Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-04-23
A COUNTY SCHOOL AT WORK.
Citizens of Fair Play Are Proud of
Their Institution.

FUNDAMENTALLY
Fair Play, April 22.-Special: The
closing exercises of our school will
begin tomorrow Wednesday, and
continue through the evenings of
three days. Watch the "Orange and
pale blue ribbon! Watch the band
over whom this banner waves! That
banner is our banner, that band IL
band-the Fair Play High School,
the school of progress,
, We are just closing a year of un-
paralleled success in our school.
Never in all our history as a school
have the grades made such rapid
progress. The work completed by
the high school department this year
is exceedingly gratifying. We have
a splendid lot Of girls and boys in
our high school, and they reflect
honor and credit to their parents,
their teachers and our local board Of
education.
Under the guiding hand of Supt.
q. G.. Ryder thc high school depart
r5ont has completed IN seven months
the curriculum prescribed by law for
Il nine months term. And we wish
TO call especial attention to tho way
Prof. Ryder teaches history. He
calls the class to recite, takes a book,
notices where the lesson begins and
where 1T ends, closes the book, and
without again looking at the days
lesson, fully analyses the subject,
asking all the questions necessary
to bring out the leading topics I'M
der discussion. Furthermore the
pupils are taught to discriminate be-
tween important events and minor
details. Much stress is laid upon
causes rather than effects. They thus
obtain a broader view of history.
Looking beyond the superficial, they
study the motives which prompted
kings and powers to do the deeds re-
corded in the facts of history. Only
important dates are committed to
memory, but these are pointed out
i q - oIu IhSu lltuclllDly upon
the mind of the pupil. In connection
with the lesson some interesting
story or incident not found in the
text Of the history studied is related
by Mr.. Ryder. This method Of pre-
senting the subject has eliminated
the difficulties of teaching history in
the high school.
You would be surprised, upon WIS.,
iting u school, to see the genuine
interest displayed by all the high
school pupils in this important
branch Of study. Animated discus
sions Of some turning point in his
tory often take place between the
pupils. Did l say this devotion to
history was limited to the high
school department? Well, perhaps
1T was once, but the conhagration
has spread to graded departments.
A few days G a bright little girl,
n Of Mr.. Ryder's devotees to his
tory, cried as though her heart would
just break because she thought she
had missed q question on this her
favorite study.
But do not be misled by these
statements into thinking that the
other branches Of study are neglect
ed in order to give preference to
this line OF work. Mr.. Ryder is a
specialist on history, not a crank on
the subject. We feel no hesitancy
in saying that the "math" work of
Fair Play High School will
favorably with that of any high
high school in the county.
Mr.. Ryder Is ably assisted in this
work by a corps of most efficient
teachers. In the art Of leading out
and developing the minds of begin
ners-education's most difficult task
Mrs. Ryder has few equals and no
superiors. Children who were learn
ing their letters when Mrs. Ryder
took charge Of the primary depart
ment two years ago are now in the