p. 18 | Fireside Correspondence School by W. E. Howell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1912

Fireside Correspondence School

By W. E. Howell

THIS school was established for the purpose of providing a means of education for the large number who for any reason are unable to attend the ordinary school. This number includes all, both young and old, whose occupation or circumstances keep them at home, and all who are regularly employed in the organized work of the denomination, of whatever class they may be. The school is now well into its third year's work. From the steady improvement in the quality of the students' work and from the many expressions of appreciation by the members of the school, its managers feel more fully confirmed than ever in the opinion that this enterprise is a successful and indispensable part of the educational work of the denomination. We beg the indulgence of the reader in presenting some statistical information about its work, which it is believed will be found interesting.

The present working enrolment of the school is 190, of whom 92 are men and 98 are women. Of this number, 90 are new students, 68 have renewed their work from last year, and 32 come down from the first year's enrolment. Our registry of new students is steadily increasing from day to day, as the school is open for admission the year round.

The occupations represented are 24 in number. The home (not including employed workers) heads the list, with 62; of whom 22 are farmers (fathers and sons), 17 are housewives, and 23 are daughters. Teachers follow next, with 36. Then foreign missionaries, with 12; ministers (in the United States), 9; Bible workers, 8; canvassers, 6; nurses, 7; stenographers, 5; etc.

The ages most largely represented are 27 persons in their teens; 73, from twenty to thirty; 41, from thirty to forty; 15, from forty to fifty; 6, from fifty to sixty.

The countries outside the United States and Canada, where we have students enrolled, are: Guatemala, West Indies, Portugal, West Africa, Syria, India, Burma, Sumatra, China, Japan, Java, Tahiti, Tonga. Of these countries India is in the lead with 6.

The studies most largely chosen are: Grammar, 48; Bible doctrines, 34; composition-rhetoric, 25; bookkeeping, 16; New Testament Greek I, 16; college rhetoric, 13; arithmetic, 13; algebra, 11; stenography, 10; Latin I, 9; general history, 7; church history, 7; New Testament history, 7.

The best record for amount of work done the first year is that of a licentiate minister, who completed Bible doctrines, English grammar, and New Testament Greek I, with an average standing of 95, 94, and 93 respectively; in the second year, that of a young woman at home who completed (within the 52 weeks of a regular scholarship), physiology and hygiene, algebra, general history (¾), and Latin I (1-3), with an average of 97, 97, 93, and 94 respectively. A close second to her is another young woman who completed the life of Christ, algebra, and general history (¾), with an average of 90, 96, and 92 respectively. Both these young women are attending a residence school this year, where their Correspondence School credits were accepted. In the present year's work, beginning Oct. 2, 1911, the one who is now farthest ahead in any one subject is a young woman teaching church-school, who has completed 20 lessons (completing half of the course) in bookkeeping, with an average standing of 98; she took composition-rhetoric last year. A close second to her in a single subject, is another church-school teacher who has completed 17 lessons in algebra, with an average of 97; this one took grammar and United States history last year. The best record so far this year on two subjects is that of a farmer's daughter, who has completed 19 lessons each in arithmetic and composition-rhetoric, with an average standing of 96 and 95 respectively; she took grammar and physiology and hygiene last year.

So far as we have information, 14 students who were members of the Correspondence School last year are attending residence schools this year, distributed from South Lancaster to Loma Linda. Doubtless there are many more belonging to this class whose present whereabouts we do not know.

Some of the elements of satisfaction and strength in our school work are the increasing number of students who renew their enrolment from year to year and from subject to subject; the large proportion of teachers who are strengthening their education by this means; the faithful work of foreign missionaries on their lessons under unfavorable conditions; very little change in managing board or teaching force; enlarging the scope of our work steadily, but only as fast as our finances allow; the high standard of work required in every lesson; and the self-reliance, perseverance, relish for improvement, sense of accomplishment, and capacity for thoroughness that are being developed in our students.

Students may enroll any day in the year by addressing the school at Takoma Park, D. C. W. E. HOWELL, Principal.