Fishburne Military School (FMS) is a private military boarding school located in Waynesboro, Virginia, United States。It was written by James A. Fishburne was founded in 1879 and is one of the oldest military schools in the country。
James A. Fishburne was born on April 10, 1850, in Waynesboro, Virginia。An independent and resourceful young man, by the age of 16 he had earned enough money to attend Washington College (now Washington and Lee University).。 After graduating in 1870, he began a teaching career that took him to North Carolina and Kentucky。By 1878, he had saved enough money to start a school and returned to Waynesboro with his bride to fulfill his dream。With the help of his sister, he opened a day school on Main Street called Waynesboro High School in 1879。A year later, Professor Fishburne began building his home on the hill where the Fishburne Military School now stands。By 1882, the house was built - the first in the county to have running water and a bathroom - and the school moved to its current address。
1882 Construction began on the wooden barracks
In 1882, the school was renamed Fishburn Home School and construction of wooden barracks began。Over the next few years, the school assumed much of its military character and became Fishburn Military School。This approach provides a disciplined environment that is conducive to learning。Participants learned about their rights and privileges, as well as their duties and responsibilities。Professor Fishburne intends for schools to prepare students physically and mentally, as well as preparing them "for college, university or real life."。 In 1897, Fishburn Military School became one of the first two military boarding schools in Virginia to receive accreditation from the rigorous Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)。More than a century later, Fishburne has an unbroken track record of SACS membership and SACS accreditation。
1879-1921 - Plans for fireproof schools
From 1879 to 1916, the school operated as a sole proprietorship。However, it is clear to Professor Fishburne that if the school is to remain at the forefront of secondary education, a modern fireproofing facility is needed。He invited businessmen from the community to invest in a private joint-stock company that would buy the school and fund the necessary improvements。The school was founded in 1916 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places。