VIDALIA, La. — Every day seven eager young faces pour into what is essentially a one-room schoolhouse on Airport Road. Bethel Missionary School has offered a Christian education to its students for the past five years.

And just last month the school finally received its Louisiana state accreditation.

&uot;We made a lot of progress in this one year,&uot; said Part-time Principal Charles E. Wilson, a former administrator for Concordia&160;Parish Schools who also teaches the GED program in Natchez.

Some of the requirements the school had to meet included library size and having a certified teacher and administrator. Now with accreditation in place, the school hopes to attract more students but still maintain small classes, he said.

&uot;We want smaller class size so (students) can get more independent study,&uot; Wilson said. That way the students get more one-on-one time with the teacher, he added.

The school is certified to teach elementary grades and focuses on mixing moral standards and discipline in its curriculum.

&uot;When a child learns those Christian principals it helps them in regular life,&uot; said Pastor Troy N. Thomas Sr.

Some of the school’s students had fallen behind in the traditional school setting and often can flourish in the small, structured environment, school officials said.

&uot;We are able to maintain a limited amount of behavioral problems in a small setting,&uot;&160;said Leola Burkhart, the school’s teacher.

&uot;We work with the whole child – both spiritual and educational skills along with moral standards.&uot;

Society is losing many children who have fallen behind and become frustrated with school, she added.

The school has plans to expand to include dyslexia, special education and adult education programs while maintaining its Christian base.

&uot;When you teach about God and Christianity then you have a value system that is not being taught,&uot; Wilson said.