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BJA's Beginning in Greenville
1947-1953 |
- Academics in Early Greenville
- Sports in Early Greenville - The Triangle Starts - BJA Chorus and Teen Time - Future Teachers of America - The Announcement |
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By 1950, BJU was settling into the Greenville campus, but BJA was addressing many of the student life concerns that had reached critical levels during its rapid post-war growth. In BJA's early Greenville period, many changes were introduced that shaped the Academy for decades. Although many of them mimicked University counterparts, each had its own characteristics tailored to high school students. Foundations were being laid for the Academy to flourish, not on the “tag-along” basis of its previous existence, but on its own merits.
Front Campus c 1950
Academics in Early Greenville
In the fall of 1947, BJA had difficulty meeting the State Department of Education’s October 25 deadline for filing for “recognition and accreditation.” It was less than two weeks after school had opened, and not all of the needed South Carolina teacher certifications had arrived. In a cover letter submitted with the forms, Jones, Sr., as chairman of the board, stated that he was sure the certificates would come in the next few days and promised they would be forwarded as soon as they arrived. Additional letters were mailed as the missing parts were submitted. In the summer of 1948, BJA received approval from the Department of Education for its 1947-8 year.
During the early days in Greenville, the Academy had 9 to 12 full-time faculty who taught 5 classes per day. Teachers generally had three sections of one class, and one section of two other classes. For example, in 1948 Miss Markham taught three sections of English III, a section of Spanish I, and a section of Spanish II. A full-time teacher generally had a student load of about 100 students. Approximately 10 part-time teachers taught between 5 and 15 hours per week in the Academy. Most of these were “part-time mothers” (ladies whose husbands were employed by BJU) or were assigned various other campus duties. Academy physical education and music teachers, for example, also taught University classes. Grading standards were high. At the end of each grading period, a list of Academy students with A and B averages was posted on the bulletin board. These lists generally have two or three students with all A’s, and less than 20% of the student body earned a B average. As they had been encouraged, faculty were not giving an “abundance of high grades.” |
BJA Enrollment and Graduates Students Graduates 1947-48 218 72 1948-49 230 67 1949-50 215 55 1950-51 229 63 1951-52 277 73 1952-53 324 (+33 Jr.Hi.) 90 First Semester 1948-49 Mid-semester Grade Reports English III U.S. History E. Markham R. Clough A – 15% A – 14% B – 19% B – 29% C – 21% C – 17% D – 13% D - 17% F – 27% F - 13% Parents were mailed mid-semester grade reports. They were viewed as “wake-up calls.” It worked. Grades distributions always improved by the end of the semester, but overall course grades were considerably lower than today’s grades. |
BJA assemblies were held in the War Memorial Chapel. It was the only visual representation of BJA available for the first Greenville Bulletin (Announcements).
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In 1953 Academy Main doors (without lettering) were used to visually represent the Academy.
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By the third Bulletin, Academy Main displayed the name. It became the visual representation of BJA. Bulletins used it for the next 15 years.
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The 1951-53 Bob Jones Academy Announcements was a major expansion: 24 pages. It was the first time BJA was publicly presented in a way that invited high school students to attend the school. It included the Academic Calendar, the University Creed and a list of “Special Advantages” for BJA students. They included brief descriptions of
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The 1951-3 Academy Announcements also contained “A Personal Word from the President” which essentially outlined the Academy’s position and goals for BJA students. Although couched in a somewhat promotional context, this is the first and most complete statement of BJA’s unique mission. Essentially, it is an early statement of the mission and methods of Christian Education.
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Courses available - 1951-3 Bulletin
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These requirements are in line with South Carolina requirements. 1951-3 Bulletin
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Sports in Early Greenville
As BJU arrived in Greenville, University societies had grown to the point that high school student participation in sports was unnecessary. BJA students did “make the team” and were coached at practices, but saw little participation in the games. For faithfulness at practices and games, some BJA students earned sports letters. Most BJA athletic competition took place in “pick-up” games after evening study hall.
In 1950, Coach Fred Holmes came up with a plan to officially involve Academy boys in sports. The Bombers, Cardinals, Alleycats and Cougars battled it out in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and softball for trophies and letters given at the end of the year. The teams were supervised by the athletic department and coached by BJU students. These teams existed only on the athletic fields. The athletic department assigned team members for each sport. They attempted to divide the talent and skills among the teams to insure good competition. Being on the Cougar soccer team did not mean that you would be on the Cougar basketball team. Being a Cardinal soccer player this year did not mean you would play soccer for the Cardinals the next year. The rosters, scores, and accounts of the games were occasionally published in the Triangle. The overall champions for soccer and basketball were recognized in the Vintage. There is no record of anything similar for young ladies. |
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The Triangle Starts
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“‘Why don’t we have a school paper?’ Those words by two ambitious seniors launched the Triangle on its maiden voyage,” wrote Edith Markham, founding sponsor of the Academy’s newspaper. “The first issue was in March of 1950. It was the only issue that year, and there were only sporadic issues the next year.”
Masthead of the first issue of the Triangle featured students unfurling a Triangle banner.
