Grounds
The
grounds are shaded and ornamented by
large aspen, balsam, cedar and arbor vitae trees. Here, temptation is reduced to a minimum;
for this is a quiet country seat, with no unpleasant or objectionable
surroundings of any kind. There are no
bar-rooms in the county.
Mail and Telephone
A daily mail passes the school, and
recently constructed telephone lines give the following connections :
Sharon to Ceres ; thence to Burk’s
Garden ; and Sharon to Ceres, thence to Corinth, Tazewell, Rural Retreat ;
Sharon to Ceres, Rural Retreat and Grayson County and Wytheville ; Sharon to
Bland, Mechanicsburg and Giles County.
The present message charge is only ten
cents for three minutes.
Buildings
The buildings, originally erected for
hotel and summer resort purposes, are two in number, and face the campus on
its north and east sides. The east
building, two stories high, with double porch, contains twenty rooms. This is used by the boys only. The main building, also two stories high,
with double porch, has twenty-five rooms.
It is used for Chapel, Recitation rooms, Parlor, Music rooms and
Girls’ Dormitories.
The rooms are large, but can be made
perfectly comfortable, even in the coldest winter weather, by the use of
modern air-tight wood stoves. More
than thirty of these stoves were used in the rooms last winter, and as many
more as are needed will be added next fall.
Healthfulness of Location
The buildings here were erected for the
purpose of accommodating the visitors to this health resort. The Chalybeate, Alum and gushing spring
waters, the high and dry location and pure air, make this an ideal health
resort. By his kind permission, we
take pleasure in referring to Dr.
Samuel R. Sayers, of Wytheville, who is intimately acquainted with the
properties and effects of the waters here.
Some remarkable cures have resulted from the use of these waters under
his direction. Delicate Pupils almost
invariably improve in health and flesh and yet pursue their full course of
studies.
The Design of This School
The
School has been established to do Preparatory and Academic work. It is not a college, but a College School. Colleges should not have to do Preparatory
and Academic work, neither should High Schools assume the responsibilities of
doing poor college work. One of the
many needs of the educational system of our land is, not more colleges, but
more good college schools. The design
of this school is to prepare its pupils for the “higher colleges,” or, for
active life. The Principal has had
twenty years’ experience in college work, and is, therefore, well prepared to
conduct a school that fits its pupils for a college course.
Practical Life
While the course of our School is designed
to prepare pupils for college, we fully recognize the fact that not one High
School student in ten takes a college course. Therefore, it is also our air
to prepare our pupils for active life.
The theoretical, and the practically useful are blended as far as
possible ; and the responsibilities and duties of good citizens are kept
continually before the pupils.
Principles of right are daily inculcated as the basis of a true and
noble life.
Order and Discipline
Order and discipline are necessary in
the family and in the school. We want
no formal obedience, from a servile fear, but we ask and expect it from a
sense of right. The reasonableness and
necessity of law and order are strongly and persistently taught, by daily
precepts, in regular lectures, and by private personal advice, appeals and
admonition.
Pupils are treated as ladies and
gentlemen by the teachers ; and in return, are expected to yield a ready and
cheerful obedience to the rules of the school.
Pledge of Honorable Conduct
As a formal indication read and
cheerful assistance to the teachers in conducting the school for the true
interest and highest good of the pupils, each student is expected to
subscribe to a pledge of honorable conduct ; such as becomes a gentlemen (or
lady,) and a faithful, conscientious student.
If the pledge to act as a lady, or as a
gentleman, is violated, then admonition in private, writing to parents, or
permanent leave of absence, will follow, as the circumstances of each case
may make necessary. The Chapel
The chapel services, in the morning of
each school day, and each night of the week, consist of singing led by the
organ, reading a selection of Scripture, and prayer.
Sunday School
During
the Session, a regular Sunday School, of which the Principal is the
Superintendent, is maintained. The
International Lessons are used.
Preaching
We have preaching by ministers of
different denominations, as often as practicable, each month. Regular “once a month” sermons are expected
from Lutherans, Methodist and Presbyterian pastors during the next school
year.
Literary Society
The SHARONIAN Literary Society is
composed of the young men. The close
observance if the Constitution and By-Laws of this society gives its members
ample opportunity for improvement in parliamentary law. The weekly debate, by all the members, is a
special feature of the meetings and is productive of great benefit.
A Social Feature
At intervals of a month or six weeks, a
“Social” evening is given. On this
evening the members of the school meet in the Chapel and spend a few hours in
social conversation and occasional games, in the presence of the teachers. Reading a few verses of Scripture, and
Prayer by the principal closes the evening.
Medals and Prizes
A GOLD MEDAL is awarded to the
successful contestant in Oratory. The
conditions and rules of all the contest are under the direction of the
Principal.
A GOLD MEDAL is awarded to the
successful contestant in Declamation, and is open to the advanced classes of
young men.
A GOLD MEDAL is awarded to the
successful constant in Recitation, and is open to the advanced classes of the
young ladies.
A BOOK PRIZE is given to the successful
contestant in Declamation, and is open to the members of the elementary
classes of the boys.
A BOOK PRIZE is given to the successful
contestant in Recitation, and is open to the elementary classes of the girls
and boys.
Public Exercises
No
public examinations are held ; for they are unfair to the student, and a
farce before the public. Parents will
have more time and better opportunity to examine their children at home.
Besides
the Closing Exercises of the school at the end of the session, one or more
public entertainments will be given during the session.
The
commencement exercises on June 5th and 6th, 1900 were
well attended.
|
