The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-08-18
EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS
In Williamsburg as Viewed by
Expert Teacher-Some Bouquets.

h6lQ mere 1nurSudI, aug uSt T. h'i
WI Tate writes as follows to the
Columbia State:
Thursday was spent in klngstree
with the summer school and the
trustees of Williamsburg county,
who met in joint session. The meet
ing of the trustees of this county was
one of the most significant events
Ahich has come under my notice.
Though Williamsburg is distinctly
rural county, in the movement for
the consolidation of schools it, per-
haps, leads the State. In the county
there are eight or ten strong COM
munity schools, which have been
formed by the consolidation OF small
er schools. The first of these schools
to be organized was the one at
Rome, which now has as it's principal
Mr. O M Mitchell, a graduate OF
Wofford College. 1t employs SIX
other teachers, maintains a high
school and although it is twenty-five
miles from a railroad. claims the
distinction of preparing more pupils
for college than any other school in
the county. The people of these con-
solidated community schools are very
proud of them and would under no
circumstances return to the small
neighborhood school. The establish
ment of these schools has caused
rapid appreciation in land values in
the neighborhood, and settlers are
attracted to these communities be-
cause of their school advantages.
Superintendent Mccullough is as
sisting in the organization Of consol-
idated schools in other parts of Will
liamsburg county and expects within
the next few years to have every
district in the county supplied with
an efficient long-term school.
The trustees of the county at their
meeting in Kingstree formed a per-
manent organization. of which Mr.
BIB Chandler of Rome was elected
president. They will meet twice dur
ing the year, and will discuss the
problems which arise in the work of
the rural school trustees. A special
committee was appointed to draft a
constitution and bylaws to be pre-
.sented at the next meeting. A spec
ial committee was appointed to Sc
cure information which will enable
the trustees of the county to coop
crate in the purchase of school desks
and other school supplies. The trus-
tees of this county are exhibiting an
ability to cooperate which may well
be emulated ny the other counties OF
the State. Several other counties
have formed these associations of
school trustees, and it is hoped that
by the end of this year every county
will have such an association. The
formation of such organizations is
one of the most significant move
ments now in progress.
During the last ten years the town
of Kingstree has more than trebled
its population. This has been done
without the development of any
factories or new industries, which
would attract population. L ASKED
the hotel keeper in kingstree for his
explanation of the rapid growth of
the place. He attributed it to two
things: First, the agricultural pros
perity in Williamsburg county and
the consequent increase in import
ance of kingstree as a trading CEN
ter; and. secondly, the good schools
of Kingstree had attracted to the
town many people who wished to
use its.educational advantages. Both
in the town and in the rural COM
munity are exemplified in Williams
burg county the fact that the school
is the most valuable business asset
Of the community. If County Super
intendent Mccullough and the truS-
Zoo, of williamsburg county con-