Historic Schools of Bethel

Apprenticeships/Dame Schools/Travelling Pedagogues/Pay Schools/Free Schools

Schooling in Bethel Community, Haywood County, North Carolina, began at the time of settlement in the late 1790s/early 1800s.  In the early days, parents, or other individuals with rudimentary amounts of academic or trade knowledge, operated training sessions in homes.  In a short time, churches became the centers for educational training, with pastors frequently serving as ministers on Sunday and teachers during the week. Early schools, requiring payment for the pedagogue or teacher, could be accessed only by those who could afford to pay.  Understanding the unfairness of the system in which only children from affluent families could be educated, early churches and other groups offered subscription (also known as “old field” or “pay”) schools alternately with free schools.  By the early to mid-1900s, Inman Chapel's unique social and educational mission extended to all age groups; all educational services offered at the church were free. These outreach programs were funded by the Universalist Church, the Women's National Missionary Association of the Universalist Church of America, the Sigma Kappa Sorority, and many wealthy patrons, including Reuben B. and Hope Robertson.

*For the purposes of this discussion, the distinction between free schools and public schools is that free schools were funded by churches or other charitable organizations; public schools were funded by the government. Free public schools were funded by both.

Public Schools

In 1840, North Carolina established a payment system, the Literary Fund, to institute a program of public-school education that allowed federal money to filter to the state and then to each county to support public school training as a right for every child. Collecting money for that purpose, however, and distributing it equitably proved problematic. Not until the National Defense Education Act of 1958 did the federal government ensure financing for public schools. Today, North Carolina public schools are funded through three main sources: federal allotments, state allotments, and local allotments.  

The progression of the school timeline from the beginning of the 19th century to today's 21st century programs in Bethel Community provides a microcosm of educational training that could be considered typical of any edification program in the United States. There were dame schools, apprentice training, travelling pedagogues, both subscription and free schools, public schools, and both church and sectarian educational programs.  Once they came on the scene, public schools developed, merged, and consolidated until we have today's modern Bethel Kindergarten, Bethel Elementary, and Bethel Middle Schools in the community.

At various times during the timeline progression, the definitions of certain terms changed along with the timeframe for those changes.  Elementary programs included grades one –five, one - six, or one - seven. At one time, Bethel Elementary included grades one - six, and the high school was grades seven – eleven. There was no grade twelve and no junior high or middle school. Eventually grade twelve was added. The term, “junior high,” came into play and typically included grades seven and eight.  “Middle school” replaced the “junior high” nomenclature and originally covered grades seven – nine; high school was grades ten – twelve. Today's elementary school includes grades one–five; middle school contains grades six–eight; high school incorporates grades nine-twelve.

Private Boarding Schools

Bethel is unique because its hidden mountainous coves and expansive open spaces, as well as its diverse philosophical and cultural  perspectives, have allowed for exceptional approaches to teaching and learning that have been unlike those in other sectors.

Along with subscription and public schools, private boarding schools have been incorporated into the educational fabric of the communities of Bethel and Cruso. These training programs for specific students have been among the most unique ever to have been developed in the nation. Springdale School in Cruso and Lake Logan Academy (Summit Academy) in Lake Logan catered to uncommon student needs while employing unusual instructional approaches and techniques. In this sense, Bethel schools have been atypical.

Summer Schools

Summer school education, other than camping programs, existed at Inman Chapel, Ivy Hill, and at Springdale School in Cruso. Later, public schools at Bethel sporadically included summer training as catch-up for children who needed remedial attention.

Singing Schools

Some schools offered training in music as a part of the regular curriculum, during summer school, or as part of an after-school or weekend project. Ivy Hill offered a summer music program with a focus on singing as well as a writing class. Bethel Academy was recognized for its singing school program, and a photograph exists of student members of that program.  Bethel Presbyterian Church, as evidenced by an undated photograph of a singing school at the church, apparently included a singing school among its training sessions, though dates and age of pupils are unknown.  

*Though important, these limited singing schools will not be included when tallying the overall number of schools in Bethel because of the difficulty of determining the timeframe and structure of these schools.

Early School - Nursery/Kindergarten Schools

Regarding early childhood education, Bethel was fortunate to be home to visionary individuals who understood the importance of an early start, long before other locales considered such approaches to be inherently beneficial. Kindergarten at Sunburst Village, nursery and kindergarten at Inman Chapel in the Retreat/Cecil/Sunburst area, and the New College Nursery School in Cruso ensured that early childhood education came to Bethel long before it made headway in other parts of the country. Haywood County public schools came onboard with kindergarten education by the 1980s.

Adult Education/Advanced and College Level Training

At the other end of the age spectrum, Inman Chapel's adult education outreach was a precursor to community college training programs that provide mental stimulation as well as job preparation. Teaching of crafts was also a significant part of the Inman Chapel adult education approach – a precursor to courses taught today at Haywood Community College.  Inman Chapel's Faith Cottage and Pioneer Night School allowed working adults to attend training programs – another innovative approach that was a precursor to the community college experience. The large lending library at the Friendly House at Inman Chapel ensured that local people had access to instructional materials as well as to books that would encourage reading for pleasure.

The Bethel/Cruso area was also home to three college level schools and training programs: New College of Columbia University in the East Fork of the Pigeon River area of Cruso and Biltmore Forest School on the West Fork at Sunburst, and the Reading Circle at Bethel.  Here again, the specialized and unique educational methods that were the primary impetus of these schools made Bethel's educational modules unlike those of any other community.

Camps

Though technically not considered to be schools, camps offered a variety of teaching opportunities for students in the summer months – and Bethel/Cruso has been home to six camps and camping programs: Camp Daniel Boone on Little East Fork, Camp Henry at Lake Logan, Camp Hope in Cruso, High Valley Camp at Springdale in Cruso, Land of the Sky Wilderness Camp (LOTSWILD Camp) in Burnette Cove in Cruso, and Wellsprings Adventure Camp at Camp Hope in Cruso.

Superintendents

With the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Schools in 1881, Haywood County made a huge step forward in educational oversight and direction of its public-school programs and facilities.  Bethel, once again, is unique in that the first Superintendent of Haywood County Public Schools was from Bethel (the Reverend R. A. Sentelle), and the latest Superintendent is also from Bethel, Dr. Trevor Putnam.

*While important, church Bible School programs are not included in the tally of schools in Bethel.

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