Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-21
THE GRADED SCHOOL.

Although the people of Yorkville have.
a good graded school, competent
corps of teachers, and quite a large.
crowd Of bright intelligent children to
be taught, they are badly off for a.
suitable school house. Any citizen Of
the town can satisfy himself on this
point by making a personal investiga-
too strong, to say that such an inves-
tigation Is a matter Of positive duty.
A reporter for THE ENQUIRER visited
the school during Thursday morning.
The visit was made at the invitation of,
and in company with, Mr.. G.NW. s.
Hart, chairman Of the board Of trus-
tees. Mr.. Hart gave no especial rea-
son for extending the invitation and
he offered no word Of comment or ex-
PLANTATION about the school during the
visit, which occupied about 20 min
utes.
Following the lead Of Mr.. Hart, the
reporter entered the first room on the
right Of the passageway. The room
proved to be that presided over by Miss
Allison, who has charge Of the first and
second grades. It Is less than twenty
feet square, and in 1t, sitting in chairs,
between rows of desks, were 49 chill
dren. The rows of desks begin close
to the wall in the rear, and with hardly
turning room for q child's chair be-
tween, continue to within two yards Of
a fire place in front. There are two
blackboards on the wall, one on either
side; but the crowding Is such that a
blackboard demonstration in view of
all the children at the same time Is i'm
possible. The so-called desks are mere.
iy rough travesties, and most Of the
children occupy chairs brought from
their respective homes.
The next room across the hall Is that
Of Miss Witherspoon. Although not
quite so large, the room, which is de-
voted to the Sd and 4th grades, Is not
so badly crowded. There is no waste
space, however, for there were 80 chill
dren seated at rough desks similar to
those seen in the first room visited.
Upstairs, over the room occupied by
Miss Allison with the 1st and I'd
grades, Is the 9Th and 9Th grade room.
in charge of Miss Daniel. The room is
about the same size Of that below, and
Is uncomfortabIy crowded with child
rem. There-are 80 in all. Across the
hall on the same floor, the next room
Is occupied by the 7th and 8th grades,
In charge Of Mr.. Bryan. There are q
children in this room and the "furni-
ers-no better. ..
Superintendent Daniel, who has i'm
mediate charge Of the 9Th and 10th
grades, numbering 13 children in all.
has a room down stairs on the first
floor, and in the back part Of the house.
The conditions here are reasonably
comfortable because Of the compare
lively smaller number Of children in
the room.
The arrangements for ventilation in
the various rooms, while satisfactory
for family use, are totally inadequate
for the present crowded condition.
There are no transoms over the win
dows of any Of the rooms, and as the
windows open from the side, fresh air
can be admitted, II at all, only from
top to bottom, subjecting the children
nearest to a full draft in order to en-
sure reasonable comfort to the chill
dren who are located farthest from the
windows.
The reporter heard no complaint from
any of the teachers. All were doing the
very best they could and giving as
much attention to their duties as II
their surroundings were all that could
be desired The same was true Of the
children. But that is the best that can
be said. Even fairly good work under
such circumstances is next to impos-
sible. Such crowding cannot be con-
ducive to health anywhere. The story
cannot be properly told in print. York
Vile people who are interested, II there
are any such, should investigate for