REPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SECRETARY

W. W. PRESCOTT

THE educational facilities of the denomination may be summarized as follows: There are five colleges, four in this country, — Battle Creek College, at Battle Creek, Mich; Union College, at College View, Neb.; Healdsburg College, at Healdsburg, Cal.; Walla Walla College, at College Place, Wash.; and Claremont College, at Claremont, South Africa. There are four academies, or schools, doing work of academic grade, in this country: at South Lancaster, Mass.; Mt. Vernon, Ohio; Keene, Tex.; and Graysville, Tenn.; and one abroad (Frederickshavn, Denmark). There are also the West Virginia Preparatory School, the Australasian Bible School, a school in Mexico in connection with the medical mission; schools for native children upon Pitcairn Island, upon Raiatea of the Society Group, in the South Pacific Ocean, upon Bonacca of the Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea, about fifteen church schools in this country and abroad, two General Conference Bible schools, and quite a number of local canvassers’ and conference schools not regularly organized.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.1

SOME STATISTICS

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Enrollment for present year, including all ages:—GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.2

Battle Creek College, 628; Union College, 436; South Lancaster Academy, 170; Walla Walla College, 162; Texas School, 160; Healdsburg College, 130; Mount Vernon Academy, 122; Graysville Academy, 102; West Virginia Preparatory School, 64. This gives a total enrollment in the United States of 1974, aside from the Bible schools, which enroll — Battle Creek, 255; College View, 131. Total in Bible schools, 386.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.3

Enrollment in foreign schools: Claremont College, 90; Claremont Village School, 70; Beaconsfield Church School, 42. Total in Africa, 202.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.4

Australasian Bible School (not a regular year), 35; (enrollment last year, 69); School in Bay Islands, 45; High School at Frederickshavn, Denmark, 38; Raiatea School (last report), 120; Mexico, 35; total reported outside of the United States, 475; total reported in regularly organized schools, 2449; total reported in Bible Schools, 386; grand total reported, 2835; unreported: school in Pitcairn Island, and about fifteen church schools in this country and abroad.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.5

At safe estimate there are over 3000 pupils of all ages enrolled in Seventh-day Adventists schools the present time.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.6

The total number of instructors and helpers engaged in the school work, as nearly as can be ascertained, is 170. This is in the regularly organized schools, and does not include Bible schools, canvassers’ schools, many church schools, and other local ones.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.7

Instructors and helpers are divided as follows: Union College, 37; Battle Creek College, 34; South Lancaster Academy, 14; Mount Vernon Academy, 13; Healdsburg College, 12; Walla Walla College, 12; Graysville Academy, 9; schools in South Africa, 9; Texas School, 7; Australasian Bible School, 5; West Virginia Preparatory School, 5; High School in Frederickshavn, 5; Pitcairn Island, Bay Islands, Raiatea, and Mexico, 2 each.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.8

These are supposed to include all helpers, such as book-keepers, domestic helpers, and all that are regularly employed in this work.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.9

In speaking definitely of the different institutions, I will refer first to those institutions that have been opened since the last meeting of this Conference. I will mention them in the order in which they have been established. At the last General Conference the following resolution was adopted, as found on pages 59 and 60 of the Year Book for 1893:—GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.10

Whereas, The educational interests of the denomination demand enlarged facilities for the purpose of properly educating our youth, and for the training of those of more advanced years to prepare them to enter the work; therefore, —GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.11

Resolved, That we recommend that the Mt. Vernon Sanitarium be turned into an academy.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.12

This recommendation was immediately carried into effect, and the Academy was opened in September, 1893, with Prof. W. T. Bland in charge, and a suitable corps of teachers and helpers. Thirty-one students were enrolled the first day, and this number increased rapidly, the total enrollment for the first year being one hundred and seventeen. I will read from the principal’s report:—GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.13

Our school opened this year with a better attendance and more encouraging outlook than last. Our enrollment at present is 122, whereas the entire enrollment for last year was but 117. Fourteen of the students enrolled last year were from States outside of Ohio; this year, so far, but five have entered who reside outside of this State.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.14

We have an older class of students this year than we had last, and the grade of work being done is superior. In the different courses, classes have been formed in all of the years except the last. Classes in English, science work, and Bible are especially large. All in the school but one have Bible for one of their regular studies.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.15

