Manual Training as an Essential Factor in Education
By J. H. Haughey
(Continued)
Our oldest institution, the Battle Creek College, established in 1874, was built within the city limits with sixteen acres of land. The major part of this land was sold to our people in city lots; but the college gradually drifted toward the world's standard, until, in 1882, the doors were closed for one year. When the school was reopened, the industrial idea began and continued to grow until in a few years carpentry, printing, broom making, and tailoring were introduced. But after two or three years' experience, on account of financial losses in these departments, they were dropped, and amusements—lawn tennis, football, and cricket—took their places. The college never really recovered from the effect of this backward step. But notwithstanding these things, the Lord gave it certain success by introducing again these several trades, and enabling those who had faith to add also a farm of eighty acres, which was located about one mile north of the college buildings. However, this did not take the school buildings nor the school into the country. The same evil influences surrounded the students. Instruction came, clothed in language, strong and forcible, but nevertheless true, saying, “Never can the proper education be given to the youth in this country [Australia] or in any other country, unless they are separated a wide distance from the cities. The customs and practices in the cities unfit the minds of the youth for the entrance of truth.” And again, “We shall find it necessary to establish our schools out of and away from the cities, and yet not so far away that they can not be in touch with them, and do them good, to let the light shine amid the moral darkness.”—“Special Testimonies on Education,” pages 87 and 88.
This was written in 1894. In 1901 the Lord graciously opened the way whereby the college was sold, and two hundred and seventy-two acres of land was bought near the town of Berrien Springs, on the banks of the St. Joseph River, where is located the buildings of the Emmanuel Missionary College. But years before this, in 1882, South Lancaster Academy was founded by the efforts of Elder S. N. Haskell and Prof. G. H. Bell, with the idea of introducing trades and various kinds of work for the benefit of the students. About thirty acres of land was purchased, and sold to our own people in small lots. During this same year Healdsburg College was founded at Healdsburg, Cal. Then there was a lull, until in 1890 the Union College grounds were secured, upon which several substantial structures were erected. After this followed Walla Walla College in 1892; Mt. Vernon Academy, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and Graysville Academy, Graysville, Tenn., in 1893; Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Tex., in 1894; Avondale School for Christian Workers, in 1894; Cedar Lake Industrial Academy, Cedar Lake, Mich., in 1898; Bethel Academy, Bethel, Wis., in 1899; and then came a host of industrial academies and intermediate schools.
The following is a statement showing the number of acres first purchased and now owned or leased by our various schools:—
Colleges and Training-Schools
Avondale School for Christian Workers, 1,100 acres of land, about 500 of which are reserved for the school; Claremont Union College, South Africa, 60 acres, now 30 acres; Duncombe Hall Training College, London, England, no land; Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Mich., 272 acres, now 264 acres; Fernando College, Cal., 10 acres; Friedensau Industrial School, Friedensau, Post Grabow, Bez. Madgeburg, Germany, about 40 acres; Healdsburg College, Healdsburg, Cal., 10 acres, now 5 acres; Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Tex., a large tract of land, of which about 100 acres remain in the possession of the school; Latin Union College, Gland, Switzerland, about 100 acres; Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, Madison, Tenn., 414 acres; Southern Training-school, Graysville, Tenn., 320 acres; South Lancaster Academy, South Lancaster, Mass., about 67 acres, now about 30 acres; Union College, College View, Neb., 300 acres, now 175 acres; Walla Walla College, College Place, Wash., 250 acres, now 60 acres; Washington Training College, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., 25 acres.
Academies and Industrial Schools
Adelphian Academy, Holly, Mich., 77 acres, also 88 acres put into crops on shares; Battle Creek Industrial Academy, Battle Creek, Mich., campus only; Beechwood Manual Training Academy, Fairland, Ind., 6 acres, also 14 acres leased; Bethel Academy, Bethel, Wis., 200 acres, now 195 acres; Cedar Lake Industrial Academy, Cedar Lake, Mich.,27148 acres, now 82 acres; Colorado Western Slope Industrial School, Palisade, Colo., 6 acres; Cumberland Industrial School, Daylight Route No. 2, McMinnville, Tenn., 100 acres; Diamante School, Argentina, South America, 90 acres; DuQuoin Industrial School, DuQuoin, Ill., 6 acres; Elk Point Industrial School, Elk Point, S. D., 40 acres, also 35 acres leased; Eschol Industrial School, Eschol, Miss., unknown; Eufola Academy of Industrial Mechanics, Eufola, N. C., unknown; Forest Home Industrial Academy, Mt. Vernon, Wash., 40 acres; Gravelford Academy, Gravelford, Ore., unknown; Harvey Industrial School, Harvey, N. D., 400 acres, also 150 acres leased; Hazel Industrial Academy, Hazel, Ky., unknown; Hildebran Industrial Academy, Hildebran, N. C., 210 acres; Iowa Industrial Academy, Stuart, Iowa, 100 acres, also 80 acres leased; Kansas City Intermediate School, Kansas City, Kan., no land; Lornedale Academy, Lorne Park, Gaston, Ontario, 60 acres; Maplewood Academy, Maple Plain, Minn., 92 acres; Meadow Glade Industrial Academy, Battle Ground, Wash., 20 acres; Mt. Ellis Academy, Bozeman, Mont., 20 acres; Northwestern Training-school, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, 130 acres; Loma Linda Sanitarium and School, Loma Linda, Cal., 110 acres; Oakwood Manual Training-school, Huntsville, Ala., 358 acres; Pacific Press Training-school, Mountain View, Cal., no land; Fox River Academy, Sheridan, Ill., 43 acres; Taquary School, Taquary, Brazil, South America, unknown; Thayer Intermediate School, Thayer, Kan., 5 acres; Williamsdale Academy, Williamsdale East, Nova Scotia, 30 acres; Straw Industrial School, Oswego, Kan., 10 acres; Clearwater Industrial School, 90 acres, also 130 acres leased; school in process of erection at Stuartson, Ill., with 40 acres. This gives a present total of 4,343 acres.
This reveals to us our resources, our opportunities, yea, our grand and glorious privileges and possibilities, along this line of essential education. But the Lord is always ahead of his people; he is still our leader, although even yet we see only as through a glass darkly. Here is the place to begin. Our young people see it, our teachers see it, industrial schools see it, the parents of the children see it, and it is time that we, as teachers in the academies and colleges, see it. Our young people are going into these schools to begin their education, because so many of them need yet to learn their A B C's. What has the Lord by his Spirit indicated in regard to this? “Study in agricultural lines should be the A B C of the education given in our schools. Our youth need an education in tilling the soil as well as in literary lines.” “Let the teachers of our schools take their students with them into the gardens and fields, and teach them how to work the soil in the very best manner.” “Agriculture will open resources for self-support. This work is essential to the education most valuable to spiritual advancement. The cultivation of the soil will prove an education to the soul.” “Some hours each day should be devoted to useful education in lines of work that will help the students in learning the duties of practical life, which are essential for all youth.”