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Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss., Monday, April 25, 1977
Watched student body grow
opal headmaster to retire
JERRY KINSER Herald Staff Writer For 27 years, the Rev. Charles R. Johnson, headmaster of Coast Episcopal Schools, has watched his student body burgeon from 17 students to over 300.
The Rev. Mr. Johnson, who also serves as rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Bay St. Louis and president of the Board of Trustees of Hancock General Hospital, is retiring at the end of this school year as headmaster because he feels the school system has grown to such proportions it needs a full-time headmaster.
Affectionately known as
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Father J., the unassuming rector, however, does not plan to sever his relations with the schools which he has guided since 1950. He will remain as chairman of the board and will continue to instruct in religion.
He said he started a nursery school in 1950 for 17 students at their parents’ request. "The school grew a grade each year as these students progressed,” he said, "until we finally had to provide a high school."
The high school, Coast Episcopal, is now located on Espy Avenue in Pass Christian. Christ Episcopal Day School remains in Bay St. Louis.
He said his primary purpose in establishing the schools was ‘‘to set a standard of excellence and to train students for college."
The training has paid off, said Father Johnson, and most of his graduates have been able to pick their choice of colleges and universities and have scored highly on college entrance exams.
Coast Episcopal maintains its high educational goals by offering languages beyond the second year in Latin, French, Spanish and German. Father Johnson said Russian was offered at one
time, but the slight demand did not justify the cost.
The school also offers advanced courses in math, science and English.
He says one of his primary goals for the schools is the establishment of an honors program, in which even more advanced courses would be available along with more electives. “We would also probably require 20 units for graduation instead of the traditional 16,” he said.
"Such a program," he said, "would enable above-average students to continue onward and upward, and the average students
to achieve educational standards equal or better than comparative schools.”
Father J. feels the schools have maintained a high level of education because of the high calibre of the teachers. "We select the best available,” he said, "and they are teachers well grounded In their faith.”
There are 10 teachers at the elementary school and 17 at the high school.
Father J. and Mrs. Johnson reside in Bay St. Louis and are the parents of five children.