Eastern Academy - Echoes Yearbook (Paterson, NJ)

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1937 = EASTERN ACADEMY=——= 1937 evening will be Professor R. B. Kuiper of Philadelphia. Several of the above pupils have signified their intention of enrolling in the Eastern Academy this fall. Why not all? Parents, do not break the chain unnecessarily to the detri- ment of your child. ‘Do not these links belong together, viz.: Christian home, Christian church, Christian school, and Eastern Academy? Remember the High school age is a very dangerous age. We must be doubly on our guard, and behold what a blessing of God that we have Christian institutions built for the express purpose of aiding you in the training of the children whom the Lord entrusted to your care. In the day of judgment can you meet ‘your Saviour with a clear conscience? Have you done all you could? G. Bos IU RIVERSIDE SCHOOL NEWS A few more weeks of testing and program drilling and another school year will be ended. The question has been asked how many more years will we be fable to continue our school. During the last seven years the enrollment has decreased from 104 to 82 children. A few years ago it has been as low as 76 children. It’s the old story, not all that could send their children. Sometimes I fear that mere tradition instead of principle is carrying us along. ‘Whither Bound” might indeed be prayerfully considered. A few weeks ago it did indeed look like a small school when many pupils were quarantined on account of mumps and scarlet fever. Most of them are again back in the ranks. One of our pupils, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Van Dyke has been confined to her bed since last September. Her trouble is, epi- thesis of the hips which is being corrected by weights. It’s a very long process. At my weekly visits I receive an inspiration. Her gallant, patient spirit is a marvelous thing to behold. About two weeks ago a fifth and eight grade pupil met with an accident while riding a bicycle together. One of them received minor bruises while the other is still confined to the hospital with a splintered arm. A warning not to ride tandem on a single seated bicycle. Some time ago I was invited to visit the new school on East 18th Street. What a building and what equipment! A gym. second to none. On one of the floors three successive small rooms were fully equipped representing a kitchen, dining room and bedroom. Obviously these rooms are used to teach domestic science. Each room was equipped with a loud speaker. What a poor outfit we have compared with such a school. Fortunately there can be teaching with a teacher on one end of the log and the pupil on the other. Did this visit dis- courage me? Not at all. In fact it gave me added courage. To think that our parents are willing to sacrifice these luxuries for their children in order that they may obtain a training which under the guidance of the Holy Spirit might make their souls beautiful and most glorious, is to see faith in action. May this faith of ours be strengthened so that we will gladly continue this important phase of Kingdom work until the end of time. During the last seven years less than 50% of our graduates go to Eastern Academy. That’s a pity. Let’s be sincere about this business. Let our faith be tested, put it squarely (reverently speaking) up to our Heavenly Father and tell Him about our financial difficulties if that be the reason. If that be not the reason, then ... then, make your own conclusions. R. Hommes. eighteen

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I937- === EAS TERN: AGADEMY=—=—— 19.37 At the end of January we had our graduation exercises and we are busy now getting ready for the June closing and graduating program. In April we rendered an interesting program in School No. 12. The proceeds of this program will be used to good advantage. Several of our teachers, the principal included, took extension work in Montclair State Teachers’ College. The Graduating Class of January hired a bus and visited places of interest in New York. The June Class wants to do better and is making plans to visit places of historic interest in Philadelphia. I wonder whether the boys and girls are aware of the fact that all things cost money and whether father and mother are always able to foot the bills. Pins, rings, dresses, suits, presents, flowers, etc., etc. cost money, and money does not grow on trees. I wish some one would introduce a more simple procedure of graduation. Of course, the merchants would dislike such a plan, but many parents would, perhaps (?), welcome a change. In some states of our union no graduation exercises are held when pupils finish the eighth grade. Several shorter programs were given during the schoolyear. We had our Thanksgiving Program, Christmas Program, Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birth- day Programs, Rally Day’s Program, etc., etc. In the fall of the year we intend to have an art and hobby exhibit. Our exhibit of drawings in the Prospect Park Bank and North Main St. Bank was admired by many spectators. Our Board has been active and busy also. The Spring Drive is just about completed and plans are made for our Labor Day Program. If nothing interferes with our plans, a field day will be held before the end of June, and the Ladies’ Cirele of our school is going to hold a “Silver Tea” and Sale in the near future. More important than all these activities is the fact that all our children were instructed daily in the way they should go. We have tried to permeate our instruction with the eternal truths of God’s Word. We have shown our children that we are pilgrims, looking for a better country, but we have also tried to show them that we must be faithful citizens of our country while we live and show our influence as Christians in every sphere of life. We have sown the seeds but God has to give the increase. Let us work faithfully unto the end in the fear of our Lord, obeying his command to instruct the covenant youth according to his will. Of course, we fail miserably oft times, but at least we try. May the Lord bless the cause of Christian Education. Gerhardus Bos Tt PINE STREET CHRISTIAN SCHOOL The enrollment of the Pine Street School was somewhat better than last year. There was an increase of eight pupils. We hope and pray that our enrollment may continue to increase and that all Christian parents may realize what their covenant obligations are as well as their privileges. If said parents would only read prayerfully the promises which they have made before God and His congregation at the baptismal font there would be no doubt whatsoever, where their children should attend school. We had a very successful year in every respect. Not much sickness, the average attendance being over 95%. Our eighth grade contains 18 pupils which hope to graduate this month. The graduation exercises will be held June 23 in the Summer Street Christian Reformed Church. The main speaker for the seventeen

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1937———EASTERN ACADEMY==== 1937 Alumne Notes Four of our Alumni are working in New York City. John De Leeuw is working in the National Trust Bank, and George De Boer is employed by the Cress Co. Wilham Huizing is working in the Chase National Bank and William Bush for the Firestone Rubber Co. 1 Sadie Bangma has entered the Passaic General Hospital. I After many weeks of hard work the Alumni Music Club presented the Operetta “Pirates of Penzance.” The program was a great success. 7 In the Special Issue of the Envoy (October, 1936) we reported on a num- ber of our 1936 graduates. Regarding the rest of our 1936 Alumni: What a line up: Karl De Waal Malefyt, Jewel Belanus, Philip (Flip) Band- stra and Jacob Vander Meulen are all employed by their fathers. I guess it’s much easier to work for your father. 7 Petronella Haagsma is employed as assistant bookkeeper by the Lont Overkamp Pub. Co., of Paterson, N. J. 7 Henrietta Soodsma has entered St. Joseph’s Hospital and enjoys it very much. Her pal, Cornelia Vanden Bosch, is at present staying home. 7 John Veenstra works in the Little Falls Laundry. I Jeanette Sikkema was quite fortunate in securing work and has joined Jeanette Greydanus in the Radburn Bank. I Rena Damsma is at present doing domestic work and Andrew Jeltes is working for his uncle. 1 James Greydanus works for the D. 8. Silk Co. in Clifton, and Margaret Huizer is occupied in a packing factory. Don’t be discouraged, Margaret! There’s plenty time ahead for improvement. 7 Ruth Verblaauw is employed by the Aetna Insurance Co. of New York City. Time to sign off now, With Love, Seribe ’38 Athletics Since this is the only issue of the “Envoy” that has appeared this semester I will give you a brief resumé of the 1937 baseball team. Our team had a good season this year winning 6 and losing 2. First I will give you the list of regulars: L.F.—N. Bruining Ss.—R. Veenema C.F.—P. De Vries C.—C. La Fleur 1b —W. Eelman P.—Bush, Meima and De Vries 2b.—C. Buis R.F.—B. Steen 3b.— J. Zuidema nineteen