William Valentine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Orison Valentine
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| 1st President of Central Philippine University | |
| In office 1905-1906 (First Term), 1907 – 1914 (Last Term) |
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| Succeeded by | Charles L. Maxfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 9, 1862 Spencer, New York |
| Died | February 2, 1928 (aged 65) Bacolod, Philippines |
| Resting place | The Philippine American Cemetery Jaro, Iloilo City, Iloilo, P.H. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Ina Van Allen Valentine |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago Valparaiso University Colgate University |
| Profession | University president Educator Minister Missionary |
| Known for | Founder of the Central Philippine University (CPU) |
William Orison Valentine (born May 9, 1862 – died February 2, 1928) was a special teacher and missionary. He helped start and became the first president of Jaro Industrial School. This school is now known as Central Philippine University. He worked for the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.
Valentine spent about 30 years working in Asia. He started in Burma in 1895. Then, from 1904 until he died in 1928, he worked in the Philippines. He was 65 years old when he passed away.
Contents
William Valentine's Life Story
Growing Up and Education
William Valentine was born in Spencer, New York. His birthday was May 9, 1862. His father, William Valentine, was a farmer and raised horses. His mother was Electa Brown Valentine.
After finishing school at Mansfield Normal School in Pennsylvania, he taught for four years. Then, he went to Colgate Theological Seminary to study more. After his studies, he joined the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. This group sends people to other countries to teach and help.
Work in Burma
In 1895, William Valentine was sent to Burma (now Myanmar). He first went to Rangoon. Later, he moved to Mandalay. There, he became the principal of the Baptist Mission High School for Boys.
After eight years in Burma, he became very ill from sunstroke. He had to go back to America for treatment. While he was getting better, he met Ina Jane Van Allen. She was a nurse and later became his wife.
Missionary Work in the Philippines
Starting Schools in Iloilo
William Valentine and Ina Van Allen got married in 1903. Soon after, they moved to Iloilo in the Philippines. The Philippines had recently opened up to American missions in 1898.
The American Baptist Mission Union received money from John D. Rockefeller. He was a rich American businessman. This money was for starting schools in the Philippines. In December 1904, the Philippine Baptist Conference decided to open two schools.
One school was for boys, teaching them skills for jobs. The other was a Bible school to train ministers. William Valentine was put in charge of both.
Jaro Industrial School Begins
In the fall of 1905, the Jaro Industrial School opened. It was a free boarding school for boys. It was located in Jaro, Iloilo City. The first class had 20 boys. They worked four hours a day to pay for their schooling, room, and food. They also spent four hours in the classroom learning.
One new idea at the school was student self-government. This was the first time this was done in the Philippines. It was called the Jaro Industrial School Republic. It was like the American government. This student government still exists today at Central Philippine University.
By 1907, the school had 300 boys. They worked on a farm and learned different trades. The Bible school became a separate school. Mrs. Valentine also helped at the school. She taught some classes and took care of their three children. Their children were born in Iloilo between 1904 and 1913.
In 1913, girls were also allowed to attend the school. The Philippine government officially recognized the school. It had 740 students. From the very start, the school helped poor students who could not afford education otherwise.
Further Studies and Growth
In 1914, Valentine and his family went back to America. He wanted to study more. He studied at Valparaiso University and earned a degree in education. He also studied at the University of Chicago. There, he wrote about the value of work-study programs. He showed how successful the Jaro school was.
Jaro Industrial School kept growing. In 1953, it became Central Philippine University. In 2005, Central Philippine University had over 13,000 students. It now offers more than 50 different study programs.
Work in Negros Occidental
After finishing his studies in 1916, Valentine received a new job. He became a Provincial Missionary for Negros Occidental. This is an island next to Iloilo in the Philippines.
He and his family moved to Bacolod. This was the main city of the province. He became the pastor of the Bacolod mission church. He built a new mission house. He also encouraged Filipino ministers to preach on Sundays.
There were also dorms for boys and girls. They went to public schools and learned about Christianity at the mission. Valentine worked to open new churches and schools in Bacolod and all over the province. Mrs. Valentine taught kindergarten. Education and ministry grew a lot during the eleven years Valentine worked there.
William Valentine's Death
William Valentine died on February 2, 1928, in Bacolod. He had malaria and heart problems. He was buried at the Philippine American Cemetery in Jaro, Iloilo City.
Mrs. Valentine returned to America. The Baptist Mission Society helped her buy a home in Granville, Ohio. It was across from Denison University. All three of their children studied there. Mrs. Valentine lived to be 100 years old. She passed away on March 27, 1979.
His Lasting Impact
Filipinos remember William Valentine for his important role. He helped spread Christian education in the Visayas region. In 1969, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Central Philippine University. This was a special award given after his death.
On October 1, 2005, Central Philippine University celebrated Founder's Day. They unveiled a bronze statue of Valentine. It is at the Old Valentine Hall. In Negros, many churches and schools grew from Valentine’s work. These include the Bacolod Evangelical Church and the Bacolod Christian College.
