THE SCHOOL AT BETHEL, WISCONSIN.
By Wm. Covert
It was my privilege to attend chapel service in the Bethel school this morning, December 4. As nearly as could be estimated, 112 students attended chapel, and 28 were at the same hour in the primary department. I was told by Professor Washburn that he enrolled 141 students December 3, which was the opening day for the winter term. Counting the full enrolment since the fall term began, the number has reached 163. The attendance is surely encouraging. The manual arts are receiving a large share of attention. The effort on the part of the faculty is to make these a part of the school work more than a matter of mercantile interest or drudgery. The domestic arts are receiving a good share of attention also, so that Bethel is approaching the true idea of an industrial school. The class in carpentry is erecting a fourteen-room cottage upon the premises. More than forty acres of ground have been cleared since the school opened, and the same in a very large measure is being utilized for the growing of fruits and garden stuff. Every part and feature of work required to accomplish all this is done by the faculty and the students working together. Included in this work is the laying of stone and brick, the installing of heating plants, the placing of radiators, and plumbing work. No hired help apart from the school is employed. The great desire is to have students receive a practical Christian education. Bethel does not claim to be a finishing school for missionary workers, but a preparatory school for this work. Wm. Covert.