The first issue was 4 mimeographed, 8.5x14 inch pages. The Angle Worm’s opening editorial states, “New doorways with their hidden mysteries bring a thrill to the heart of everyone who loves an adventure into the unknown. With this first issue of the Triangle, the Academy pushes open a strange door and enters a new unexplored world of possibilities. . . . Basically the Triangle is a newspaper, designed to keep everyone in touch with things as they happen. . . . In the name Triangle, we find the triple aim of the paper and the school as well: to aid in mental, physical and spiritual growth.”
The first issue included comic poetry and cartoons, articles on the school’s radio program, sports records and the standings toward winning the sports trophy, and encouragement to have a “No Discipline Committee” week. In the next years there were sporadic issues, various editors, no set publication dates, and an array of “experimental” articles. Each issue featured a different masthead. It was not until the 1952-53 school year that the Triangle had a regular staff, publication dates (every other Friday), subscriptions ($1 for the year), and officially published Volume I – Issue 1.
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Triangle review of the 1954 Junior-Senior Banquet
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The Academy Chorus and "Teen Time"
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The lack of fine arts performance groups at BJA was first addressed by the dropping of the "Music Theory" class and replacing it with "Music Appreciation and Chorus" in 1952. The Academy Chorus was the first permanent performing group. Studios for radio station WMUU were built on the campus in 1949. The Academy Chorus, under the direction of a University music faculty member, rehearsed daily in WMUU's studio.
BJA produced a weekly Saturday morning radio program originally called “High School Highlights.” Every other week Academy students would be interviewed about various topics. On alternate weeks students from various local high schools were invited to participate in a general knowledge quiz. Originally both of these programs were live, but after an unknown incident, Jones, Jr. insisted that the “Quiz Time” programs be pre-recorded so they could be edited if needed. In 1953 the format of the program changed and its name became "Teen Time." The Academy Chours became a regular feature on the program. 
The Academy Chorus practicing in the WMUU studio for Teen Time.
The Triangle, seeking to fulfill it's stated mission, carried articles about the Academy Chours (1952) and "Teen Time," BJA's radio program (1953). |
The Academy Chorus sings for Teen Time.
In 1950 the Academy produced Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. A cast list and references to it exist in the BJA Archives, but there are no details about the production. |
Future Teachers of America
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Future Teachers of America (FTA) is a national organization that encourages students to enter the field of education. BJC had a FTA chapter in Cleveland. In 1951, BJU’s FTA chapter organized the Nina Nelson FTA chapter for BJA students. Nina Nelson, chairman of the University’s Department of Elementary Education, was one of its sponsors.
The Nina Nelson Chapter of the FTA met once a month in the Alumni Building on a Friday evening. According to the 1953 Vintage, it was to “coordinate the thinking and activities of Academy students who intend to enter the teaching profession.” It had a slate of officers, but meetings were generally prepared by the BJU chapter. Meetings featured skits, singing, a spiritual challenge and debates or discussions of school-related topics (dating, earning good grades, testimony). The chapter also participated in community activities, like collecting food for needy families. Officers attended regional meetings of the FTA organization. Dues were 50 cents a semester, which paid for the end-of-semester party. |
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The 1954 Vintage touts the "unusual" activities of the FTA. Bob Jones III (seated center) is the organization's Chorister.
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At one point membership in the Nina Nelson FTA chapter was about a third of BJA’s enrollment. Changes in the goals and philosophy of the national organization forced BJU to drop its FTA membership and replace it with the BJU School of Education sponsored Christian Teachers of Tomorrow (CTT). BJA sponsored a CTT club, and stressed that students would find the meetings fun and profitable even if they did not plan on an educational carrier. Membership declined as other high school activities became available and BJA dropped its CTT organization in 1960.
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The Announcement
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January 1953. Students had returned from Christmas vacation to finish up first semester courses and exams. An announcement at the close of the Dining Common evening meal told all Academy students to report immediately to the War Memorial Chapel. Such meetings happened occasionally. Generally, the group had been involved in something that needed addressing. It had happened to Academy students before and it had not been a positive experience.
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The mural at the front of the War Memorial Chapel was painted by American artist, Lawrence Saint, who is best known for his work in stained glass. The mural depicts Christ overseeing swords and spears being made into plowshares and pruning hooks as various peoples come to worship Him (Isaiah 2:3-4, Micah 4:3). Saint’s son, Nate, was a martyred missionary to the Huaorani people of Ecuador. The mural was the backdrop for BJA student body meetings and events like the “announcement” meeting. Currently, it is behind the paneling of the Chapel.
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One can only imagine what was going through the minds of the Academy and Junior High students as they made their way up the hill. What had they done? What had happened? What was going to happen? Whatever it was, it must be big, for not only was the Academy principal, several BJA faculty, and a few University students there, but the University President was also on the platform. Students were ushered to the front rows. Never one to disappoint, Jones Jr. made an announcement that would significantly change BJA. He then left the meeting.
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For information about Bob Jones College/University see:
· Fortress of Faith: The Story of Bob Jones University. Melton Wright · Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University. Daniel L. Turner · Bob Jones University—50 Years Under God. Margaret Beall Tice · Reflecting God's Light—Facets of a Miracle. Daniel L. Turner · The Campus History Series: Bob Jones University. Bob A. Nestor |
