The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-04-24
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.
Women's Association for the Inn
proyement of Rural Schools Doing
Good Work.

for the Improvement Oh RUTdl ScuOolS
was held in the Office Of the County
Superintendent Of Education Satur-
day morning for the purpose Of
| awarding the prizes offered by Su-
perintendent Cain for the most ma
terial improvements in school build
ings and grounds since January 1st.
1907.
The following prizes were award
ed:
First Prize-Portraits Of John c..
Calhoun and Wade Hampton, to Fra
ser school, Providence District No. 1s.
Second Prize-Arithmetical Chart,
to Gen. Sumter Memorial Academy,
District No. II.
Third Prize-Map Of North and
South Carolina, to Wider SCHOOL,
District so. /. 4
The following report was submit
ted from Fraser school, to which the
first prize was awarded:
List of Improvements made since
January 1st, 1907, on Fraser school
house and grounds, District No. 1s,
Sumter county, S. C.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
of the Committee:
When / took charge, as teacher, Of
the Fraser school last September, I
was gratifed to find the building far
better equipped and furnished than
the average school house in rural
districts-plenty of room, well light
ed and ventilated, desks, blackboards,
&c. o-date nucleus of a libray.
Out ie was rough and unkept, for late
in the previous session the house had
been rolled, from it's 90 site, to an
acre secured by Mr.. T. J. Kirven, for
school property and there had been
little time for improvement.
The children, encouraged by the
thought that whatev r they now did
would be permanent, and by the act
i've interest and energetic co-opera-
ton OF the chairman of our board of
trustees, were eager to begin improv-
ing and beautifying their surround
ings. During last year We could do
little or nothing, as Mr.. Kirven could
not get workmen for the improve
ments he proposed, but early in
January he commenced and did his
part, and then we went to work with
a will.
From trees cut and sawed off the
ground ne erected substantial frame
building 50x2s feet with best wealth
erboarding and shingling, containing
six convenient roony stalls with doors
and patent latches; in the center
there is ample space for six vehicles.
so arranged that pupils can drive un-
der and unhitch without exposure to
weather. He also had cut on three
sides Of the school acre and to
point Of sufficient fall to secure ample
drainage, a ditch which is thoroughly
effective, put steps to piazza, run
ming the whole front length Of build
ing, and painted steps and outbuild-
ings. With some hired assistance for
the heavier work, such as root grub
b:ng, stump digging, &c, we hoed
raked and burned, day after day, at
recess until our yard was so neat and
orderly that we could welcome, with
pride and pleasure, all visitors, even
our superintendent. We planted dow-
er beds in various parts of the
grounds; all are growing nicely and
we give them constant attention.
Inside, since January 1st, we have
added q book case and a nice col
lection of carefully selected books;
an 1S-inch globe, collection of wall
pictures, Webster's International die
tionary and standard dustless crayons
and erasers.
The above mentioned inside ad-
ditioas were paid for by money con-
tributed by the pupils own efforts.
Hon. Mr.. Lever also kindly sent us
one of the handsome, complimentary
maps at his disposal.
Will now briefly recapitulate and
read the sum total of our improve
ments and value since January 1t,
1907, as estimated by the trustees:
Value
Stables and shelter. :. $4,000
Draining school grounds. :. $3.50
Steps, fun 'front.'. -. soc
Painting steps and outbuildings 500
Book case and books. -. 1870
1S-inch globe. >. 1870
Dictionary and stand. ;. -. 100
Wall pictures. ~
Clearing up school acre. go