EducationThe Dutch emigrants valued education in their community. As a result, there are two colleges founded by the Dutch in west Michigan. Located in downtown Holland, Michigan is Hope College and Western Theological Seminary. The first building that eventually become Hope College was a small log house which was an orphanage for the Dutch children whose parents had not survived the harsh Michigan fevers. The orphanage was built in 1849, where the Western Theological Seminary is currently located. However, other Dutch families soon took in all of the orphans and the building was unused. Dominee A.C. Van Raalte decided to create a school for the children of his new colony and in October of 1851, "Pioneer School" was founded. Pioneer School was later renamed "The Holland Academy". Soon, the need grew for higher education. In 1866, Hope College was chartered and replaced the Holland Academy. It offered a range of subject, including theological training with the support of the Reformed Church. Later in 1884, the Western Theological Seminary was created as a separate institution, neighboring Hope's campus and keeping close ties with Hope. Enrollment was first opened for women in 1878. Today, Hope offers fifty-six majors and has approximately three thousand students. The Calvin College and Seminary was founded in 1876 to train clergy for service in the Christian Reformed Church, with seven students enrolled. Ministry candidates studied for four years in the Literary Department followed by two years in the Theological Department. Non-theological students were admitted in 1894 into a preparatory program. This later grew into a two-year college called John Calvin Junior College. Calvin became a full four-year college in 1921. Calvin College is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has grown to a current number of approximately four thousand students. It offers over seventy academic. |