The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-17
EDUCATORS IN PROSPERITY.
Large Crowd Listens to Appeals for
Schools. Pleas for
mn Children.

was held at Prosperity today where a
large barbecue was served in Young's
grove. The crowd was large, the day
perfect, and the appeal for better
common schools most instructive and
helpful.
The educators present were: Super
intendent Of Education J. E. Swear
ingen. Dr.. Geo. B. Cromer, Prof. D.
". Daniel and County Superintendent
Of Education J. S. Wheeler.
The meeting was presided over by
Mr.. Wheeler. who introduced Prof.
D. ". Daniel Of Clemson college as
the first speaker.
Prof. Daniel said he did not wish
to put education on a low plane, but
wanted to emphasize education from
the material standpoint, as an invest
ment for the community. Why are
people leaving the country? Some on
account Of lawlessness and non-pro-
lection in the country, and some to
get better educational facilities. 1T
would be far better investment for
such people to remain in the country
and take the cost of living in town
and spend it in building up better
country schools. Such would greatly
enhance land values.
At present education is becoming
necessary for any kind Of work. The
reason the South is behind, despite all
of its wealth and resources, is because
of lack of general education. A teach
er is employed at s25 or $50 month
for three or four months, when she
happens to whip ''little JOHNNY
who is one Of the trustees sons, after
which occurrence she no longer
teaches in that community. Then an
other teacher is employed who is all
right until she whips "little Bessie, :"
and then she has to leave and another
comes. This system is simply "fy-
ing-jenny" business that goes no.
where. "Let us keep our teachers
longer.'
A Good Investment.
It is further a good investment
from the standpoint of the young man
who nowadays finds it impossible to
come into possession Of fortune
without an education. Present condi-
ditions are too advanced, too improv-
ed, for ignorant men to get ahead We
have the machinery, the faculties, the
wealth, the resources, but unfortu-
nately we have to send outside for
some one to show US.
State Superintendent Of Education
J. E. Swearingen was next introduced.
He stressed the local needs in educa-
ton, local uplift and development.
Ones locality is not to be determined
by what is done by the lawmakers in
Columbia, by the passage of railroad
rate laws, pure food laws, etc., but
Kit is determined by YOU"
The degree of progress of a COM
munitv can always be determined by
the condition of its schoolhouse, by
its teacher. There are 100000 coun-
try boys suffering from inadequate
training. Superior local equipment is
needed. The amount expended for
education in South Carolina repre-
sents about $1.25 for each bale OF
cotton raised. Curricula are too much
shaped with view towards culture.
In a great agricultural country they
should not be so much so. Education
should bear a direct relation to life.
"One man in teaching better way OF
raising corn has done more than any
of the college professors. He empha-
sized the fact that school laws should
be revised. This revision should not
. be done by politicians but by educa-
tors and business men. An ade-
quate school law is absolutely need
ed"
Dr. Cromer Speaks.
After an intermlssl0n OF two hours
Tor dinner DR.. Geo. B. Cromer was
introduced. He said he would talk at
length. Henry Ward Beecher had
said anybody could talk long time,
few could give short talk. His
speech would be similar to the min
ister's which was ikened to a little
railroad up in the mountains which
possessed no terminal facilities.
During the morning he had been
wondering two things: One, "How
many school trustees are there here;
and the other, "How many red-bugs
are on that old log out there?"
0no of the most striking things