With little in surroundings to divert the mind from study, and almost nothing to pervert the morals, it would seem that the proverbial perils of college life were reduced to their minimum in this favored retreat. And so, with environments as safe as can be expected anywhere,-with a faculty of earnest, faithful men and women devoted to the conscientious discharge of their duties, both as instructors and guardians of their pupils, it is a pleasure to write upon the past work of Olivet College, "Well done,' and to bid it "God speed" for the future. Respectfully submitted. D. B. GREENE, Visitor. I visited Olivet June 20-23, and attended ten of the regular annual examinations of the College; besides two prize Rhetorical exhibitions, and the graduation exercises of the preparatory department Monday, and of the senior class Thursday. The "Commencement Concert" also, Thursday evening, was a most creditable exhibition of the instruction given in music; and two graduates took diplomas in the theory of music and in piano and organ playing. In the different examinations all the teachers show intelligent faithfulness, and the College seems to be well manned. The graduates of the preparatory department show unusually high and thorough preparation for entering college; and the stimulating effect of their association with older and higher scholars appeared in the remarkable manliness and maturity which they display. It would be invidious to compare the different instructors one with another; but a special interest attaches inevitably to the newest comer among them, Professor Herman C. Bumpus, who has the past year taken the chair of Biology and Geology. He is an enthusiast in his branch and has awakened special interest in his classes, whose preparations in Microscopy have been remarkably excellent, as well as their preparations of plants and skeletons. Owing to new endowment, just now assured, the College is able to make a special appropriation for this interesting and important department. It is pleasant to learn of the new endowment of $100,000 just secured. The College is fairly well equipped with buildings and apparatus, but needs new and large outlay; especially for a fire-proof building for the Library which is of great value, containing about 14,000 books well selected and most admirably arranged, but in continual danger from fire. The high moral and religious character of Olivet College is widely known. Everything seen in this visit agreed with its reputation in this particular, the graduating class of 19, the largest ever sent out by this college, 11 graduating A. B., and 8 B. L., being without an exception men and women of earnest and established Christian character. Olivet is ceasing to be one of our small colleges, but it holds unchanged that character which makes it especially valuable to our own commonwealth. It has sent out in all, since 1863, 227 graduates: of whom 119 have been men and 108 have been women. Of the 108 women 44 have married; 19 have become teachers, and one is reported as an evangelist. Of the 119 men 6 have become College Professors, 9 Teachers, 4 Superintendents of Instruction, 34 Ministers, 15 Lawyers, 6 Physicians, 3 Bankers, 9 other business men, 4 Civil Engineers, 4 Farmers, 1 an Editor, and 4 are now students, 1 of theology, 2 of medicine and 1 of law. All of which is respectfully submitted. FRANKLIN NOBLE, Visitor. RAISIN VALLEY SEMINARY. REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL. HON. JOSEPH ESTABROOK, Superintendent of Public Instruction: DEAR SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of Raisin Valley Seminary for year ending June 24, 1887: During the year we enrolled 93 students, four-fifths of whom were from the farm. Ninety of the students are citizens of Michigan, and nearly all of this number are from Lenawee county. Though the institution is under the control of Friends, the majority of the students belong to other denominations. Classes are conducted on the co-educational plan, and the sexes are represented in nearly equal numbers. There are two courses of study in the Academic Department, a Latin and English. In the former there are four years of Latin, in the latter two years of German. A large majority of the students take the English course. The Physiology, Botany, Physical Geography, and Civil Government classes are the largest in school. Special attention is paid to the subject of Descriptive Astronomy. An equatorial telescope with a six and one-half inch object glass makes this subject a very attractive science. The class made a careful study of the moon, viewing it in all its phases. A preparatory department in which United States History, Arithmetic, Grammar, Geography, Reading, Writing, Spelling and Composition are taught, is well attended. Seminary graduates are admitted to several of the best institutions in the West without examination. Satisfactory progress has been made by students in their work. The attendance has been regular, and the deportment good. The officers for the year were as follows: Principal, F. R. Hathaway, B. S. Assistant Principal, M. E. Parker. Associate