The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-05-26
Carlisle Fitting School.

Carlisle Fitting School.
Dear Advocate: l want to write a
word or two about the Carlisle Fitting
School. Having taught for three years
in this school, and having now ac-
cepted the position of head master,
feel that we can talk over some points
concerning it with profit. 1 was led
to the acceptance of this position be-
cause of my thorough acquaintance
with the school, it's equipment, and
possibilities; and from the realiza-
tion of the great need of school
such as we want to have there in the
lower part of the State.
Wofford is raising her standard and
increasing her capacity; the hundreds
of young men who want to attend
each year must be trained with spe-
! cial training. The success of the
noble fight she is making for higher
standards of scholarship will largely
| depend, it seems to me, upon the
training furnished in her own prep
aratory schools. For this reason
alone the Carlisle Fitting School
should be made into school Of
definite standards, of systematic, con-
sistent work; and should receive the
support of all who are interested in
the finer educational interests Of our
State and Church.
But there is larger field than this.
Since I've been here at Vanderbilt I
have been surprised and interested to
find that a goodly majority Of the
students here are from private prep
aratory schools, that the men who
lead in scholarship, and who lead in
the activities of university life, are
the men who received their training
in these schools. There are almost
scores of preparatory schools in Ten
nessee, of recognized standing, that
are sending out hundreds Of students
each year with special training.
South Carolina is almost absolutely
devoid of such schools. If there is
such a demand for them, and if they
fill such large place in the educa-
tional system of this and other States,
is there not also a need in South
| Carolina for this kind of work?
Some of us believe that there is.
And with this in view I have been in
consultation with the secretary Of
the Association of Colleges and Prep
aratory Schools for the Southern
States. We have arranged to put
in course of instruction at Bamberg
in compliance with the requirements
of this association. This will mean
that students who complete our
course will have met the entrance re-
quirements Of this association. This
will mean that students who COM
plete our course will have met the en-
trance requirements Of any institu-
ton in the South. 1t means that our
school will have recognized, definite
standard; will have to do thorough,
systematic, and distinctive work. I
cannot help but feel that there is a
great need for school of this kind In
the lower part of our State.
The special appropriation received
from the last Annual Conference
makes it possible to give this propo-
sition fair test. Its success will de-
pend, not altogether on the efforts OF
the teachers and trustees, but upon
the general support it receives. A
writer in one of our leading periodi-
Gals few years ago had this to say
concerning secondary schools: "The
assumption that secondary education
| is of secondary Importance is radically
false. For every one boy that can
afford to study until he is twenty
two, scores are forced to enter active
life at eighteen, or even earlier. &.
Th secondary schools have in their
charge, or should have, the educa-
ton of the mass of men who are to
make American laws and administer
them. To despise the secondary
schools, or in any way to make them
of secondary importance, is to neg
lect the vital interests of the nation" I"
J. CALDWELL GUILDS.
Vanderbilt University, May 2.
Epworth League Meeting.
You are cordially invited to be
present at a missionary meeting OF