WOODLAND (WIS.) INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
By William Covert
It is twelve months since this school opened in the building that it now occupies. Then forty-five students attended chapel exercises. At the anniversary, there were ninety-three, and counting the primary pupils, there were one hundred and eight, in actual attendance. The total enrollment since the beginning of the school year, August 28, is one hundred and fifty. Last year ninety were enrolled. The indications are that fully twice that number will be registered before the present school year closes. The spirit of the school, and the success in the class work are encouraging. The studies and recitations are directed in such a manner as to come in touch with the Way, the Truth, and the Life at every step. The design in such a school is that the Lord himself shall be the teacher, while the student yields his faculties to the service of the divine mind. The problem of education is placed upon the true Christian basis, where the teacher understands this subject, and knows how to cause the truth to grow, in all his classes. And this is surely being done in the Woodland school. Its classification, at this time, includes all the grades up to the eleventh year. There is a decided and successful effort to do thorough work in these studies. But that which is most beautiful and encouraging is the conversion of nearly all the members of the school. There is a happy Christian experience associated with, and greatly strengthening, the acquisition of essential knowledge in every department. There is not a girl in the school who does not bear her testimony in the social meetings, and almost all the boys do the same. The children and youth are not only learning facts, but they are learning the truth. In addition to the proper things which the public school gives, they are obtaining an excellent understanding of the Bible and the blessed truth for this time. The truth in the hearts of these students is manifesting itself in a substantial way at this time, as thirty of them have gone to surrounding neighborhoods and cities to sell “Christ’s Object Lessons.” They do this that they may bear their part in relieving our good college of its indebtedness. With nearly all, this is their first experience in the canvassing work. They design to stay out two weeks, and then return to their school work. Another feature that should make all rejoice is the absence of jealousies and criticisms. The school and the church at this place have united in one missionary society to supply reading-matter on present truth, and do missionary work in Grand Rapids, Marshfield, Pittsville, and neighboring places. They have also elected a corresponding secretary for the purpose of enlisting the interest of all more fully in the foreign work, and of co-operating with our missionaries abroad as far as can be done. The principles and spirit that prevail in the Woodland school are shared generally by the church schools throughout the Conference, which are now established in about twenty localities.