Teacher, E. M. Hadley, B. S. Superintendent, John W. Harkness. Matron, Charity Harkness. Yours very respectfully, F. R. HATHAWAY, Principal. REPORT OF BOARD OF VISITORS. HON. JOSEPH ESTABROOK, Superintendent of Public Instruction: SIR-Raisin Valley Seminary is located about four miles north-east of Adrian, in the township of Risin, Lenawee county. The site is a beautiful one, and the surroundings are eminently conducive to good order, successful study, healthful exercise, and good morals. This institution was established by the Society of Friends in 1850, and has maintained an excellent reputation from the beginning. While it is denominational, it is not sectarian in any sense. Two courses of study are maintained, the English and the Latin. There have been graduated from the English course fifty-six, and from the Latin course twenty-two. Each of these courses is four years in length. The attendance consists of both ladies and gentlemen, and averages about one hundred yearly. Four teachers are employed, including the principal. We found these teachers doing very faithful and commendable work. The Library consists of about four hundred volumes. A reading room is maintained in which are found several of the leading newspapers and periodicals, both secular and religious. The value of the apparatus, not including the telescope, is about $150.00. The telescope of this institution is one of the finest in the State. It was manufactured by the celebrated makers, Alvan Clark & Sons. The instrument has a fine 6-inch object glass, with a focal length of about eight feet, is equatorially mounted, and supplied with micrometer, clock-work attachment, etc. This excellent telescope was presented to the school by the late Moses Sutton, and cost $2,200. The paid-up endowment to the Seminary is $22,000, and this sum is invested at about seven per cent. The Society owns the excellent farm of forty acres upon which the Seminary buildings, the residences of the Principal and of the Superintendent are situated. The Superintendent has charge of the farm, the boarding-hall and of the buildings in general. In conclusion we would indicate to the friends of this worthy school, the great need of more books in the Library, and of more and better apparatus for the study of Physics and Chemistry. The present building for the telescope is both inconvenient and wholly inadequate to the purpose for which it was designed; and the instrument, not being properly protected by it, is constantly suffering damage. A proper building should be erected for it at once. It is to be regretted that so fine and costly a piece of apparatus has not long since been placed in a suitable building, when such could be erected at no great cost. We sincerely urge upon the friends and patrons of this school the necessity of enlarging its endowment in order to keep up with the increasing demands of the educational progress of the times. The Board of Visitors had the good fortune and pleasure to meet in a body and examine the work of the Seminary on the day this report was made. May 10, 1887. Very respectfully, CLEMENT S. LESTER, Board of Visitors. SOMERVILLE SCHOOL. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS. HON. JOSEPH ESTABROOK, Superintendent of Public Instruction : SIR:-The committee appointed to visit the Somerville school at St. Clair submit the following report. We visited the school on the eighteenth and nineteenth of April, 1887. The school building is delightfully situated in one of the most healthy parts of Michigan. It is well fitted for the purpose, having steam heat, gas, hot and cold water on each floor and furniture which gives a more home-like appearance than is usually found in most schools. There are now about forty scholars but, if the school continues under the present good management, it will soon be much larger. We visited many classes and found thorough work in every department. We were glad to se much attention paid to reading and other common English branches. There are four courses, so each girl ought to be able to find one to suit her. The training given in modern languages is excellent. In the French classes we visited no English was spoken, and the pupils understood and spoke French readily. Good advantages are given for the study of Art. The studio is large, well furnished and well lighted. History of Art is taught by an enthusiastic teacher who has studied abroad for a year and has many photographs of the works of the best artists to use in her classes. Excellent advantages are also given in Music and Elocution. The library has about five hundred volumes-chiefly reference books. Since the present Principal took the school, he has added to its facilities about $1,200 worth of scientific apparatus. There is throughout the school an effort to develop the whole being, physical, intellectual and moral, to train the pupils in that education which helps them to live completely, and there is no reason why Somerville school should not be one of the first in Michigan. We give it our most hearty commendation. Yours respectfully, ANTOINETTE BRYANT, Visitors. |