The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1908-12-31
AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Martin to Urge That
They Be Established.
The proposition to establish agri-
cultural high schools is apt to be
discussed at length in the coming
meeting of the general assembly,
since it will be presented to the at
tention of the legislators by several
State officials in their annual reports.
Among these recommendations that
of Superintendent of Education Mar
tin is especially strong.
Mr.. Martin says:
Agricultural high schools have
been established in recent years in
several States. The first State to
establish these schools undertook to
put one school in each Congressional
district. 1t was found impossible to
secure enough trained teachers for so
many schools at once. 1t was also
found that Congressional districts
are too irregular in shape to make
compact and congenial areas to sup
port. The States which are now
moving in this direction are going
to begin with small number OF
schools. The great Importance Of
schools of this kind is emphasized by
the presentation Of a bill in Congress
looking to national aid for such
schools. This bill has large and en-
thusiastic support. Each State, how
ever, will give consideration to pro-
visions of this kind regardless of the
success or failure of the Davis bill.
1.-TWO questions naturally arise in
the consideration of these questions
in South Carolina. First. What re-
lations would such schools bear to
our great industrial colleges? Sec
ond. Why is this work not done by
our high schools as now conducted?
About four hundred boys are denied
admission to Clemson college each
year and more than that m@ny girls
are denied admission to Winthrop.
Of course, large majority of these
are not prepared to enter college. A
course of study in an agricultural
high school would not conflict at all
with the, courses in any of the COL
leges. In fact, such courses should
reach further down into the elemen-
tary grades than our present high
school courses. They would only
reach up to the freshman class at
best in industrial colleges. They
would be designed largely for pupils
who are unable to go to college.
industrial or technical training
requires special equipment. For this
reason it is impossible for the ordi-
nary high school to give training in
soil analysis, seed selections, cotton
grading, corn Judging, cooking, sew
ing, and other similar subjects. 1t is
very important for the future Of our
schools, and for the future OF the
State, that children having ambition
and talent in these directions should
receive special training. Perhaps
this number would not be so large
for a few years but there will be as
many as could be successfully train
ed.
1T would be unfortunate for the
impression to prevail that efforts are
being made to establish more State
colleges. We have made the mistake
already of building too many institu-
tions of college grade. We can af-
ford to establish more high schools,
but we cannot afford to multiply our
colleges. AS many as three agricul-
tural high schools could be estab-
lished at comparatively small ex-
pense to the State. There are great
many progressive communities in this
State which would contribute from
$4,000 to 100000 each in order to
secure the location of such a school,
provided that the legislature will
give a reasonable amount for an
nual support, $4,000 year would
be ample for such a school. The first
appropriation could be used for
equipment and the succeeding ones
for salaries. Whoever succeeds in
conducting one of these schools, so
that it will be practically self-sup-
porting, will be benefactor to the
State and to the cause of education.
With two hundred acres of land, fair
buildings and good equipment, it
ought to be possible to so conduct
the school that student could work
his way through. More time should
be devoted to field and shop work
than is required for study and reci-
tation. 1 believe that the legislature
can accomplish a vast amount of
good with a comparatively small
amount of money by the establish
ment of schools of this kind
"Dry" Banquet for Asheville Bar.
Asheville, N. c., Dec. 24.-As the
result of a heated controversy,