The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-13
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)


(Mrs. Fenton ottley, one of the lead
ing women in public reform movements
in 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-
first chairman Of the state industrial COM
mission, which did much work for the
reform of child labor abuses, as chairman
ana as oma nf on arts and
tee of three to consider the color line
question. Mrs ottley is Mississippian
by birth .; and rearing, but has resided in
being a banker of that city,
The 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-
tiles of the Georgia boy?" So wrote
President Branson, of the state nor
NAL school at Athens, Ca, a few
years ago. The educational renais-
sance now beginning in the south is
based upon recognition of that great
est of waste products" undeveloped
human life, of which so much exists
in the states south of Mason and
Dixon's line.
Since most of the people live in
the Countrywide average population
Of Georgia, for instance, being IS to
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-
ton 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 lGrely 100000 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 a 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
tanned 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
larly for the striking example it at
fords of what may be the outcome OF
an active and whole-hearted coopera
ton between the representative WON
en- who make up the clubs Of the va
rious states and the educators and
educational experts Of their sections
prosi6onf Pronoon NJ fho Hno,Sisu