The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-05-04
The Country School and Some OF its
Improvements.

SlOnS on every lndSiuaOle phaSe
of the country school problem. At
all the educational associations
which are annually held through
out the United States, in all the
educational journals and magi-
zines which are daily sent to every
portion of our country, the cOun-
try school question has occupied
prominent place, Professional
men Of high rank have given their
views on this great subject; the
layman have been interested In it
and talked much about it; college
men from their starry heighths
contemplated it and delineated
in scholarly manner the entire
situation; it has been discussed by
almost every type of man, and
from almost every conceivable
point of view. But to truly un-
derstand the situation we must lay
aside the manifold discussions, we
must not be contented with what
we hear and read about the mat
ter. We must get out into the
field, however uninviting iC may
be, and make the survey for our
selves. We must conscientiously
meet face to face rude and stub
born facts; otherwise our Concep-
tion Of the country school will be
woefully inadequate. This Is a
question Of paramount Importance;
every thoughtful man no doubt
realizes its surprising Importance.
OF all the great problems which
today confront our people for So
luton, none, it seems to me, is of
greater Importance than our coun-
try schools. The time is ripe for
broad scholarship, for wise super
vision, for earnest and faithful
effort, directed along the line of
i'm prOvement Of public schools.
Colleges are important to the
., higher education is neces-
for the full and proper devel-
e our country, but the
l. V-'0&hool IN the remote corners
Of the State are none the less I'M
pOrtant to its welfare 1t is worthy
of the cordial support of all good
citizens. 1t is an exceedingly i'm.
portant social factor, and as such
its aptitude for performing it's
functions should be cultivated and
improved. Work IN the common
schools is a noble work, and it de-
mands a host Of noble workers
The harvest is ripe, but the reap
ers are too few. Let us all engage
more enthusiastically and more in
telligantly in the great cause Of the
common schools, and thus edify
the standards Of our citizenship.
Let us be more willing to spend
some Of our time and talent for
thc'causc Of education of the mass
3, and thus experience a greater
materlaI prosperity; let us be more
altrustic In spirit, more ardent in
work, with reference to the little
country school, and thus reap BEN
oliJs to all the institutions Of our
ii r.dorn civilizations -faMily, state,
cUrch and school
Let us now consider some Of the
improvements of our country
schools Since the opening Of the
10th century, school methods have
changed from generation to gener-
alton, greatly for the better; so
that each adult generation has been
able to learn something from the
schools Of it's children. And mas
much as good literature of all the
ages is constantly made moro ac.
cessible, it may be hoped that
through a good schools use of lit.
erature, old and new, each success
sive generation may profit by the
schools Of it's children. The child. |
rem returning from school ought
Ito bring into their homes some
Eesh daily interest in what they
Pc been doing at school, or in
That they are expected to do AT
home.
In all education of the young,
and, indeed in the whole trend of
life, it is Fundamental object to
rain the willforce of the individ-
pl and it is the ultimate end Of
wing to make that will work just
RectivelyS The weak willed
pan is the one most liable
ayt h2 has not force