Our College at Healdsburg by L. A. Reed

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 6, 1906

Our College at Healdsburg

By L. A. Reed

Last spring marked a crisis for the educational work at this place. At one time it was decided not to attempt to conduct a school here another year, and some arrangements were made looking to that end. Many of the students were arranging to go elsewhere; but a better way was found, and the school work received a thorough reorganization.

It was not until after the Oakland camp-meeting, however, which closed the last of July, that a definite decision was reached, and steps actually taken for the conducting of the work this year. This gave a trifle over six weeks in which to advertise the school.

Notwithstanding this serious condition and the drawbacks incident thereto, at the present writing we have a school considerably larger than we had last year. At the present there are one hundred and forty enrolled in all the departments. Sixty of these are in the training-school, leaving eighty enrolled in the collegiate and academic departments. There are almost forty students taking ninth-grade English, about thirty in the algebra classes, twenty-eight in the physical geography class, sixteen in the chemistry class, about twelve in the geometry class, and about ten in the physics class. There are fifteen students taking the normal course.

We have sixty in the Home, which is a third more than we had in the Home last year, not excepting the attendance at the special Bible training classes, when an extra effort was made for a large attendance. There is nothing at the present time, except our regular work, to draw students here. Besides this, there are twelve students being kept away as yet through the inability of the publishing house to furnish them books for their deliveries. We think this increase in the attendance a very significant mark of progress, and are greatly encouraged by it.

The spirit in the Home and among the students in general is exceptionally good. We have been seeking in every way to make the school and the work in the Home co-operative as far as possible. Students are placed on their honor, and are being taught how to use their privileges.

The financial problem has been one of the most difficult in previous years. The school has run behind as much as seven thousand dollars in a single year. This year we are seeking especially to make a 'better' record financially. We have organized all our work to conduct it as economically as possible, and we believe that there will be some evidence of economy in the financial record at the end of this year. The school here has some expenses not common to our schools generally; for instance, in this State we are required to pay both State and city taxes. This amounts to five hundred dollars a year, and means just that amount of a handicap for us as compared with schools outside the State.

We have a good territory for a successful school. We have a large field, and many young people to interest in our work. We believe that if the school can be increased one third in the short time allowed for this year, next year we shall have a still more greatly increased attendance, and enjoy the benefits accruing therefrom.

L. A. REED, President.