New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
AIKEN'S COLORED SCHOOL.
THE SCHOFIELD NORMAL AND INDUS
TRIAL INSTITUTE IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
WHERE BOYS LEARN TRADES AND EVEN GIRLS
BECOME sHoEMAKERs- FARM WORK

A SPECIALITY.
One of the objects of interest mentioned In the
es1iife book which the town Of Aiken. S. C.. sends
to Northern tourists is the Schofeld Normal and
Industrial School This Is situated little toward
the outskirts of the town and exhibits group Of
buildings in great contrast with the usually low
wooden houses Of the South
There two large brick buildings one the
schoolhouse whore children taken from kin
dergarten graduation. and the other the Deborah
Fisher Wharton Hall. where industries Of various
kinds are taught. There also. the second floor.
are the boys dormitories and on the first floor the
superintendent office. where orders are taken for
the shops and other business affairs are managed
There are several small buildings of various kinds
and one of these the old schoolhOuse. used
for many years. and now open store where
second hand clothing and household articles are
for sale.
These buildings are substantial and In good order
and the little village which they make would at
tract attention in any locality. They are the TO
suits Of the labor Of one woman Martha Schofeld
n member Of the Society of Friends. She went to
the South al the close of tho war 70 teach in the
schools in the Sea Islands. near Charleston. under
the care Of the Freedman's Bureau. She was then
a young girl and the hard life broke down her
health and her friends thought that she would
succumh consumption Removing 70 Aiken. she
was restored to physical vigor She opened school
for coored children in Aiken in 1868. and has been
there ever since
At first the white residents treated her with
GOODNESS and even at times with persecution But
she never fatered and as her work grew the re-
suits were visible TO the Southerners, and
now she and her school are regarded by every
thinking member Of the community as important
factors in the progress Of the State.
From the beginning she realized the necessity
Of teaching her coored pupils The dignity OF
labor" To many Of the freedom meant the
imitation Of the lives Of their former masters AMI
mistresscs The quality did work. there
fore wher free the coored people would not work
Freedom was 10 them synonymo nj life Of idle
ness Every effort Of Miss Schoheld has been In
the direction Of the uphudine of character and ~
the cornerstone she has taught the need for sturdy
self respect and self-support
In the rural districts free schools for the colored
people are at great distances apart, and the ses-
sons are short. The Schofed School Is open for
eight months in the year. A low tuition fee is ex-
pecfed from all pupils and the students come long
distances The boarding pupils are mostly young
men and women who have worked hard during tho
summer and saved their money 10 enable them 10
attend school I'm the winter. Every opportunity
possible Is given the pupils 70 earn money to pay
for their tuition. From the beginning this has
been the policy and all the work about the garden
and buildings has always been done by the pupils.
INDUSTRIAL WORK.
With the erection Of an Industrial hall. named for
Deborah Fisher Wharton. lifelong friend or IN,
colored people and an intimate personal friend Il
tho nr,ncpal many new industries added
The prInting shop Is well equipped and does the
fines, printing I'm Aiken Before the Highland Park
Uorel was burned its menu cards were printed at
the Schofeh School The boys in the shop are
taught every detail Of the work, including making
estimates. In every department the thought Is 10