Page 273 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

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10 NEGLECTED ARABIA

then coining1 to the Mission school later in the day. One of the j
little school pupils was given to the missionaries by her (|yjng 1
mother. But later some relatives turned up who had shown no j
concern whatever during the mother’s long, severe illness and j
claimed the child after her death. The case was taken by th€ .]
child’s step-father (a mission employee) to court but the MoslcmJj
judge decided in favor of the relatives.
This year Miss Kellien took up her residence in the Basrah Girli'f"
School building and this gave her an opportunity of teaching the''i
girls some domestic science in her own kitchen. This school u 1
awaiting the arrival of the kindergarten teacher to open that new *
department of their work.
There are three clubs in t|ie two boys' schools which are doing'^
much It) prumule gum I fellowship and develop abilities among llulr.}!
memhers. 'Hie Bahrain club was developed by the older boya and?,
"members were taken from the three classes of Bahrain society,.^
Bahranies, Arabs and Jews. When these three get together, work-­
out a program and stick to it, it seems that something really be­
stirring and that worthwhile things are being accomplished. The T<
club is still in a flourishing condition and meets every Friday after- *•
noon for a literary program in Arabic and English. Furniture hu 1
been bought and magazines and papers have been subscribed for.
Poverty is no bar to membership, each boy contributing as he b
able. ,
The Arabic Literary Society of the Basrah Boys School aj*
meets on Fridays “and is conducted entirely by the pupils the®, j
selves. The proficiency in forensics exhibited by the young Ank ?
is nothing short of astonishing. The membership of the society wi* i
about eighty-five. An English-speaking society called the Lmcota
Literary Club was begun by Mr. Essebaggers and met on altermti j
Tuesday evenings, with a membership of about thirty. Its object bj
social as well as literary and it was a great success, oports wen I
popular and particularly the volley ball tournament caused mud
enthusiasm. Frequent hikes brought joy to those who participated.*
Two girls were graduated from the Ashar school before its do*,
Nine boys received High School diplomas at the Graduating Ek ,
ercises of the Basrah Boys’ School held in April Three of thc«.
were Moslems, four Tews and two Christians. It is grntitynig w
know that all these secured suitable employment immediately up*
graduation/*
The Bible in the Schools
The iniching ..f the Mihle iunl ihc |iriiK*i|ilcH of ('liri»limilly
an integral part of the curriculum in all our schools. uigirli^
the Bahrain school have memorized many Bible verses and can ®
tell a great many stories from both Old and New Testament
Many of the stories have been dramatized and us pas year lW
older girls have begun reading the Gospels. .
Miss Kellien writes, “Bible lessons continue to be given daily *;
it is seldom that any objections are made on that score. Ine rtj-
attitude of the older Moslem girls is hard to analyze. Soinctia* i
one feels that they are held back from any serious consideration * [