Healdsburg College by M. E. Cady

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1902

Healdsburg College

By M. E. Cady

M. E. CADY

The past four years have witnessed a steady increase in the enrollment of the college. In 1898-99 the enrollment was 213; in 1899-1900 it was 237; 1900-01, 254; and this year it is 298. There is no reason why this college should not be full and running over from year to year. There are between two and three thousand young people in Healdsburg College district who are of proper age to attend college. Of course some of these are hindered from doing so by a lack of means, but as the college comes upon a proper basis in the carrying forward of industrial work, many students will be enabled to pay at least a part of their expenses by work. As has been already stated, the enrollment for the present year is 298; 185 of these are in the college department, above and including the eighth grade; 130 are in the primary and intermediate department, which this year has been under the direction of the church, and is properly called the Healdsburg College Church School. The average attendance of the entire school is about 230; while the average attendance in the college proper has been 130.

Class of Students

On the whole, Healdsburg College has had a better class of students this year than for several years past. It is true that the older class of students who used to be in attendance in our schools and colleges is now absent, and the work being done in our institutions is largely of a primary and intermediate order. This year the average age of our students is about twenty.

Spiritual Condition

There has been a good degree of spirituality in the school this year. Although there have been no extraordinary spiritual revivals, there has been a willingness on the part of the students to take hold of missionary enterprises and do whatever work has been placed before them, with a hearty, cheerful spirit. The college missionary society has been attended by the majority of the students; about three hundred of our periodicals have been taken and sent out to those who it was thought would be interested in reading our papers. Some medical missionary work has been done, the nurses' department of the college having fitted some of our young people to do Christian Help work in the homes of the needy. About one hundred and twenty-five students have expressed a desire to prepare for the Lord's work.

In the recent effort made by the college in the sale of “Christ's Object Lessons,” the school made a hearty response. One hundred and fifteen or twenty students were in attendance at that time, and one hundred teachers and students responded to the call, going into different portions of the field to engage in canvassing for three days. This effort has brought a missionary spirit into the school, and many of our students desire to canvass during the summer.

Discipline of the School

On the whole, the discipline of the school during the past year has been good. Out of the one hundred and eighty-five students who entered the college department, only six or eight have left the school on account of not harmonizing with its principles.

Industrial Features of the School

The industrial phase of our educational work is on the advance. Previously to this year, printing, tent making, and broom making were being carried on; printing this year, and painting, sewing, and blacksmithing, cooking, and dressmaking have been added. The teachers have been asked to take up the industrial work as a part of their regular duties. The intellectual studies are carried on at the college in the forenoon, while the industrial work is carried on in the afternoon in the different shops and on the farm and school ground. A store has also been started, which has been demonstrated to be a very necessary adjunct to our school. This will be continued.

The following data will give some idea of the work that the students have been carrying on during the year: 148 have been pursuing a regular course of Bible study, 10 are studying for the ministry, 15 to become Bible workers, and 36 have handed in their names to take the canvassers' drill; 30 students are preparing for the church-school work, 38 to become physicians and nurses, and 12 for Christian business lines; 10 students have been taking instruction in printing, 10 in cooking, 25 in dressmaking, 8 in broom making, 8 in painting, 5 in tent making, 2 in blacksmithing, and 25 in nursing.

Class Work

The students have manifested a good degree of interest in their regular class work. The teachers have been endeavoring to bring their work into harmony with the principles the Lord has laid down for the teaching of different studies; a greater effort has been made to make the Bible the basis of all study, but we are persuaded that we have but begun to see what the Lord has for us in presenting to the students all the legitimate lines of work from a Bible view-point. It will take faith and perseverance on the part of the teachers to meet the Lord's mind in this matter, but it will be done; for the Lord has told us that there shall be delay no longer. He has set his hand the second time to bring the schools up to the standard that he has raised for them. “Christ's Object Lessons” contains the principles of Christian education which the Lord is earnestly longing to see brought into his schools.

This book is the greatest contribution to the cause of Christian education that has yet been made. It leads the way; it marks out the road, leading directly opposite to that in which worldly educators are traveling; it shows us the road that we must take if we would be the head and not the tail. There are those among us who will read “Christ's Object Lessons,” adopt its principles, and the Lord will move upon them to write books for our schools which will be in harmony with the principles therein set forth; and the day is not far distant when Seventh-day Adventists will have an educational system founded upon Christian principles which will be more complete than any worldly system of education. We should not hold back, but step into the path of God's opening providences, and enjoy the experiences and blessings which will come as the sure result of hearty co-operation with our great Leader.

Finances

The college has been able to make all its running expenses the past year, and also to pay the interest on its interest-bearing notes. If the Healdsburg College debts were lifted, there is no reason why the institution should not be able to make its way, and do a great work in educating our young people to become standard bearers in the cause of God.

Future Plans

It is now planned to hold a three-weeks teachers' institute, beginning about the first of July. It is expected that all the teachers who will be engaged in teaching in our church schools the coming year will attend this institute. It is also expected that the Union Conference Educational Committee will be present at this institute to carry out the work of providing a uniform course of study, and of selecting the text-books to be used in all the church schools in the Pacific Union Conference. Following the teachers' institute will

be a summer school for teachers; this will continue about ten weeks. Those teachers who are deficient in any of the common branches, or who are desirous of taking some advanced work, will find in the summer school a good opportunity. It is now expected that the college will be open the year round for school work. There will be a vacation of about three weeks in the month of June, during which time the annual camp meeting is generally held. Between thirty and forty of the students in school at present are planning to attend the summer school. As the industrial phase of the school is developed, it will be necessary to have more student help in order to carry it on properly. Several of the departments of work can be carried on more profitably during the summer months than at any other time.

As we review the work of the year, we feel grateful to the Lord for the success that has attended the school, and with courage we enter the broader fields of blessing and opportunity that the Lord is opening before us.