German Seventh-day Adventist Church-School at Shattuck, Okla.
By Richard Baker
THIS school is located in the western part of Oklahoma, on a branch line of the Santa Fé Railroad, in a German neighborhood. We have an enrolment of seventy-six, forty boys and thirty-six girls, ranging in age from six to twenty years. The average daily attendance is about fifty. The school is divided into two departments,—the primary containing the first three grades of school work, and the grammar department from the fourth to the eighth grades. The Bible lessons in the primary department have been on the lives of the patriarchs, and are now beginning the life of Moses and the journeys of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan; the children have also learned the Lord's prayer, the ten commandments, the books of the Bible, and they also repeat a Bible verse upon some phase of present truth every morning at roll-call. They read from Bible Readers Nos. 1 and 2 in the English, and “Evangeliums A B C” and “Best Stories” in the German reading classes. In number work they go as far as long division. They also have oral instruction in physiology and hygiene, geography and nature studies. Brother Alexander Steinert is the teacher of this department, and is a very conscientious young man, having the interest of his pupils at heart, and laboring unceasingly for their advancement, spiritually and otherwise. In the upper grades we have two Bible classes. The A class, having considered the principal points in the life of the prophet Daniel, is now studying the book of Revelation. The members of this class are very much interested in these studies, comparing history with prophecy, or history foretold. The other class studies the judges of Israel, preparatory to the study of the lives of the kings of Judah and Israel. The pupils read from Bible Reader No. 3, “Christ's Object Lessons,” and Sister White's book “Education” in the English, and “Beste Geschichten” and “Christi Gleichnisse” in the German classes. The arithmetic classes begin in common fractions, and the highest class is working in interest. Much practical work is given in measuring, papering, plastering, lumber bills, coal bills, store bills, accounts, etc. We have classes in English grammar, using Bell's Grammar Nos. 1 and 2, and also in German grammar; also in German and English spelling, German and English penmanship, Kellogg's Physiology Nos. 1 and 2, and geography, paying special attention to the location of our mission stations and the spread of the third angel's message in foreign lands. Our school observed the week of prayer, by having an appropriate exercise, prayer and testimony meeting every day after the afternoon recess till four o'clock. We earnestly hope and pray that some good has been accomplished in this, and that from this school there will be some in the near future who will be willing to enter the great harvest-field to labor for the many peoples speaking the German language, in both this and other countries. We ask an interest in the prayers of God's people for our German school at Shattuck. RICHARD BAKER, Principal.