The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-27
COUNTRY SCHOOL PROBLEM.
ADDRESS OF SUPP. j j. Mem Aha N

How tho Public School System Can
bo Changed and Improved in this
State.
The following Is the address OF Su-
perintendent of E Elucation McMahan at
Harris Springs on the country school
problem
The country school problem is the
most important problem OF our civ1ll-
zatiOn today.
1. 1t Is the problem Of our agricul-
tural emancipation, Uf our industrial
prosperity. If the truth be told, We
are in bad way agriculturally. The
country is being deserted, plantations
are being eaten up by mortgages,
dwellings, and barns built before the
war are going to decay, anC II de-
stroyed tomorrow could not be re-
placed. We are living on the accumu-
lations Of the past, and fast using up
the little capital OF our possessions.
This is true Of many neighborhoods. |
am thankful thai it is not true OF all.
But mon now farm without hope. The
way out must be through moro intelli-
gent methods, better education.
2. The country school problem is
the problem OF good government. The
terms "ward politician" and "city
boss" have acquired q meaning that
tells OF some Of the evils OF govern
ment in cities. Although crossroads
politician" is also a term OF disrespect,
1t has not suggestion OF vicious purpose
or OF vonaliLy. The crossroads politl-
clan is charged with narrowness, mis-
taken zeal. He Is q patriot, and all he
needs is education. There Ia among
the people in the country an indepen
dence and an Individuality that are
safeg uard to the State. 1t will be q
bad day for us when We no lOnger have
this sturdy constituency to appeal to.
We must, therefore, by education
solve the problem Of how to make a
provide adequately for the education
Of children reared In the country.
3. The country school problem Is
the problem OF diversified life, of all
round interest. Thus far, nearly all of
Oul city people have had relatives in
the country whom they at times
visited. Hence all our people have some
experience Of country litc-there are
mono but have been brought undor the
influence Of this contact with nature.
This can no longer be 80 IL the exodus
from the country continues, If we con-
tlnue to have poor country schools
that fail to fit boys snd girls to live
prosperously and happily in the coun-
see no hope for their children there
and go to town, to live from hand to
mouth, at uncertain employment, In
search of schools.
4. The country school problem Is,
moreover, the problem OF Our national
vigOr. The maj )rity OF tho leading
business men Of our cities were reared
on the plantations. SO it is in each
generation. The city seems to require
back country to draw upon for rein
forcements. When these can no longer
be supplied the end is at hand.
The country school problem Is indeed
the problem of the preservation OF our
Caucasian civilization and purity Of
blood. II the country be abandoned to
the negroes, then that which makes a
people great will be theirs and not the
white mans. The hardihood, the in
dependence, tho courage that country
life develops will be- lost to the Cauca-
SLAMS, who will have gathered into
congested centres, whore strength and
vigor OF mind and body are at last
sapped. The country will supply the
mon that dominate. Who shall these
be?
But am expected to point out what
may be done for the Improvement OF
the country school. The special prob
due to the sparsity Of population RnG
the poverty Of the people. The chic
difficulty is the distance apart. The
school money Is apportioned according
to enrolment, and each school is at
tended by so small a number that iti
share Of the public found supports |
only pitifully. There are many needet
improvements. What are they
would not, If l could, present to 20,
finished theory of how to solve thi
promblem OF the country school. Yol
would distrust any theory. All i'm
provement must be d growth. My the
ory might need to be modified as con
ditions develop. In aspiring to th
to solve this problem, at least In
measure. But it was not my choice t.
sttompt to solve 1t here in words. Thi
subject was aesigned me. | am glad
however, to give you some of m
thoughts, and | want you to think o
these questions with mo that togethe
We may solve them yet.
The current opinion 1eems to be tina
the one thing nseded for improvin
the country schools is q longer term.
wish to say omphatically that In NJ
opinion the longer torn is the lat
thing needed. 1t is NODDED, but ther
are other things needed worse.
1. The first thing needed Is bette
teaching. moro Intelligent effort tt
ward the moulding OF character.
have been trying to impress this. Th
summer schools are working tOwar
this end. This association has ft
years labored to improve the teacher
of tho State, and has done much.
2. We need better course of stud
In our schools. This Is closely relate
to better teaching, and together the
would transform our schools. This ir
pr0vement Ia need in all the BchOo
and In the colleges too. There Is t,
much purposeless teaching. Subjoc
are taught as II they wore an end
themselves. They arc not made to a
peal to q child's interests. There
no attempt to show their bearing up,
life. a boy Is harrassed with detei
about political geography when Il
names OF the nations are meanipgle
to him. Years are wasted In drill
the rules OF grammar, and the b
goes out to the play ground and "
lates every rule. He has never a,