Dearborn Christian School

Hal Soper's account of Dearborn Christian School's origin

 “After my term was up as deacon (1954) I was elected to the new Christian School Board for a three year term.  We had no school at the time, but our job was to study the feasibility of a Christian school and if deemed appropriate to establish it as soon as possible.  We set up a Christian School Society made up of parents, potential parents and friends to advise the Board on various issues.  Most members of the society were in favor of a school but there were some who were against, mainly because of cost.  But in 1956 the Society approved the addition of a wing onto the church building so we could begin a Christian School in September 1957.  For the first year the school went from the first through fifth grades (it added a grade a year up to eighth grade).

I don’t recall the number of students who enrolled that first year; it was probably about thirty.  Ken Battjes and I were sent to Grand Rapids in the spring of 1957 to offer the Principal-Teacher job to Peter Uitvlugt who held that position at Walker Christian School.  We went home thinking we and been successful, but he later called to say his board of directors would not let him go.  He had verbally committed to return to their school.  So we were in a real predicament!

During the summer we finally made an offer to Emma Knapper, a teacher in Canada who agreed to take the job for one year with the understanding that she only wished to teach in following years.  But we ran into immigration problems and had to meet several times with immigration officials before we got clearance for her to come for one year only.  Emma had her hands full, but she received much support from the Board, parents and volunteer helpers.  We considered our first year a success!”

Hal Soper, father of 6 DCS graduates [from his informal memoirs]