With but two or three exceptions, all of the students make a profession of religion, and there seems to be a steady spiritual growth. There have been several conversions during the year. Nearly all in attendance this year have stated that their object in attending school was to fit themselves for some place in the work.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.16

There seems to be a general feeling of satisfaction among the students. All are made comfortable; the surroundings are pleasant, while no outside influences have come in to disturb any in their work.GCB February 18, 1895, page 214.17

I have examined catalogues from nearly all the academies and colleges in this State, and by a comparison of the courses of study, I find that we offer a higher and stronger grade of work than any of the other academies, and even equal to that of some of the colleges. By adding one year’s work to our present course of study, we would be able to offer very respectable college work.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.1

More than one half of the students (and almost every one outside of our own State) who apply for admission into this school are those who wish to meet their expenses, either all or in part, by working. Surely something should be done for this class, many of whom are among our best young people, and whose only ambition is to fit themselves for some place in the work. This matter has been talked over by some of the members of our local Board, and all seem agreed that something should be done in this line. The only obstacle that appears in the way is the lack of means. However, if possible, I believe something definite in this direction should be done before another year opens.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.2

Our teachers are all kept very busy, but in harmony with the suggestions made at the Institute last summer, the course in professional reading has been profitably kept up.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.3

As to the value of our school in building up the general work in this State, I think a statement made by a prominent member of this conference would be more to the point than any words of my own, especially as he has been connected with the work here for several years. It was in substance as follows: “The academy has done more to bind the people together and strengthen the work in the State during the one year of its existence than the institution as a sanitarium did during the entire seven years that it was carried on.”GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.4

I am quite sure our people have a very friendly feeling toward the school, while the students seem satisfied and very much encouraged in their work.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.5

We have not contemplated any special changes in our plans of work, but rather hope to strengthen it, and build it up as rapidly as we have opportunity.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.6

By carefully holding our expenses down, we have been able to get through so far without running behind. We could accommodate, however, between twenty-five and fifty more students in the home without very much increasing our running expenses, while the extra amount of receipts would enable us to strengthen our work in the matter of apparatus, library, and some needed improvements.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.7

I hope that the proper authorities will consider the matter, and that if it is thought best, we may be granted territory beyond the boundaries of Ohio in which to work, and from which to draw support.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.8

The Lord by direct testimony has spoken concerning the school at Mt. Vernon, and we have assurance that its establishment was in harmony with his will; and I am sure that if those connected with the work and those in position to assist will do their part, the school will be a success, and many of our young people will be fitted for active and efficient work in the great field.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.9

At the last session of the Conference the Committee on Education made the following recommendation, which was adopted as given in the Year Book of 1893, page 61.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.10

We recommend, That a conference school be opened in Texas, in response to the memorial received from that conference.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.11

This recommendation was carried out, and the school was opened Jan. 8, 1894, with Elder C. B. Hughes in charge. In establishing this school, the brethren secured a tract of land consisting of eight hundred acres. This land was divided into small plots of from one acre and a quarter to ten acres each. Ten acres were reserved for school grounds, and something over one hundred and twenty acres for a school farm. This amount has been increased by adding to it until the school now has under its charge one hundred and fifty-two and one half acres. A temporary building for school purposes was provided by moving from Oak Cliff, Texas, the building formerly occupied by the tract society. This year it has been found necessary to increase the facilities by adding to this building, so that the present size is forty-two by forty-four feet, two stories in height.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.12

During the past summer a home building has been erected as a permanent building upon the school grounds. This building is three stories in height, with a basement, and is suitably fitted up in harmony with our general plans for home life, and will accommodate comfortably fifty persons.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.13

The school farm is covered with small timber, and the first work was to clear the ground. The young men in attendance the present year were invited to bring with them axes, and they were told that they would be given work in clearing this ground. They have done so, and have been able to earn for themselves from six to eight dollars a month, besides carrying on the regular studies of the school.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.14

The circumstances are especially favorable for carrying on such work. The climate is favorable for out-of-door work. Land can be worked ten months in the year with comfort. By providing other work for two months, the students can have work all the year round. It has been planned to arrange the terms of school in such a way that the longest vacation would come in the cotton-picking time, the months of September, October, and November. Plenty of work can be secured at this time at good prices, and if work can be provided during the school year, with opportunities for earning seven, eight, or nine dollars a month, it will be possible for them to pay their way. I shall refer to this matter further in the report.GCB February 18, 1895, page 215.15

(To be continued.)