Church Schools in South Africa
By C. H. Hayton
At the South African conference held in Cape Town last October the educational work received its due share of consideration. It was clear that some action should be taken to establish church schools among us in harmony with the recent Testimonies. All realized the importance of such schools, and the need of gathering our children together where they could receive instruction befitting these last days. Resolutions were unanimously passed to organize such schools wherever practicable, and an educational committee was appointed to take the matter in hand. Since then three church schools and one native school have been started, and another church school is contemplated. The work does not exceed the sixth standard, and the schools are open to all children. The school at Beaconsfield has been established for several years, but has now become a church school. The teacher is a colonial young lady, Miss Amy R. Jubber, who has been connected with our work for the past three years. There are twenty-four children in this school, and the work is progressing encouragingly.15 A quotation from one of Sister Jubber’s letters states the case more fully: “I expect five more children on Monday. This will make twenty-four. Others have promised to come in the cooler weather. The ages of the children range from three to twelve years. I know that the enemy is hard at work. He is determined to discourage and defeat my work at every step, but I am far from being discouraged. I realize that this experience is the working out of my own salvation. We have made this school a subject of prayer, and God is blessing us daily.” The second school is located at Uitenhage, a city in the Eastern Province in connection with the church lately raised up through the labors of Elder H. J. Edmed. Miss Ina Austen is the teacher, and from her last letter we learn that the school is making headway as fast as can be expected considering the many difficulties of the war times. The third school is in Cape Town, and is under the charge of Miss Helen Hyatt, a daughter of Elder W. S. Hyatt. She is a graduate of the teachers’ course of the Claremont Union College. All her children are members of Seventh-day Adventist families, and belong to the Cape Town church. Not every church school has had such a promising beginning. There is a good school board, which takes a fatherly interest in both teacher and students, and supplies their every need. A large, newly painted, and well-lighted room, new desks, maps, blackboards, etc., have been furnished, and a visit to the schoolroom makes one appreciate our educational methods. The native school is one lately opened by Elder J. M. Freeman in connection with the mission station at Kolo Mafeteng, Basutoland, where he is laboring. The teacher, Brother Kalaka, is a native, and was a student in Claremont College for two years. He left at the close of last year for the work among his own people. The following is an extract from Elder Freeman’s report:— “I am glad that our school is started. We have now ended our second week. Brother S. D. Kalaka is the teacher. About forty students—boys and girls, young men and young women—are in attendance. The pupils work two hours each day for tuition. We endeavor to instill into their minds the principles of the Bible, and to teach them the present truth. I have conducted the opening Bible talk with them, and have enjoyed doing so. I believe this is a good work, and if it is carried on in the way that meets the mind of the Lord, others, as well as those attending the school, will be influenced. These pupils represent many homes, and naturally, the truths learned will be taken into the homes.” There are many problems in connection with the educational work in South Africa to settle, which are peculiar to the colony, but we thank the Lord for the success thus far attained, and for the privilege of being laborers together with him. Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa.