The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-01-13
Educational Awakening.
Editor The Manning Times:

Editor The Manning Times: ::
Will you kindly give me space in your
paper for short article IN the hope
that it may do some good from an edu-
catioaal standpoint? 1t was my prlvlJ-
ege to attend the educational meetings
in Columbia last week. viz: the State
Teachers Association, the School I'm
provement Association, the Association
OF City and County Superintendents, etc.
Interesting and instructive programs
had been arranged and were carried out
in full. There is tangible evidence that
these meeting are doing great good and
must continue to do so from year to
year. There were some 800 or more 10
attendance, among whom were some OF
the leading educators Of the country
The social feature was pleasant. but
greatest of all was the inspiration gain
ed by coming in contact with others OF
your profession, and the exchanging OF
ideas pertaining to your work. Promi-
nent in the program OF the county Sup
erinuendent's Association weLs the brief
reports as the counties we're called in
alphabetical order. 1t was gratiica-
tion to me to be able to report $50, 900
building for Manning, a 100000 one for
Summerton and Sl5, 900 one for Pine
wood, besides handsome buildings like
Sardinia and Trinity. Two OF the prizes
of the school improvement association
came to this county the past year-Pine-
wood Sl00 and Sardinia $50 Clarendon
ranks well up in the list of progressive
counties. yet severa are way ahead OF
bar ord II &c fro,,, q Sacjra for proa tor
progress and development that prompts
me to ask for this space in your paper.
I am extremely desirous that our peo-
pie go to work with renewed eenersy,
and determination to do far more by
the meetings to be held next December.
We need better buildings and them bet
ter furnished. Many of our schools are
yet without patent desks, but worst OF
all, some are destitute of black boards,
while some hardly worthy the name of
black boards. OF all things needed in q
school room, nothing is more needed
than black boards-in fact nc real teach
ing can be effected without them. have
boards on hand and can supply your
schools, and shall be glad if the trustees
will take notice Of this bit Of advertis-
ing.
Our people need to bestir themselves
and do more for the improvementof of their
school buildings. Let US have better and
more commodious buildings, and them
neatly painted and well equipped with
good desks and black boards Let us
eliminate some of the small schools by
using part of the funds in Transporting
the children to the adjoining school.
Some of the small schools with fewer
than ten pupils pay the teachers S35 per
I feel sure that the other teach
ers can be better paid and enough mon
ey saved to run the school two. months
longer. In some cases these schools can
be combined, better salaries paid and
the term heightened month or so, if
provision be made to transport the more
distant pupils. Let the trustees and
patrons ponder over this, and let US see
if we can't get better results. It was my
privilege to be on the program to dis
cuss needed Improvements in the meth
DDS of conducting teachers examina-
tions and I am hopeful of plan by
which better and more proficient and
efficient teachers can be had. AS long
as we have small huts, plain benches
and no black boards and pay S25 to $50
per month for three or four months, we
will progress slowly. l trust our people
may wake up along educational lines,
and T wish TO assure them that I am
ever ready and willing to help in every
thing looking to progress and develop
ment. Respectfully,
E. J. BROWNE,
County Superintendent Education.