The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-04-14

vas made by Mrs. Mary T. Nance
Daniel, retiring president of the Ru-
al School Improvement association.
ars. Daniel has taken an active part
n this work for years, and there
ore her remarks will prove of much
alue. They are given below:
Henry Ward Beecher once said:
sIn America there is not single ele-
ment of civilization that is not made
to depend in the end on public opln-
ion." Public opinion IS the most m
portant factor in the support OF our
schools; for no system of education
can succeed unless there is behind x
the cooperative sentiment OF the peo-
pie. Whatever agency promotes the
crystallization of public sentiment
along lines of better educational facll-
tiles should receive the hearty sup
port of all right minded people.
Realizing the crying need OF an
awakened public sentiment in favor
of better conditions in our schools,
and especially in our rural schools,
the first rural school improvement as
sociation in this State was organized
by DR.. D. B. Johnson, with the senior
class of Winthrop as members, in
1902. Search through the State,
if you will, and you would hardly
find it questioned by any thoughtful
person that the South Carolina Rural
School Improvement association biaz-
ed the trail along lines Of education
al activity heretofore largely over
looked and neglected. Some have gone
so far as to say that it has done more
than any other agency in South Caro-
Into to build up a sentiment for I'M
proving the country schools. Per-
haps it would not become US to claim
so much as these enthusiasts credit
US with; butt think we all may justly
feel proud Of the work it has done
for rural uplift.
Its Membership.
From a few normal college girls
in 1902, the association has grown
to a membership of more than TO-
900. And these members are dynamic
factors for rural uplift in all the term
implies. Their sentiment of loyalty
to community life is such that no ef-
fort is made to rob the country of
those things that make it homelike;
but every effort is made to improve
the conditions of the old home neigh
borhood, and to enthuse the dwellers
there with such loyalty for the home
that, as result, in scores of country
communities throughout the State
there are homes with all the city ad-
vantages and also with advantages
not possible in a city-God's broad
acres and pure air for developing
healthy girls and boys, without city
temptations and distracting infuenc-
eS.
There is no good reason why the
farmer may not have daily mail, elec-
trio lights, waterWorks and other city
conveniences, with his touring car to
spin into the city whenever he pleas
es. I see more opportunity for real
living in it's true sense for those who
dwell in the country, have their own
farm, garden, milk, butter, beef, pork
etc., than I do for those who dwell
in crowded city fats, with every move
dependent upon issuing a check and
= hemmed in by conditions that can
never atone for the loss sustained by
deserting the old home neighborhood
and seeing it go down in charge Of in
dolent negro tenants.
"Back to the farms" has become
a national cry and it speaks the sober
thought of those who feel a crying
need, emphasized by the exodus from
country to town that, unchecked
must sooner or later undermine the
true foundation of all our wealth; fo1
agriculture is the basis Of all wealth
How much better it is to do the work
the school improvement association
strives to do, instead of crying ou1
for those who have left to go back
to the farms, simply build up there 6
sentiment for better living and bet
ter serving that will keep on the
farms those already there, by build
ing better homes to live in, better
schools to study in, better benches
to sit upon, better roads to trave
over, better churches to worship in
in short, give those dwelling in the
country, the best the world affords