Page 15 - History of Arabian Mission 1926-1957

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A unique feature of the Bahrain school Is the integration of the
alumnae, by means of their very active club organization, with the life of the older pupils, so that In the future they may be used in our school or one of
school. Teachers, nurses, mothers, brides, young women who have experienced our hospitals. This group of about two dozen children is the nucleus of an
tragedy and frustration and met it bravely, others whose personal lives have indigenous force for the evangelization of this land, and no labor spent on i
flowered because of their enriching experiences in their schooldays - all come them is spent in vain, but will show itself in rich returns in the day6 to |
joyously back not only to renew cherished friendships, but in the spirit of come." He closes his report with an earnest appeal for a full-time worker
service. for this important work.
A striking example of this has Just taken place. In March, 1.957? 'when The attendance in 1S&3 reached sixty-three, a larger number than the
the Alumnae Club gave a charity bazaar for the benefit of the mission hospital Dykstras felt able to handle, but the appeal of other parents to have their
for women, they set an ambitious goal, three thousand rupees, enough to buy an children join the children of the converts and inquirers for whom the school
air-conditioner for the delivery room and fans for other rooms. But the was Intended, could not be ignored. Mrs. Dykstra wrote: "We have little tots
bazaar was a roaring success from the moment the door3 were opened, and they of pre-kindergarten age to grown boys and girls, all with different backgrounds
went over the top and ended up with over five thousand rupees. As it was only and different natural abilities. Four of our girls left to be married, two of
for women, veiled ladies who do not go to mixed entertainments could come and them much to my regret. We had them spend Christmas Day with us, they shared
enjoy the festivities. otir Christmas program and had dinner with us, and it struck and encouraged me
to see how we had really influenced these children while they were with us."
Miss Ruth Jackson succeeded Mrs. Dame as principal of this school. Her i
place has been taken several times during furlough periods by her sister In 1951 the report showed graphically the great difficulty of obtain­
Rachel. Mrs. Eunice Post 3egg acted in this capacity recently, and was then ing suitable teachers, and then keeping them. Mrs. Dykstra said: "The husband
associated with Miss Jackson in the school. of the second teacher returned after a year's absence. He has not forbidden
her to teach, in fact he is willing for her to do so In order that he may come
Muscat. in for the major part of her earnings! But for all that, he assumes the right
to demand her time which belongs to us. She is developing into a very good
After the School for Rescued Slave Boys in Muscat had fulfilled Its helper and has so far been able to forestall some of the difficulties."
function and been discontinued, with all the boys provided for, a picturesque
feature of pioneer days came to an end. In looking back over the years Mrs. Dykstra reports on former pupils.
"Some of the boys had learned enough English so that they could go to India
For a good many years subsequently, the educational work In Muscat was for training in laboratory technique. Two of them are now filling such posi­
limited to such time as could be given to it by missionaries who were in charge tions, one in Matrah and one in Kuwait. Others know enough English bo that !
of other work. In 1926 Mr. Van Peursem had fourteen boys come regularly to his they.can use a cookbook and carry on as cooks. Still others have found em­
house, and considered it the most efficient agency in the men's evangelistic ployment as scribes and teachers. Of the latter, one Is the young man who i
work. went to the sanatorium in India, was baptized there and is now back in Muscat,
healed of tuberculosis and a teacher in our school. One of the girls who came
A government school was opened with great pomp and formality in 1928, . in the very first group has become a Koran tehcher. While we regret this, we :
with teachers from Syria, taking some of the brightest of the mission pupils, do appreciate her attitude, and as she says, 'If you had not taught me to read
but the latter were soon back, with an enrollment of fifteen, and classes I could not now teach others.' For her the important factor is that she can '
were held in the evening for young men, which drew even larger numbers. earn her own living. Two of our girl pupils and three of the women have be­
come assistant teachers."
The women of Muscat asked for sewing and English classes, some of the
latter being held in the Sultan's palace, for the benefit of members of the In 1953 Mrs. Kapenga wrote: "Primarily we are interested in and are
royal family. The girls there were eager for anything that would connect them responsible for our Christian children and the children of our workers. School 1
with the outside world. is informal; we have something approaching progressive education in the indi­
vidual attention each child receives. Children move up or down, begin new
In 1937 the report read: "There is a desire for learning here, but the books or go back to the old ones, purely on the basis of individual progi*es6.
government cannot supply the schools and the Mission has a wonderful opportun­ 1
ity to train the local youths for better lives in their own environment. Be­ "We would like to raise our standards and take up to 3ixty students.
sides there is a growing group of children here belonging to our converts and When the children reach the age of fourteen or fifteen we would like to teach 1
inquirers who ought to be in a Christian school Instead of in the Koran school them trades that would serve the community - masonry, mechanics, carpentry i
where they are now. The educational opportunities here ought to be utilized for the boys; nursing, nutrition and child care for the girls. We want our
for the Kingdom." school to be a project for the Christian Church of Muscat and Oman, supported i
and administered by it."
In I9U2 Mr. Dykstra said: "We could not let the children of our
Christian group drift along, or be placed under other Influences, and since • The Kapengas' 1955-56 report analyzes the present situation and pre­
the beginning of the year we have been giving half of each day to an elemental*} sents the problem which must be solved in the near future.
school. The main Instruction Is in Arabic, but we also teach English to the