A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

The Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI) The MEI at Clearbrook, B.C., founded in 1944, has become the largest Mennonite high school in Canada. From an attendance of forty-three in 1944, the school's enrollment climbed to a record 505 in 1958. The doubling of enrollment during the early years of the school forced the ccnstruction of a $50,000 educational plant in 1946 on a new campus. In 1954 the construction of a junior high school added four classrooms and other facilities to the school. A spacious modern auditorium was built in 1970 which is also used for many conference and community functions. The MEI is supported by six M.B. churches of the area and one United Mennonite church. Although enrollment has decreased somewhat during the last few years, the school continues to play a vital role in the education of Mennonite Brethren young people. I.J. Dyck and F. C. Thiessen were among the pioneer educators of the school. Sharon Mennonite Collegiate (1945-19701 A second private high school in B.C. was established in Yarrow, a Mennonite settlement booming because of high raspberry prices. A committee headed by J. A. Harder, leading minister of the local M.B. church, succeeded in making a 150-student high school a reality in 1945. A subsequent jump in enrollment led the Yarrow, Greendale and East Chilliwack Mennonite Brethren churches to construct a large education- al plant with classroom space for more than 300 students. Yet in 1949 the school building had to be turned over to the public school board because an economic recession forced the abandonment of the ambitious venture. 2 " In 1951 another beginning was made by a new Society, actively supported by the Yarrow M.B. church. Beginning with sixty-four students in grades seven to ten, the school had expanded by 1960 to an enrollment of 114 in grades six to twelve with a staff of seven teachers. A gradual decrease in enrollment during the next decade forced the school to close its doors in 1970. Many of the Yarrow students now attend the MEI at Clearbrook. The Alberta Mennonite High School (1946-1962) In Coaldale, Alberta, Mennonite Brethren with a concern for Christian education formed the Mennonite Educational Society in the spring of 1946 under the leadership of B. B. Janz. That fall the Alberta Mennonite High School began operation with H. Thiessen as principal. Instruction was given in grades nine to twelve to a group of forty-two students. Enrollment fluctuated between a low of twenty-eight and a TRAINING FOR LIFE AND SERVICE 267 high of forty-nine during the first five years. When grades seven and eight were added in 1951 enrollment rose to ninety. Although investment in buildings was moderate and teachers' salaries were low, the financial strains upon the society of a little more than 100 members was severe. Throughout its short and troubled history the school was plagued with financial problems. A closely related fact wh