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Bingham Academy
Turn up your speakers to hear the LAC theme song.
Main Building, Front Entrance
Today Bingham Academy is called the School of Internationals, and represents over 30 nationalities. The 30 staff members include part-time staff and home or medical leave personnel. The school serves 187 students, and 25 missionary children are involved in the home school program. Currently 19 BA alumni are serving in Ethiopia. From 1997 Golden Jubilee Fast Facts.
BA Grade 8 graduating class, 1964: Lynn Emmell, Carol Wallace, Helen Jean Hay, Stephen Donald, Philip Ackley, Loren Bishop Graham and Mildred HayThe Fall of 1998 issue of Simroots was dedicated to Graham and Mildred Hay (now Ladd), founders of BA. Over fifty years ago Mr. and Mrs.Graham Hay were house parents in an SIM Home for missionaries’ children in Collingwood, Ontario. Since this was during World War II, the children were not allowed to go out to Africa with their parents. The separation was for four endless years. It is hard to visualize who suffered more—the young children left behind with a strange family or the heartbreak of the parents when they returned from furlough to discover that they were strangers to their own children! With the close of the war, the SIM approached Mr. and Mrs. Hay with the idea of establishing a boarding school for MKs in Addis Ababa for the children of any evangelical missionaries working in Ethiopia, the Sudan or other neighboring countries (until the early 60s when BA no longer had room for other missions—when Good Shepherd came into being). Thus on April 29, 1946, a long-awaited dream came true as the Hays turned a private house (originally the residence of Ras Imru, the Ethiopian Ambassador to the U.S.) in Kachene, Addis Ababa, into a school for MKs (originally known as “School for Missionaries’ Children”). The glassed-in verandah was set aside as a classroom where Miss Eva Alberda taught the 13 [10, 14] children who were in several grades—2 Roke boys (Australia), Ewan McKenzie and Samuel Simpson (England), Miriam and Robert Barlow, Betty and Virginia Chenault, Leigh Forsberg, Margaret Meyerhoff, Daniel Modricker, Paul Sieglaff and David Speedy (U.S.) [Naomi Cain, Tom Graham, Janice Sensenig, Ruth Stokes, Grace Thompson]. The first school year ran from March to December because of the impossibility of travel during the rainy season due to the lack of a year-round road system and no airstrips. At the end of the first year, the enrollment having doubled, two classrooms were required and a small mud building with a thatched roof and wooden floor was erected. Mary MacDonald, Ontario, taught grades 1-4, and Lucile Wickstrom (Mrs. Glen Cain), Kansas, taught grades 5-8. The curriculum was patterned mainly after the American school system, but sufficiently flexible to cater to the children of British origin as well. The first school program, presented at the end of 1947, was the operetta “Little Red Riding Hood” with Naomi Cain as Red Riding Hood; Betty Chenault as Grandmother; David Speedy, the wolf; and Paul Sieglaff, the Woodsman. Classes were held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with an hour off at noon for lunch and rest time. The school year was divided into three terms of approximately thirteen weeks each. The fees per school year for day students was $108 (American), and for full time boarding students $360. Besides the usual toiletry needs, blankets, and towels, students were advised to bring 3 table napkins, a napkin ring, and coat hangers. Name tags and a good stock of mending materials, especially pieces to match dresses and suits were suggested. They were also told to pack clothing for each season separately and divided by paper or towels. In 1948, more adequate facilities were needed, but foreigners could not purchase or own land outrightly in Ethiopia. The Lord marvelously answered prayer through the order of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie, in providing at a nominal cost eight acres of wooded land in Kulfe [Kwolfe Kolfe, or Kwulfi] near the market in Addis Ababa, for a 99-year lease. The mission was able to pay the entire 99-year rental in one lump sum. The staff prior to moving included Lucy Cowie, New Zealand; Anne Beharrell, England; and Marion Scott, Minnesota. Situated at the entrance of the new property, the first building to be erected was the Gospel Chapel [Hall] (May 4, 1946) for two reasons: because a substantial gift designated for this purpose was received and because it was determined from the beginning that a ministry of evangelism to the neighboring Ethiopians would become a regular part of the work of the staff conducting the Home. Thus it was used