Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-03
Miseellansous GRADING
AS TO RURAL SCHOOLS.
Prof. w. X. Tate Delivers Address at
the State University.

Prof. w. K. Tate Delivers Address al
the State University.
Rural School Progress in South
Carolina" was the timely subject OF
Prof. w. K. Tate's address at the Uni
versity of South Carolina on Thursday
night, February 23rd. Prof. Tate is
an educational engineer, and as such Is
doing a great work, especially for the
country sections of our state. He is q
man of broad sympathias and clear
vision. His plans are bounded by com
mon sense, and he Is devoted to the
highest interests Of the people. His
address was listened to with profound
attention, and awakened the quickest
nal fact that South Carolina has such
a union of cooperative agencies for
progress as the demonstration farm
movement, by Mr. Ira Williams, the
public health, by Doctors c. F. Will
liams and LaBruce Ward, the school
improvement league by Miss Rudd,
high school development, by Prof. w.
H. Hand, and the rural school work,
by Prof. w. K. Tate, the state super
visor Of elementary rural schools.
Prof. Tate's address was in part as
follows:
Rural School Progress.
The census Of 1910 has brought WV
idly before the nation some facts which
we had already surmised. 1t has told
the story of steady emigration from
the country and the congestion of pop
ulation in the larger towns and cities
of the United States. The price of
staple food products has steadily risen
and there has been a marked decrease
in the exports of agricultural products
to foreign countries. The nations of
Europe are turning to the Argentine
republic and to other sections Of the
world as their sources of food sup
plies. The increase in our exports of
manufactured products has barely neu-
traliZed this diminution, and were II
not for the cotton of the south the bal
ance of trade would soon be strongly
against us.
The last census shows that many
fine agricultural sections of the United
States have lost in population during
the past decade in spite of the unpre-
cedented prosperity which has attend
ed the efforts of the intelligent farmer.
We have become alarmed at this grow
ing tendency, and the best thought of
the nation is now turned toward So
luton Of the country life problem.
We have realized the fact that this
problem Is an economic and a social
one, and is not to be solved by politi-
cal eXpedients. We are realizing that
1t Is time for us to stop dissiDating the
capital which nature has given us and
to conserve our national resources as a
perpetual asset to us and to our poster
ity. The conservation movement Is
one phase of the remedy for the econ
omic ills of rural life.
We have realized also that the inher-
ent rights Of the farmer have often
been disregarded. The larger and
more powerful combinations Of capital
have always been able to secure the
ear Of legislation and the unorganized
farmers have been compelled to con-
tent themselves with high sounding
phrases and empty promises. With the
growth of rural intelligence, however,
and with a better organization far
mer has in many states at last receiv-
ed belated attention from the law
maker.
Social Problems Of the Country.
We have realized that the country
life problem is very largely social
one, that the country must be robbed
of its isolation before it will become
attractive to cultured men and women.
The good roads movement, the rural
free delivery, the parcels post, the ru-
raj telephone. the automobile. and 9TH
er socializing agencies are answering
the gregarious instinct which has dri-
ven so many people to the city.
The state, the nation, and private
philanthropy have recently focused
themselves on an effort to improve the
agricultural methods Of the country
and the productivity of the farm. The
agricultural college has awakened to a
broader conception of its mission, and
through its extension courses, Is bring
Ing the expert knowledge of the expert
ment station to the farmer in the field.
The farm demonstration work has CIV
en- US new vision Of the possibilities
of common sense whel epplied to agri-
cultural instruction. The school room,
the press, and even the pulpit have
united to dignity the farmers vocation
and to improve his standard of living.
We are beginning to realize that the
luton of the rural problems is the
country school. Although we still have
with us the political demagogue who
rides into office by an insincere pro-
testation Of affection for the common
school, but who Is ignorant Of its
needs and opposed to it's adequate
support, the great body of our citizen
ship realize that the Improvement of
the rural school Is the final test by
which our civic greatness Is to be
measured. In South Carolina alone
during the past five years 1000 white
children have been transferred from
country schools to town schools. Great
sections of our state have been de-
pleted of their white population, and
some of our most fertile lands have
been turned over to negro tenants
without that white supervision which
Is necessary to the greatest productiv-
ity. We are beginning to realize that
In nine cases out Of ten this emigra-
ton from the country to the city has
been a search for satisfactory school
facilities. In this realization we are
not alone-our problem Is not q pecu-
liar one. The whole United States Is
working with US, and we should con-
tinually keep In touch with the expert
ence Of others as guide in our own
development.
Present Movements.
There are several we'll defined move
ments toward better rural schools now
In progress In the United States.
The first of these movements Is toward
better supervision of the rural schools.
In the last twenty-five years the cities
of the United States have almost with
out exception developed good school
systems. This result has been attain
ed largely because these cities have
provided trained and adequate super
vision. The country schools have been
almost without supervision.
Better Supervision.
There has been rather wide spread
belief that the county superintendent
of education Is merely an official to ap-
prove pay warrants, to keep books, and
to make annual reports. We have as
sumed that the rural school could take
care OF itself. At last, however, we are
realizing that these schools with their
lack of classification, and their ire
gular attendance need a supervision
of the very highest order, and dozens
of states in recent years have made
the county superintendency an educa-
tional position and not a political one.
This has always been followed by a
marked advance in rural school eff
cheney and can not long be delayed in