Educational Department by J. L. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 23, 1913

Educational Department

By J. L. Shaw

J. L. SHAW, General Secretary W. E. HOWELL, N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary

The Opening of Our Schools

Campion Academy

WE are receiving reports from our schools in various parts of the field, telling of encouraging openings. It was our privilege to visit Campion Academy, near Loveland, Colo., one week after its opening. We were pleased to find an attendance of about one hundred in the different grades. Eight years ago, when we visited the place, no buildings had been erected. There is now a substantial school building, with a dormitory for girls and one for boys. In the short time we had to visit the school, we saw evidences of substantial work being done.

This year there is an entirely new force of teachers. Prof. C. L. Taylor is principal. Elder W. A. Gosmer teaches Bible and history. Mrs. Gosmer is instructor in music and language. Miss Taylor, a former student of Union College, while acting as preceptress, is also teaching English and one or two other branches. Brother C. E. Ledford is carrying the industrial work. We believe that Campion Academy is fortunate in its staff for the present year. This, with the increase in attendance, gives the board and patrons renewed courage. The institution has not been able to do much in industrial lines thus far, but intends doing more in the future, which we believe will greatly help the school.

Union College

A week later, several days were spent at Union College. A number of changes have taken place since the writer was connected with the work twenty years ago. The town of College View has grown beyond our expectations; and we believe that the institution has grown with it. The enrolment showed a material increase over that of last year. At the same time the spirit and tone of the school were indeed encouraging and refreshing. At the Friday evening social meeting an opportunity was given those to rise who wished to consecrate themselves to the work. We saw none remaining in their seats. This is indicative of a good spirit at the opening of the college year.

On Sabbath morning it was our privilege to meet seventy-five or one hundred young people having definitely in mind evangelical work. We understand it is the purpose of the president of the college and his faculty, the coming year, to especially emphasize the importance of students' preparing for service, either as ministers, teachers, Bible workers, or as workers in other lines. We believe this will do much to give tone and character and definiteness to the college work.

Four or five days was too short a time to go very deeply into the educational work of the institution. We met with the faculty and graduating class. Nearly forty anticipate graduating, and fifteen or twenty of these will be in the literary course. We spent a little time in the normal department, and were gratified with what we saw. While going through the halls of the college, we could not but review the efforts of the past twenty years, and the number of young people who have attended this school, received a preparation, and gone out into the harvest-field.

In talking to the church we were glad to see many brethren and sisters who have grown gray during the term of years which they have spent in College View. Their sons and daughters have attended the institution, and many of them are now engaged in the work either at home or in the mission fields. It must be a source of encouragement to those who have stood by the college during these years to see the results that have been attained. We believe that the institution is in many respects better fitted for stronger work in educational lines than ever before, and that there are a large number of young people in the Central and Northern Union Conferences who should avail themselves of its advantages. "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few."

When we consider the efforts of twenty-two years in building up the college, the funds that have been invested, the facilities that are now afforded, and the pressing calls that come to us from every direction for well-qualified laborers, we feel impressed with the possibilities that lie before the young people in the Central and Northern Unions. God has something for each of them to do, and the doors of Union College are open to earnest young men and women who desire to have a fitting for the Master's service.

Reports from other leading educational institutions show that the attendance of these schools is on the increase, and, in some instances, above that of any previous years. This fact makes it evident that the importance of our educational work is growing in the minds of our people. We should be turning from our colleges four or five times as many graduates as at the present time. The gospel ministry is calling loudly for consecrated young men of good training. We need well-trained teachers for church-schools, academies, and colleges. The mission fields are realizing as never before that the standard of efficiency of those undertaking pioneer missionary work should be raised; and the time is upon us when we should appeal strongly to our young people to dedicate themselves to God, to make thorough preparation for, and to give their lives to, the Lord's service.

J. L. S.