for weekly services in Amharic and yearly for DVBS. The school was named Bingham Academy in honor of Mr. Roland Bingham, one of SIM’s founding missionaries who came to Africa in 1893. In 1951 Keith and Betty Pitman, California, replaced the Hays. The main dormitory (housing 50 students) and dining building was completed in 1952 by Bill Schmidt, B.C., and the classrooms two years later in 1954. Later additions to meet the expanding needs were the primary building in 1959, the gymnasium in 1963, the new dorm in 1965, and the library extension in 1970. Bingham reached a peak enrollment from 1969-’73 consistently having around 170 students. To the glory of God, let it be said that all the buildings, together with other necessary structures such as a servants’ quarters, a horse barn, wood shelter, etc. were all paid for without going into debt. Many loving gifts, much sacrifice on the part of friends at home and missionaries on the field and much prayer made BA possible. 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Bingham Academy’s Theme Song(Loyal Ambassadors for Christ)
Loyal Ambassadors for Christ occurred every Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. during the school year. Each week a different class conducted the entire program (a great education in public speaking). I don’t recall ever using a book to sing this one— maybe we learned through the repetition of hearing it every week. After years of not singing or hearing this song, I was surprised at how quickly the words came back when I looked at some old BA pictures. I’m not sure whether the last line of the chorus is “I’m here on business for my King,” or “Oh be ye reconciled to God.” What do other Bingham alums remember? Jeanette Entz Shubert Return to Top of Page
“The Chime”Feb. 1975 The student enrollment is 107 students—75 boarding and 32 day students from 12 different countries (70% North American). Bingham Academy runs grades 1 to 10 with an average class size of 11. Qualifications and strengths of the staff members which enhance the school beyond the normal include Mr. Zabel’s degree in drama, Miss Riddle’s Master’s in Reading Skills, Miss Forsberg’s year in France, Allen Steely’s degree in Psychology, and Dr. and Mrs. Bazlinton (dentist and school nurse). The students receive a college prep curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities including music, sports, drama, student newspaper (The Talon); a biannual yearbook (The Beacon), photography club, and other craft clubs. Special events include the Halloween Costume Parade, Field Day, a Christmas program, recitals, plays, bi-weekly LAC programs, and a Longano trip for the ninth and tenth graders. Each student remembers BA for its own little things—the room inspections, the morning tea, the smile from a friend, the homework assignment he was called on to explain, a messy dish crew, goofing off in the student room, the excitement of a close basketball game, camping out at night. For each individual, BA is a different school or home—but one that above all else places emphasis on and gives opportunity for the student to develop a personal relationship with both God and his fellow man. Return to Top of Page
BA RevisitedExcerpts from Russ Schmidt’s Feb. ’97 letter to his friends Bingham Academy started just over 50 years ago. Last year a few of us gathered together and celebrated what God has done through the years at BA. [See Simroots Vol 14 #1 for photo of alumni that attended.] As we drove out to Bingham, I realized I did not recognize a single landmark until we got to the little bridge just before coming up the hill to the turnoff. Even that road is unrecognizable, as a large open market sprawls along most of the roads. On the river side are typical little shops. The road that turns up to the gate is completely walled in. There is now a double gate with gate house, of course. At first nothing looked familiar. We were ushered into what was the new dining room when I left in 1960 and were greeted by nearly 200 kids of all sizes and colors. The dining room is now the assembly hall. The rooms seem so much smaller. The girls’ dorms are now kindergarten classrooms. As we walked across the field, I noticed that the big tree on the edge of the cliff is still there, but much taller. New buildings were on our right as we walked down the path to the lower level classrooms for grades 1 and 2. A little gazebo stands outside the front entrance. Broers live upstairs. I walked over to the river’s edge and everything has a wall around it. BA has a stone wall around it ranging from 8 to 15 feet high. Across the river is another wall almost as high and full of buildings. Very few trees over there now. The bag swing is missing, or rather