Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-02-12
VISITING THE SCHOOLS.
Enrolment About 20 Per Cent Less than Lasl
Year, Says Superintendent Craig.

Editors Courier: Within the last few
weeks have had the pleasure of visit
ing several of the schools, work which
greatly enjoyed. have looked for
ward with pleasure to this part of my
duties ever since taking charge of the
1 office of Superintendent of Education,
but have not been able to do very much
att as yet, owing to the very heavy
work caused blythe book exchange. But
now the exchange is over and nothing is
in my way but the rain and the cold,
which are very disagreeable even to a
public official.
Most OF the schools were doing very
wholesome of them real nice-but others
were small and therefore very dull. L
think most Of the teachers are doing the
best they can, but by some means the
/ enrolment is small. AS rule, the
schools that get live teacher, regard
less of the cost, have the best enroll
ment. But in some cases the people are
so badly confused that they cannot run
school with any degree of success.
Several of the schools have been closed
by the trustees for no other reason than
small attendance. just where the trou-
BILE lies am unable to say.
don't want to be understood as fight
ing the town schools. but if teachers,
trustees and people in the country
schools do not try to build up their on
rollment the towns will draw moro
money than they ought to have. The
enrolment for this year is nearly 1000
off-or about 20 per cent less than last
year. hope that what have said will
be understood as an effort to stir up life
and energy in the schools, and not as q
statement to be received as information
and soon forgotten.
Owing to the little interest the people
in the county and State seem to take, |
feel impelled to say that compulsory
law for education looks like real neces-
sity; and do not see why such law
should be Objectionable; for no one
doubts the right of the State to levy a
compulsory tax to support schools that
people will not attend. If the schools
supported by all the people cannot reach
all who contribute to their support, it
seems to me that laws compelling every
one to pay three mills on his property
should be Immediately abolished
think tho State that has the right to i'm
pose tax upon person who has no
children, forcing him to support the
cause of education, ought to have the
right to force the man who has children
to send them to school,
But since it is true that 'Where igno
rance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise" and
that Much knowledge increaseth sor-
rows" and still again, that "Of making
many books there is no end, and much
study is weariness to the flcsh," If had
children and it looked like it might rain
ncxt week they should not go step to
school, for fear they might get damp
and take cold; and if the teacher
didn't treat them better than he does
Mr.. BIS children L would stop them at
once; L would send them few days,
and if they didn't learn the Greek and
Latin verbs by heart they should stop at
once and go to work But believe that
would bo wrong, for some good man has
said, "Hcavcn is not reached at single
bound, but we build the ladder by which
we rise from the lowly earth to the
vaulted skies, and mount its SUBMITS
round by round"
Nature works on man about twenty
five years before she says he is finished,
and if the school teacher should not sue
ceed in teaching a child everything there
is to be taught when the school runs
only three or four months, with the
child absent half of its time, we should
not be surprised, for the God of Nature
is far ahead of any County Superintends
ent of Education that could be moulded
by Prof. McGce.
Very respectfully G. L. Craig,
County Supt. of Education.
Walhalla, February II.