Ridgecrest, June 17—Resolutions passed petitioning the Home Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Church to establish a permanent normal training school for faculty members of the mountain schools in the Appalachians, supported by the Baptist Church; the drawing up of a petition asking the board to place a trained nurse in each one of the 36 institutions, wee two of the most important accomplishments of the conference of the mountain schools’ faculties which was held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Ridgecrest, the Southern Baptist assembly.
Ridgecrest was proposed as the site of the training school. In the event that the Home Missions board acts favorably on the plan, it is believed that the step will mean more upbuilding of Ridgecrest than any other one thing in its history. The erection of a large brick building with an auditorium and class rooms would be one of the possible outcomes in the event the board sees fit to establish such a training school.
The placing of a trained nurse in each of the institutions to look after the physical welfare of the students would mean an additional expenditure of $26,000 or more.
At the present time there is an enrollment of over 6,000 students in the 36 Baptist institutions. The system is under the direction of Superintendent A.E. Brown of West Asheville, and R.L. Creal, the assistant superintendent, and spreads over the territory of eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and northern Alabama. The Baptist Home Missions board also supports similar institutions in the Ozark mountains. A conservative valuation of the buildings and property of the schools is placed at $1,700,000. The teaching staff of the schools number 252 trained instructors, most of whom are college graduates with various degrees. At the present time there are being training in the schools 237 young ministers who will take up different charges upon completion of their studies. Many of the schools give junior college work and are ranked among the best preparatory schools in the south.
The mountain schools’ faculty completed one of the most successful conferences they have ever held. The attendance was made up largely of superintendents and prominent members of the faculties. During the conference the following program was carried out.
Addresses on the necessity for the fullest co-operation of mountain school workers as relating to the schools and the denominational program, were delivered by W.E. Wilson of Mitchell Institute, Bakersville, N.C., and L.E. Curry of Barbourville Institute, Barbourville, Ky.
The opening address of the conference was delivered by Prof. R.L. Moore of Mars Hill College.
Miss Ruth Richards, a faculty member, gave an interesting talk on the obligation of mountain school workers to the communities in which they work.
A discussion on the development of the self support of the schools was conducted by M.L. Skaggs, H.C. Hester, and R.F. Hough. Discussions were held on such subjects as the development of the industrial departments, the scope of the Bible department, and recreation for students was taken up by the conference.
C.L. Marshall and E.M. Snow presented the subject of adult illiteracy in the mountains.
The following are the institutions represented in the mountain schools’ faculty:
Virginia—Lee Institute, Pennington Gap; Oak Hill Academy, Kendrick.
Kentucky—Barbourville Institute, Barbourville; Hazard Institute, Hazard; Magoffin Institute, Salyerville.
Tennessee—Cosby Academy, Cosby; Chilhowee Institute, Seymour; Doyle Institute, Doyle; Stocktons Valley Institute, Helena; Watauga Academy, Butler; Smoky Mountains Academy, Sevierville.
North Carolina—Fruitland Institute, Hendersonville; Haywood Institute, Clyde; Mars Hill College, Mars Hill; Mitchell Institute, Bakersville; Mountain View Institute, Hayes; Round Hill Academy, Union Mills; Sylva Collegial Institute, Sylva; Yancey Collegiate Institute, Burnsville.
South Carolina—North Greenville Academy, Tigerville; Six Mile Academy, Central; Spartan Academy, Welford; Long Creek Academy, Mountain Rest.
Georgia—Blairville Institute, Blairville; Bleckley Institute, Clayton; Hiawassee Academy, Haiwassee; North Georgia Baptist College, Morganton.
Alabama—Eldgridge Academy, Eldridge; Gaylesville Academy, Gaylesville; Tennessee River Institute, Bridgeport.
--Asheville Citizen.
From the Asheville Citizen, as reprinted on the front page of The News-Record, Marshall, Madison County, N.C., Friday, June 23, 1922
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