in a new location just at the edge of the eucalyptus forest, but much higher as the trees it swings from are now so, so tall. The little dam is still down there, but you would not be able to cross as there is a sheer stone wall on the other side about 20 feet high. The classrooms where grades 3 to 8 were are still much the same. The barn is no longer a barn, but is the library. Many new buildings fill the rest of the area where the “gully” used to be along with a playground area. The top of the gully is filled in and holds the gym—basically a roof on poles and closed in on two sides so the balls don’t go down the hill. Several garages sit where the old garage/woodshed used to be. The big tree Murray Hodges and I climbed to the top of to watch planes land at the airport is gone. We had morning tea in the living room and old library area. Such a small space. Had a most delicious Ethiopian meal with Ray and Judy Neil. Judy is the principal and doing such an excellent job. In the evening we had a quick dinner with Mike and Pat Ring who live above where Hays used to be, but that whole area has been extended out quite a ways. The power went off during the meal in part of the apartment, so the candles came out. The next day was a trip up to Mt. Entoto. Although a little hazy, we had a good view around to Mt. Bishoftu, Mt. Zuquala and the city itself. Addis is still Addis. Just lots more people. I heard estimates of 3.5 to 5 million people. That’s 7 to 10 times as big as when I left. The garries and three- wheeled taxis have been replaced by Toyota Vans, thousands of blue and white ones.They stop anywhere, any time to pick up or let off a passenger. Always, an outrider hanging out the door calling out the destination and squeezing in another fare. Also, many Toyota pickups with cabs. Counted 17 people in one with about a dozen 100-pound sacks of grain. It barely cleared the ground and hardly made it up the hill. Bishoftu—an idyllic place in a crazy world. The place is in excellent shape thanks to John and Margaret Dakins (and others who preceded them). The plants are all so tall you can hardly see the lake from most spots—except along the verandah. It still has a magnificent view. The lake was up 18 feet, and the old boat house peak just showed if you looked carefully into the water. A lovely new boathouse/ changing area has been built. The little grass roofed gazebo is still there and not all that far from the water’s edge. Many changes with new tenants all around the lake. The weaver birds are still there but only a few in comparison to the early days. Bruce Bond has spearheaded a replanting spree, planting new bamboo and lots of trees. We went out three evenings to try and see jibs (hyenas) but were unsuccessful even though there was a dead horse just up the road and a dead donkey just a few meters from the front gate. The rest home area is completely surrounded by houses. In fact, there are houses almost all the way around the lake. As we climbed the cinder cone, we were aware of a new village that had been started up for resettlement purposes just to the east of the lake. The harvest of wheat and tef was excellent. The volleyball court has been moved from beside the pool to beside the dining room. Then came an exciting trip down to Dilla. We stopped briefly at the Ras Hotel in Debre Zeit and on to Lake Zwey where we stopped at the Bekele Mole Hotel for a delicious meal of Talapia fish. The road was something else. It was full of pot holes, people, donkeys loaded with straw, wood, or grain, and cattle crossing from one side of the road to the other for no apparent reason except that we were coming. At Shashemane several got off to attend a lykso (funeral wake) for one of the prominent wives in the church. We continued on down through the Arussi desert, past Langano Lake. One of the things that struck us was that much of the area was under cultivation and crops were being raised. None of us remembers that being the case when we were there in the fifties. Just at dusk we rolled into Dilla. This was my first visit. What beautiful countryside this area is . . . . [Russ’s trip continued on into Kenya.] Russ Schmidt (GH, BA ’61) russel_schmidt@hotmail.com Return to Top of Page
Photos from Bingham Academy archives
BA Students: "Sir Unkie" with Peter Wallace, Mark Middleton, Dan Maxson, Julene Hodges, Chris Waldock, Stan Kayser, Brian Isaacs, Jerry Healy
BA Tea Time: Peter Wallace, Dan Scheel, Jimmy Nash, Frances Wallace
Articles and photos submitted by Russel Schmidt,Mildred Ladd, Alice Miller, Alberda Farmer, Eleanor Iwan, Greg Giles, Mary Hofer, F. Roy Wallace, Jeannette Shubert, and SIM archives. | |||||||||||||||
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