The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-27
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SUPERINTENDENT CHEATHAM
MAKES ANOTHER VISIT
Fine Schools at Fondville, Mt. Car
mel, Wellington, Rose Hill, Belle
vue, Fern Cliff. Good Teachers.

VuS, l clu S11n' SOoo ACoShSto'
Since my last visit among our schools
some changes have been made which at
feet considerably the public schools. AS is
fairly well known by this time, no more
dispenSary money will be given to the
school fund in this county and necessarily
the will be shortened so l must ask
that the s~trictest economy be practlced by
all concerned. 1t is to be regretted that
our schools must be crippled but let us DO
the best we can under the circumstances.
A few days since | stopped for a few
hours at the Fonville school in district ~.
This school is now closed. Miss Allene
Corley finished her second year there as
teacher. She does good work and | hope
that tn. trustees will be able to secure her
for another year. This school is the first
one that | find seated with chairs. 1t is q
comfortable and ceiied house but needs
more blackboard space. Also a Library
should be there as it should be in all other
schools. .
On the sixth l made Mt. Carmel school
my objective point. Here l found d large
school with three teachers, Mr.. WertZ,
Prin. and ably assisted by Miss f e Pat
terson and Miss Nj G Neil. This district
has had a special tax for several years and
the people are enjoying the benefits from
it. Every district in the county should
vote this special tax Good work is being
done ther., especially in mathematics.
The house and equipment ought to be i'm
proved at once. Certainly a better house
is needed and needed badly. l believe that
the citizens of this progressive town are
awake and if some one takes the lead the
district will vote bonds and build a better
house, one in keeping the spirit and pride
of this u~p-to-date town, will not some one
take the lead? Lets have q School build
ing there which will be the pride of the
town and district.
1t was also my pleasure on the seventh
to call at old Wilmington, district II, where
Miss Brice Morris, a former pupil of the
writer, is teaching. This school is small
in number, but doing fine work. Here
again / found SOLID work being done and
a teacher any district would do well to Sc
cure. The house is a good one, the teach
ing practical and thorough. Progressive
ideas prevail, the walls are hung with
pretty and suggestive pictures illustrating
some event in history or showing some
famous building or person. Excellent pic
lures can be had for small cost, and more
teachers should look after the attractive
ness of the room.
In the evening / called at Rose Hill
school, district II, and found Miss Jennie
Cowan in charge doing faithful work.
Something must be lone to improve this
uOuSC VI ULlC oCAOO1 II law w SiOSS LII
cold weather. This is the third white
school in district II. 1t seems that a mis-
take is being made in opening so many
schools, better consolidate all three and
hire transportation for children who may
be out of reach of the C ,ntral school. No
better school in the state could be run than
in district No. IL if this consolidation is
made. There are funds enough to main
tain a good High School nine months each
raa, Tr,,e{nae rt-Ar ont fo To q limo Sfnn
forward and build a model school?
At Bellevue, district IS, Mrs Minnie
Britl is in charge of a large school. Here
in the best farming section of Abbeville
county l find a short term school. The
house is good but no library, no maps, no
charts, no comfortable seats. Under such
disadvantages the teacher can't do the
best, however faithfully she may work.
This district ought not to let another
school term open without a special tax be-
ing voted. Hound Mrs Britt using every
effort to advance the children and progress
was being made. By the time this is read
district IA will have voted a special tax,
district u should do likewise.
On my way back home l stopped at the
Fern Cliff school, district 10. This school
is managed by Mrs Ada Kennedy. Here
only a few children attend as the district
is thinly settled. This is one district that
has a large surplus and of course doesn't
need a special tax. Fin teaching n
good progress l found here. A good house
ceiled, seated with patent desks, and a few
well selected pictures. Here 1 found the
best drawn maps by the scholars. No
where have I seen as good work in map
drawing as here. might say that l be
lieye our teachers neglect this feature Of
teaching Geography too much. I hope to
see more maps drawn by children in our
schools.
In general on this trip 1 feel that good
has been done. We are beginning to wake
up. 1t is getting time to get out of the
old way and move forward. To do this
good teachers must be had who keep in
touch with best and progressive educa-
tional methods, and this means better sal
aries which can be paid with special taxes.
r B Chatham.