The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-01-08


viii Lou Gray, county supervisor of
schools, to j. e. Swearingen, the State
superintendent OF education.
I'm April the county superintendent
Of education" says Miss Gray, found
that there could be secured from the
Peabody fund $3.50 aid as part salary
for the supervisor of rural schools. A
county board meeting was called and
this salary supplemented from the
county funds. The position, which
accepted, was offered me.
"The county schools have been
found to represent separate entities,
each working according to its own,
or no plan at ali. Through supervision
L hope to bring about more uniformity.
AS a whole the trustees, teachers and
children are willing to improve con-
ditions If they are but stimulated and
led.
Hearty cooperation has been evil
denced in many instances by trustees.
patrons, pupils and teachers. In sew
eral schools, where the community is
divided into two factions, the coopera
tion doesn't extend further than per-
feet courtesy to me. The teachers
in these schools are working well,
and L have been received with cordial
ity and have never detected the faint
est trace of resentment at criticism
or suggestion. The superintendent al
ways makes my appointments and
to this | attribute my cordial recep
tion. In fact, the people seem de-
lighted to have some one take an in
terest in their schools
EARLY in September plans were
made for the year. Many of these
were included in a letter issued by the
county superintendent to the trustees
and teachers. Up to date the follow
ing have been carried out: 1. Educa-
| tional rally day-October >. The State
superintendent and others addressed
large number Of teachers. pupils anG
patrons in the morning Our teachers
association, which has been dead for
TWO years was reorganiZed in the af-
ternoon and constitution adopted. We
are trying to make this a progressive
club. The dues are one dollar, to be
expended for lectures and for books
to form the nucleus of a teachers
| library. The teacher reading three
books dncluding Tate's or Hands
manuaD and attending five meetings
| will be placed on the superintendent's
! honor roll. Two OF these meetings
have already been held. So far they
have been we'll attended.
Since the county fair came too early
for an educational exhibit, the schools
were represented by historical floats
nine competing for the two prizes of
$40 and So. The winners were one
teacher schools. These aroused so
much interest and favorable comment
that in the future they will be per-
manent feature.
Report cards have been mailed to
every teacher and the superintendent
makes their use imperative. This is
done to bring about uniformity.
Perfect attendance buttons for the
session will be used to encourage at
tendance. We have in Laurens an
excellent moving picture show. i
have secured from the manager tick
cts for these pupils making the roll
of honor. Educational l,uls will be
used the first Saturday of every
month
Library certificates will be given
to every child who reads and reports
on five books.
The School Journal. This journal
is edited by the children. The super
intendent overlooks the business de-
partment and ! overlook, but do not
rewrte the literary matter. We have
constantly growing subscription list,
now numbering 1000
MANY men prominent in different
| professions-cdu educators, lawyers. min
istors, etc.-have agreed 10 lecture in
the different school districts during
the winter, and the schools have had
six lectures during November.
81 have visited 80 schools On the
whole I find the teachers wcl prepar-
cd mostly college women-who can
be moulded into an exectiye teaching
corps. None of these 80 schools run
less than seven months Most of them
run eight and several nine months.