The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-02-07
New Teachtrs Association.

Rockbil Jan 2-The Woman's Asso-
citation for tue Improvement of Rural
Schools of South Carolina was orga-
Missed by President Johnson at VIM
throp college, May, 1902, among the
senior class of that year.
It's object, AS shown by the name dop-
ted. was 10 intert st the women of The
State with a view to the Improvement
and development in every way or the
country schools and TO. enlarge the use
fitness Of of the teacher as well as The
scope of her work. That this purpose
is being accomplished as proved b!Y inc
gathering last week of an interested
body of Intelligent women from every
county in the State. While most OF
these were teachers, engaged in active
school work, many were representa-
| tives Of women's clubs and civic leagu-
es, thus showing a spirit of coopera-
ton and of helpfulness on the part OF
these associations that promises well
for progress in State schools III the
future.
The Winthrop society having pro-
reed the use of its halls for the meet
|ipgs of the association, the members
assembled there at s p. m. Friday ev-
ening and were called to order by
President Johnson of Winthrop. Miss
Louise ~Poppenheim of Charleston was
elected chairman and Miss Mary L.
Nance of Abbev;lle secretary. Upon
motion the chairman appointed a COM
mitee on programme and order of bus
mess and also a committee on con.
| stitution and by laws, the lat
ter consisting of Miss Bessie
Rogers of Marlboro county, chair
man; Miss Ansie Holman of Orange
burg, Miss Fannie Creighton of Green
wood.
President Johnson in q cordial q ID.
! dress of welcome to the association,
spoke of the need of such an organiza'
ton of women for the betterment Of
State Schools, and expressed pleasure
in the fact the assembly was represen'
tative, not of teachers or Of club wo-
men alone, but was ain exponent ofthe
interest felt by all in the important
work of education. He offered his OWL
assistance and that of Winthrop col.
lege as a unit for any help that might
be needed to carry out the plans of the
association;
He was followed by Hon. o. B. Mar
tin, Stale Superintendent of education,
who spoke earnestly of the needs OF
the rural schools of the State and poin-
ted out many ways in which they
should be improved and strengthened.
Miss Edith Register of Raleigh N. G.
a winthrop graduate was introduced to
to the association al a successful work
er in the interest of rural schools.
She gave q sketch of methods used in
her owp.State, and at the close of the
meeting, received the thanks OF
many of her hearers for the
clearness with which she demonstrated
helpful ways of dealing. with difficult
! problems in, school improvement.
MissRyder and MissPawnee Jones of
| Winthrop music faculty and Miss
Powell head of the department Of
reading, favored the audience with Sc
lections during The evening
Most of the delegates attended chap
Ell exercises Saturday morning. Col.
J. J. Dargan of Sumter made an elo-
uuent address to the school IN. the sub
iect of the historic omen of South
Carolina. Hon. o. B Martin followed
with a speech in his own happy hap
py style, eliciting much laughter and
applause from the students with
whom the genial State superintenda nj
is q prime favorite.
The association was called to order
for business at $50 a. M, Miss Popen-
helm in the chair. After The reading
and approving of minutes, the report
of the committee on order of business
was read and accepted. Mrs. Ransier
of Hendersonville.-N. G. organiser OF
''SuDshine" societies in the South,
was introduced and gave a talk upon
her " work in its connection with
country shoots. Miss Mary R Shelor
Of Oconee spoke briefly upon the need
of care for poor children with defective
eyesight or the crippled and deformed
and that she had in hand a small
amount as the beginning of fund for
a home for such afflicted ones.
The names of counties were then
called in alphabetical order, the dele
gate from each responding with a re.
port of school conditions and needs in
her own county. From these reports
might be gathered much of encourage
ment, and much more might be read.
between the lines, of the teachers
work, of real hardships endured, of
patient making the best of unfavorable
conditions, of bravery and perseverance
in the face of almost unconscious self
sacrifice and self fo~rgetfulness, togeth
er with a hOpefulness approaching he
roism, that warmed and touched the
heart of more than one listener. TAX
en- as a WHOLE the reports showed pro-
gress in almost every instance; the i'm
provement of buildings, establish
ment of libraries and transpor-
tation pupils. Organization OF teach
ers associations, noted in
some counties, is encouraging, but
there still remains a great lack 10
many instances. A convnsation OF
reports would show imperatiie need
under the following heads:
Better buildings, with adequate
furniture an apparatus; well selected
libaries: better salaries for school
officials and for teachers, and better
educated teachers; longer terms OF
School; systematic grading in every
school, however small; a change IN
certain unsatisfactory textbooks
teachers association A; of consoli-
of weak schools;
improvement of grounds and sanitary
conditions; more personal contacI
between parents and teachers and
more atten ion paid to The devel-
opment of h eaesthetic. Among other
points brought out we're suggestion
that school officials should be appoin-
ted not elected; that the IDEAL school
trustee should be a good business man