The School at Bethel, Wisconsin
By William Covert
It was my privilege to be present at the chapel service in the Bethel school this morning, December 4. As nearly as could be estimated, one hundred and twelve students attended chapel, and twenty-eight were at the same hour in the primary department. I was told by Professor Washburn that he enrolled one hundred and forty-one students yesterday, December 3, which was the opening day for the winter term. Counting the full enrollment since the fall term began, the number has reached one hundred and sixty-three. The attendance is surely encouraging, and there is no question but that the students will learn many valuable things in this school. The manual arts are receiving a large share of attention. The effort on the part of the faculty is to make these a part of the school work, more than a matter of mercantile interest or drudgery. The domestic arts are receiving a good share of attention also, so that Bethel is approaching the true ideal of an industrial school. In addition to the work upon the farm and garden, the class in carpentry is erecting a fourteen-room cottage upon the premises, which is to be occupied by members of the faculty and their families. More than forty acres of ground have been cleared since the school opened, and much of the same is being utilized for the growing of fruit and garden stuff. All the work required to accomplish this is done by the faculty and the students working together. Included in this work is the laying of stone and brick, the installing of heating plants, the placing of radiators, and plumbing work. No hired help apart from the school is employed. The great desire is to have students receive a Christian education. Such a training will fit them for a complete fulfillment of the practical duties of life while they are receiving the essentials of a literary education as far as they can be secured in a preparatory school. Bethel does not claim to be a finishing school for missionary workers, but a preparatory school for this work.