Fireside Correspondence School by W. E. Howell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1911

Fireside Correspondence School

By W. E. Howell

Still Hard at Work

WE have not said much for a long time, because we are too busy to do much talking, and because the students keep coming without our saying much.

We wonder how many readers of the REVIEW really sense that about two hundred young people, parents, and workers in the field, in offices, and in institutions, are making definite progress in education without leaving their homes. This is made possible by the Fireside Correspondence School, located at Takoma Park, D. C., which was organized for those who need more education but can not leave their homes or their work to get it. This school is no place for those who are seeking an easy road to success, but those who are willing to work are making substantial and rapid advancement. Our work is usually given by subject rather than by grade, though naturally many subjects coincide with grades. Most of our courses contain forty lessons, and either complete the subject (as grammar, general history, stenography, etc.), or cover the ground usually passed over in one year at a three residence school (as algebra, Latin, physiology, Bible doctrines, etc.).

One young woman has completed twenty-five lessons in algebra since the middle of November, with an average standing of 96.2 per cent. Besides this she has done twenty-one lessons in the life of Christ, and twenty-six in general history, with a good average in both. She expects to attend a residence school next year.

Another young woman, a church-school teacher, is just completing composition-rhetoric, begun October 3, with an average of 96.7 per cent.

Another, a farmer’s daughter, has completed thirty-four lessons each in grammar and physiology, with high standings.

One young man (married) who works ten hours a day as machinist, completed New Testament Greek I (including the entire Gospel by John) in nine months, with an average of 98.7 per cent after very close marking. He is now taking physiology, and will start on Greek II soon.

An older man (aged fifty-three) completed not long ago our courses in English grammar, New Testament Greek, and Bible doctrines, carrying them at the same time, and has now enrolled for the life of Christ.

A young man, aged eighteen, a clerk, has but eight more lessons to complete first year Latin since the middle of October, with an average of 94 per cent so far.

Another, a boy of fifteen, a canvasser, just completed English grammar, begun November 13, with an average of 95.5 per cent. At the same time he has done fifteen lessons in algebra, with an average of 99.4 per cent.

One young woman, a teacher in one of our academies, has completed twenty-four lessons in New Testament Greek II, since the latter part of October.

A young man of twenty-two completed thirteen lessons in bookkeeping from January 31 to March 14, with a high average. He was called home from one of our academies to the farm on account of his father’s sickness.

Another student in bookkeeping, aged forty-four, an office worker, has completed twelve lessons since February 5, with an average standing of 98.

And so the story goes. We have cited a few who have made rapid progress to show what can be done by those who are willing to work for an education and know how to use their spare time. Some are progressing more slowly, a few even taking two years to finish a course; but these never give up. They feel it is much better to keep doing something than to say, “I haven’t the time,” or, “It’s too hard work,” or, “I hope to a little later.”

What are you saying about it, reader?

W. E. Howell, Principal.