Concepción College (Concepción, Chile)

[3] Often there was a lack of suitable textbooks, and the delay in securing them from the U.S. was so great that at times, from the one book on hand, the lesson was copied on the blackboard for the use of the children.

To avoid this difficulty, Waterhouse compiled texts on history and geography for use in the Concepcion schools.

To preserve good discipline and not lose the pupil by offending the parents was a task sometimes too difficult for the teachers.

He placed as preceptress Mary Stout, who was at the head of the primary department in the boys' school at Concepcion.

She knew how to teach, and she had a talent for discipline which enabled her to keep order and at the same time win the admiration of her pupils.

Stout cooperated with Arms in the management, and at the end of the year, after paying all accounts for the running expenses, a balance of US$1,000 was on hand, which was used in improving the equipment of the school.

Arms and his wife, Ida A. T. Arms, had been in charge of Colegio Americano, that school had an ever-increasing prosperity; and now that Concepcion College had done so well during the first year it was under his management, the complete confidence of the directors of the Transit and Building Fund Society in New York was won.

A grant of US$20,000, largely the gift of Anderson Fowler, was made for the purpose of providing a suitable building for the Concepcion College.

This house was remodeled by Mr. Arms, a second story was built and a large extension added to make it suitable for our girls' school, Concepcion College.

The Transit and Building Fund Society of New York furnished US$18,000, while the balance, over US$5,000, was paid out of the earnings of Concepcion College.

[3] Mr. and Mrs. Arms remained in charge of Concepcion College till April 1903, when he went home with his family by the Bishop's order on account of impaired health.

[5] In Mrs. Arms' 1908 report, she mentions that she is not only the Preceptress, both also the housekeeper, house mother, teacher, bookkeeper and, in her husband's absence,[6] general manager.

The school built a new annex and that was filled again to capacity with enrollment of about 200 of which 90 were boarders and 90 were day pupils in actual attendance.

[8] Concepcion College continued to grow, and in July 1919, a corner lot, 1,198 square metres (12,900 sq ft), the side and rear of which joined the school property, was purchased for 100,000 pesos (about US$22,000 at the then exchange).

Plans were made to tear it down and construct a modern school building in the near future, the Centenary funds making this possible.