The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-10-03
'SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION,
Editor County Record

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Editor County Record
There was never a time in the
history of our county when the
needs and possibilities for the school
the greatest factor in civilization
were greater than they are today.
There are forces in the field today
teaching by precept and example
this great truth. One of these great
forces is the School Improvement as
sociation. 1t has blazed the way, fired
the mind, stimulated the interest at
heart; in fact, the ultimate aim of
the association is to reach every
home of every child that is in school,
and should be there. One of our
greatest workers once said:
The association has gladly well
coined into the field every force that
promised aid in building up the
country schools, the country homes,
and that promised in any wise way
to enrich rural life. With a commu-
nifty once fired with the right kind
of enthusiasm, we have welcomed
and encouraged local initiative.
Some of the best ideas that have
helped rural communities were, in a
sense. spontaneous outbursts of a pop
ular enthusiasm that becamedynamic
and effective under the wise leader
ship of some local teacher or citizen
who kindled in the neighborhood a
light nobody before had dreamed
could shine so brightly in the rural
districts. Such leadership has devel-
oped interior decoration, school IL
braries, better teachers, better paw
With longer terms, consolidated
schools, local taxation and, above
all, made the school more thorough
ly the center of intellectual and So
cial life of the community by wise
cooperation of farmer and his fam
lily with the teacher.
Again, the object of every associ-
alton, whether county or local, should
be to inspire a higher standard in
home life, church life and school life,
the three factors of civilization.
THE fields are ripe, the harvest
great, and the laborers are few"
Such is the condition now existing in
our county of Williamsburg. l
shall discuss briefly the work in the
under the following divis-
ions:
First, the present condition in ed
ucational affairs in our county. In
the past this county WAS classed with
those counties making the least
progress; but since then her reputa-
ton has been changed somewhat.
Yet we find deplorable conditions
throughout the county.
schools that run from three
to four months, with from two to
thirty pupils. Very often you find
three or four of these schools, being
poorly taught on account of uncom-
Portable, unfurnished, unprepared
teachers, ,non-interested trustees and
patrons, where there should be one
we'll organized, thoroughly equipped
school taught by three or four COM
petent teachers as the need may de-
mand. There are school grounds
that look more like the back lot of
some careless store keeper than any,
thing else. Others have stumps,
brushes, bushes. weeds, etc, where
there should be shrubbery, flowers
and lawn grass to attract not only
the children to school but the
grown ups" as we'll.
The above named conditions are
due to the secondary place that
school matters have been forced to
occupy; the lack of public interest
and enthusiasm; the lack of love
and heartfelt sympathy for man.
kind; the great indifference mani
tested by q large majority of teach
ers and trustees, the former spend
ing a great part of their time either
thinking about or participating in
selfish pleasures, while the latter is
engrossed in his private business and
has not the work at heart.
The present condition of our
schools today is alarming, to say the
least of it. Take, for instance, some
of the little one-room school houses,
built on the shoe box" fashion,
with the scant furnishings, making
them very uncomfortable, with more
than the necessary ventilation-but
often with less than needed warmth.
Do you know of one of these exam
Piles? If so, you have the conditions
far better than l can portray them.