The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-12-03
REPORT ON SCHOOLS
IN NEWBERRY COUNTY
SrpERINTENDENTS VIEWS ON
RURAL SCHOOL PROBLEM. :.
Report to State Superintendent Of Edu
cation in Compliance With Re
quest of That Official.
Newberry, S. c., Nov. 20, 1872

Hon. ]. E. Swearingen,
State Superintendent of Education,
Columbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: You request that l make
a supplementary report in regard 10
the condition of the schools in New
berry county, in addition to the statis-
,tical report, and also that l submit any
suggestions which may have occurred
to me during my experience as county
superintendent of education.
As YOU know, l have held the office
for only l year and while l have visited
as many of the schools in, the rural
districts as possible during that time,
have not been able to become en-
tirelv familiar with conditions In all
sections of the county.
/ regard the rural school problem
as the most important problem before,
not only the people of Newberry coun-
ty. but of the entire State and, might
add. of the nation For many years
have taken an active interest in the
promotion of the welfare of the rural
schools, and have contributed what
could for their betterment. am frank
to admit that my experience and OBJ
servation as county superintendent OF
education have convinced me that the
condition of these schools is not what
| had been Led to believe.
When we consider the fact that more
than 80 per cent of the children OF the
State never have any other advantages
of an education than those offered by
the common schools of the State, 1t
would seem that if the people could be
brought to realize the condition of the
rural schools, and the fact that so large
a majority of the children depend up
on these schools for their education,
we might get a real awakening for the
improvement of these conditions.
Indifference on the part of large
number of the trustees, but it is very
difficult to interest the parents them
selves in the proper training and edu-
cation of their children. Before any
very great reforms can be expected, the
people must be made to see the nee
essity of these reforms. In my judg-
ment this should be the work of the
county superintendent of education, in
this county at least, for some years to
come 1t is, however, an unfortunate
fact, that in many instances he will
meet the opposition of the very people
whom he is endeavoring to help, who
for different reasons, are unwilling to
change the present school system.
I suppose the schools in this county
are about like the average rural
schools of the State, and while some
progress has been made there is still
a vast amount of development needed.
Most of the schools in the rural dis
tricts, especially the white schools, run
for more than six months. Many Of
them have only few pupils, from
four to ten and twelve to school,
while some schools have one teacher
and more pupils than can be given
proper attention by any one instructor.
During this year l have been for
tunate in having Prof. Tate, Prof. Hand
and yourself to make several vista
tions to the schools of Newberry coun-
ty, in an effort to get the people arous-
ed to the Importance OF doing some
thing. Unfortunately. have been un-
able to get the parents to come out to
the schools to hear the message which
these gentlemen brought, and, there
fore, it could not accomplish the good
it might have done.
On taking charge Of the Office of
county superintendent, l found that
one of the most dlIncult FEATURES OF the
work was to enforce the various school
laws. In my judgment these laws
should be rigidly adhered to, and act
ing upon your instructions l have en-
deavored to have all Of the trustees
take The -SaIh of Office and be commits
stoned for their duties, but even in
this respect l have found it exceed
ingly difficult to enforce the law.
1t is very seldom that the trustees
visit their schools to see how the
work of the teacher is being done, or
to encourage the teacher in the work
being undertaken. IN my visits to the