 13, with about ninety-five present in the academic department. Others have come until we have one hundred eight consecrated young men and women.

“Buildings have been improved during the year that is past, by putting electric lights into the students’ rooms. Several hundred dollars has also been spent in papering the students’ rooms. We believe this will be the best school year that Fernando Academy has ever experienced.

“Prayer bands are well organized, and are doing active work, as are also the reading circle, and the canvassing, foreign mission, ministerial, and Christian Help bands. The training-school enrolment is about sixty. Each of the three rooms of this department has a well-organized missionary society. Special emphasis is being placed upon the study of music and the Testimonies, in our school this year. We ask an interest in the prayers of God’s children that we may train our young people for service in the Master’s vineyard.”

Oakwood Manual Training School

Prin. C. T. Boyd, writing of the school at Huntsville, Ala., says: “The past summer at Oakwood has been a prosperous one. We closed our last year’s work with a program in the chapel on the evening of August 23. While the number of our graduates was small (three), the occasion proved a very inspiring one to all who were there.

“The work of the present year opened September 25. We have with us sixty students, and a number of others are expected soon. Several of these are canvassers who find it necessary to remain in the field until their patrons have placed their cotton upon the market.

“As a faculty, we feel that we have the most earnest and enthusiastic class of students that we have ever faced in our assembly-room. They all seem anxious to do something, and are desirous of receiving a preparation that will soon enable them to enter the work.

“A new dining-hall, planned and erected by our Dr. M. M. Martinson and the students, now adds a great convenience to our equipment. In connection with this an oven and bake-room have just been completed. The room is well lighted. Both are constructed of concrete, and present a clean and sanitary appearance.

“A number of new fixtures and furnishings add greatly to the efficiency of our sanitarium. This little institution has done some good work the past year. However, we are anxious to increase our patronage, and shall be pleased to correspond with those to whom we can be a help. Plenty of practical experience adds greatly to the advantage of the nurses in training. To become a trained nurse opens up an avenue of usefulness to the colored girl, for as a nurse she can enter the best homes among white people of the South.

“One of the strong features of our school work this year is our ministerial course. Elder T. H. Jays has charge of this department. The classes are well filled, and a deep interest is manifested on the part of the students in each subject that is taken up. Several in this course have had the privilege of being out with tent companies during the summer, and report many interesting experiences. They are enthusiastic for a better preparation.

“Gospel Herald, the organ of the North American Negro Department of our General Conference, has been published here since last January. The work on this paper is very beneficial to the institution

in furnishing both profitable and educational employment to the students.

“Fourteen girls are taking the sewing and dressmaking class. Several others are working their entire way through school in the sewing department. They are making uniforms for the girls at present. (All our girls are dressed in uniform.) Others are engaged in sewing carpet rags for rugs. We are just now equipping our sewing department for a strong work. We have the entire up-stairs over our new dining-hall for this purpose. We are installing some new machines and other fixtures.

“The farm work is energetically superintended by Brother C. J. Harris. The usual crops of corn, cow-peas, sorghum, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables, berries, cotton, and bulbs have been produced. About seven hundred bushels of sweet potatoes have just been harvested. Our bulbs are fine. The cattle have looked unusually well the past summer.

“While we are pleased with the success attending the school, nothing is so gratifying as seeing the Christian graces perfected in the hearts of those for whom we are laboring. Twenty of our students were baptized at one time in April, and three others in October.

“We appreciate the interest of our many friends in helping us make an honest and efficient effort to care for an educational need in the South.”

H. R. S.