The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-01-13
FOR THE SCHOOLS.
A Concensus Of Opinion on the Sub
ject Of Libraries.
WRITTEN BY J. FRANK F0oSHE.

Should Be Read by All Parents,
Guardians or Others Who Are
Interested in the Vel
fare of Children.
The following is the second part o.
an article written by NJ. }. Frank
Fooshe, editor Of the Winnsooro News
and Herald. for The State.
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS.
With an increased interest IN the
study of the history OF South Caroilna
there ought to be demand for more
books on the subject: and in the 1o!-
lowing suggestions there is opportunl-
ty to get the best that there IS. With
out a single exception the works OF
Simms and the four volumes Of Gen.
McCrady's history We're most heartily
suggested. Next in favor to these
came Horseshoe Robinson" and the
Life of Marion y by Weems. Tim
rods poems, Haynes poems, In Old
St. Stephens were mentioned more
than one time each. Others that were
mentioned were: Shadows OF the
War" published anonymously, The
Earth Trembled Story Of Old
Fort Sumter" Craddock: "Cateechee
Of Keowee.'' Mrs. Means Story OF
South Carolina. -
DR.. Boldridge in this connection
suggested book that ought to be
within the reach Of every teacher IN
the State. After mentioning several
Of the books already mentioned above,
he adds the following: And in some
respects better still the telling OF
thrilling incidents in South Carolina
history by the teacher. There are
many such.
Mr. McCantS also makes a Sugges-
tion that the lives OF prominent South
Carolinians be read and adds: Instead
of this we have them reading sketch
es of Franklin, the first man to set up
the dollar as the great American
god"
STICK TO BOOKS.
In regard to the adyiSability of sub
scribing a part Of any library funds
that might be in hand for current pc
riodicals and magazines the unanimity
of opinion was against this in a school
as limited in its resources as the one
for which information was being ask
ed. The stand taken by almost
everyone was that where the funds are
small decidedly better results can be
had by the expenditure Of the money
for books. Where the library is a.
ready well established 3ild where the
resources will permit it is recon-
mended that there be an effort in this
direction.
LTne writer of this article trusts
that he may be pardoned for adding
to the suggestions contained IN the
above answers some Of his own person
al experience in the matter Of estab-
fishing and conducting library. a few
years ago ne took charge of school OF
about 80 pupils and about 40 Of these
were in the classes above the usual
fourth year. The school building was
fairly good for the community and
the surroundings were about as favor
able as those of most country towns.
The furniture in the building.
though home made, was very good.
The one thing laking in the opinion
Of the new teacher was school lib
rary. In much Of their work the
pupils from the very start showed
many commendable characteristics.
but it was very evident that their
reading had been seriously neglected.
To remedy this defect was the one
work that he set out to do. The first
step in this direction was not an effort
to purchase some books, for in his
opinion this would not have been ad-
visable till some interest had been
aroused on the part of the children in
this new feature. Fortunately he
had in his possession quite a collection
of books that were suitable for the
children to read. These he carried to
the school room with him, laid them
on his desk, and invited the children
to read them whenever they felt like
so doing. From the very first they
accepted this invitation, and found
this a most valuable way to put IN
much of the time that would have
otherwise been spent in ldlenesS.
Special attention was also given to
reading them such selections as it
was thought would be stimulating in
arOuSing in them an interest in their
reading. In visits to the various
homes books that were therein noted,
and from their owners loan OF the
same was asked There were a good
number of real suitable books to be
obtained in this way, which together
with those to which the pupils had al
ready been given access, made a very
good little circulating library. All
the while the matter OF their reading
was emphasized in every way possible.
Nor were the efforts in this direction
without results, as is evidenced by the
fact that within six months more than
200 volumes were read. At the close
Of the school an entertainment was
given for securing funds with which
to purchase library, and a nice little
sum was secured The books, about
40 in number, were soon purchased.
In the light of the six years that
have passed, since that time he would
say that he made some very serious
blunders in the selection thereof. Ex-
perience has since taught the lesson
that in the purchase of any books.
however small the amount therefor
may be, that quality is Of far more
consideration than quantity.
When he came to the historic Mt.
Zion he was very much surprised to
find but that little had been done in
the matter of providing a library.
The total number of volumes therein