Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-11-05
TAE SCHOOL IMpaovgMENI Work.
A Small Meeting at the Graded School Sal,
irday- Reports from Various Schools.

The meeting at the Graded School
building last Saturday was not as well
attended as it should have been. But
few people knew Of the meeting, those
In charge Of the arrangements having by
oversight failed to give due notice Of the
date and hour for the assembling of the
teachers and others interested In the
work OF school improvements. Those
Superintendent of Education @. L.
Craig, Prof. ID. r. Nicholson, II. T.
Jaynes, Esq, Prof. N. w. Macaulay
Misses Marye II. Shelor, Katu j. Stecix,
BERTHE and Carrie Smith.
Miss Shelor spoke of the origin of the
movement, gave an interesting state
ment of the work already done in this
county, during the past year. and ont
lined the work proposed to be carried
on in the future. Like all movements
of this nature, in the beginning there
are obstacles to be overcome and many
discouragements to be met. The work
has, however, been encouraging as a
| whole, though In some instances little,
apparently, has been accomplished.
Miss Shel"" hopes and is working for
the Adoption of the plan urged by Mr..
panion, the originator of the school i'm
provement movement, as follows: The
| organization of county associations for
improvement OF rural school grounds,
Bible study, historic and other pictures,
etc.; the organization of permanent
body to meet in general federation each
summer, in which each school should
6e represented by delegates, who should
furnish regular and systematic reports.
Prof. Macaulay made a brief and inter
esting talk. He showed a deep interest
in the work and thought ali teachers
| should catch the spirit of progress in
education and view the subject in the
light of its true Importance.
Mr.. II. L. Jaynes called attention to
the fact that times have changed and
that in many instances tho people have
adapted themselves to and fallen in en-
Enthusiastically with the new order of
things. This is as it should be. The time is
| ripe for improvements of all kinds in
matters pertaining to education; not
alone in the methods used in tho school
room, but in everything connected with
the work in any way-modernizing of
buildings and equipments, tho beautify-
ing of grounds and surroundings. The
true, the noble, the good and beautiful
should ever DC before us. he suggested
organization and later an adjouped
meeting.
At the close of his remarks the follow
ing officers were elected: President, D.
F. Nicholson; recording secretary, c. L..
Craig; corresponding secretary, Miss
Marye Shelor; treasurer, Miss Berthe
Smith,
The date for the adjourned meeting
was fixed on December 6, 1902. 1t is
earnestly hoped that everybody who
feels Interested in this great work will
keep the date in mind and make an effort
to attend the meeting. All teachers and
trustees are especially urged to attend.
Much good can be accomplished by sys-
tematic work and united effort.
The following committee was ap-
pointed to render decisions as to best
improvements, etc.: Mrs. M. w. Cole
man, Miss Marye Shelor, r. Il. Jaynes,
G. l.. Craig, D. f. Nicholson.
Arbor Day at Bear Swamp.
The new and neat building at Bear
Swamp was beautifully decorated with
chrysanthemums and ivys and the walls
were covered with Audubon and Revo-
lutionary pictures, while in one corner
were agricultural products. Portraits of
Gems. Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee
were draped, the former with the Con-
federate flag and Grape, the latter
with "0ld Glory" AS q whole
but best of all were the children, who
had been taught at homo and in school
to love their country.
Promptly at II o'clock the children
marched in to the air of "Dixie,"
played by Mrs. G. F. Clarkson on the
organ and Mr.. w. M. Fennell on the
violin. Then came the song America"
Mr.. r. Il. Jaynes made timely ad-
dress, which the children and all enjoyed.
He paid high compliment to the
Youths Companion. He told of leg
islator who was we'll informed on all
subjects, yet he had never been to
school. When asked how this was he
replied: 81 have read the Bible and
Youths Companion from boyhood." At
the close of his remarks Mr.. Jayues
presented the flag to the school, given
by the Youths Companion. Mr.. Fennell,
telling how much the school appreciated
the flag and thanking the Companion
and the committee for their efforts in
the schools behalf.
"The Star Spangled Banner" was
sung, the children passing out into the
yard to plant the trees. The names of a
few trees were: "Keowee Courier" ~.
B. Upham'"'' Mamie Gray" Mrs.
son." Sumter"
Miss Mamie Ansel, the new teacher
then raised "Old Glory over the build
ing. Little Albert Fennell came out ON
tip-toes and raised his Confederate flag
also. This was too much for the
"Johnnie Reb," and he gave yell fa-
miliar in times gone by. The children
then sang Long may they wave Ger
the land of the free and the home of the
brave"
The hearts of the children were made
sad because Miss Mamie Gray, their be-
loVed teacher, was prevented by the
death of her father from being present.
1t will be remembered that Miss GRAY
taught White Rock School last year and
received the first honor flag. We say it
without fear of contradiction, that it is
the best equipped rural school in upper
South Carolina. The library is gem.
The set of encyclopedia is the only one
in use in Oconee.
We have tried to get the people in
terested in this work, but someti mes We
almost give it up, we become so dis
couraged. But when we came to Bear
Swamp we gained strength, and, like
Sergeant Jasper, we wanted to raise
the flag high over all the Oconee schools.
Marye Shelor
What Some OF the Schools Have Done.
Below we give the reports sent in as to
what has been accomplished in the line
of improvements to buildings, equip
ments and grounds by some of the
OcOnee schools
BEAR SWAMP SCHOOL.
Lot donated by Mrs. w. M. Fen
nell. valued at. go. .......$ Is 90
Building, size 30xl6. -. .. $50 90
% patent desks. ..... .......... so 90
chairs. ............. ........... 4 90
globe. e............ ........ ...... 10 90
charts. .................. 25 90
l United States map. 1 80