Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1907-12-13
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles)
CMrs. Fenton Ottley, one of the lead
Ding women in public reform movements
I'm the south, is a charter member of the
ATLANTA Woman's club, and has been its
president. She has served also as secre-
'tary of the General Federation of Wom-
ans Clubs for the state of Georgia, as
first chairman of the state industrial com
mission, which did much work for the
reform of child labor abuses, as chairman
of the state commission on arts and
crafts. and as one of Georgia's commit
tee of three to consider the color line
question. Mrs. Ottley is a Mississippan
by birth and rearing, but has resided in
Atlanta since her marriage, her husband
being banker of that city.)
Tho possibilities of Georgia pine
are being exploited from one end of
the country to the other, but what
thought is being given to the possibil-
aties of the Georgia boy?" So wrote
President Branson, of the state nor
NAL school at Athens, Ga, a few
years ago. The educational renais-
sance now beginning in the south is
based upon recognition of that great
lest of waste products" undeveloped
human life, of which so much exists
lin the states south of Mason and
lDixon's line.
Since most of the people live in
the countryside average population
of Georgia, for instance, being 35 to
s the square mile, with 100000 per-
sons living in one-room cabins-it is
easy to see that the country school
must be the evangel to the people.
In its improvement lies the solution
of the problem of general social bet
terment. The tremendous and sys-
tematic crusade now being organized
throughout the southern states by the
southern educational board purposes
working almost entirely through this
agency, devoting itself to the perfec-
tion of the rural school and such nor
NAL institutions as furnish teachers
for it. This field of endeavor is GER
tainly wide.
Out of 100000 children of school
age in Georgia barely 2S0,000 go to
school 100 days in the year. Eight
months schools are the exception, the
rule being five months, while many
communities do not have school long
er than three months each year. In
these schools, when existent, the
poorest and most meager instruction
Is too often given, owing to the poor
pay of teachers.
All this seems In fair way to be
revolutionized by the efforts of the
southern people, spurred on and en-
couraged by the southern educational
board. In view of this great move.
ment in the country schools it is in.
teresting to note that the forerunner
of the model country school, as
planned by educational enthusiasts,
was initiated and carried on success.
fully by the clubwomen of the state
of Georgia few years ago. By their
efforts and under their charge two
model country schools were main
tained five months the first year in
rural districts. On visiting them a
committee of the southern education-
al board declared them ideal" These
schools, begun as an experiment and
an object lesson, have been carried
on since then with pronounced sue
cess.
Their history is interesting, particu.
1arly for the striking example 1t af.
fords of what may Ne the outcome OF
an active and whole.hearted coopera,
tion between the representative WON
en who make up the clubs of the va.
rious states and the educators and
educational experts of their sections
president Branson, of the Georgia
staUe normal school, had addressed to
MRS. Lindsay Johnson, then president
of the State Federation of Womans
Clubs. letter in which he asked II
that association would undertake to
raise $1,000 for the maintenance for
five months of model county school
which should furnish an object les.
son of what county school should
land might be. The Federation OF
IWomen's Clubs. body of 5000 rep.
resentatlve women. having been long
=