Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-25
Eetters from the Schools.
by Miss Leila A. Russell
CONFERENCE FOR EDUCATION
Interesting Story Of Recent Great
Meetino in Richmond.


The conference for education in the
south held at Richmond last week was
a wonderfully helpful one. 1t Is esti-
mated that two thousand educators
from every section Of the south at
tended this meeting. There were far
mers, editors, business men, preachers,
county superintendents, county rural
school supervisors, state supervisors,
high school inspectors, college presi-
dents, and home makers in this COM
pany and each group represented, had
his own conference to attend where
the particular difficulties Of that group
were discussed and solutions offered.
The problems dealt with in all Of these
conferences pertained to rural life; in
deed, the whole conference had as It's
object the betterment Of our country,
planning for Improvement in every
phase Of life having any point Of con-
tact with rural conditions. One could
only regret his inability to attend all
these conferences. The meeting was
generally considered al epoch making
one.
The farmers conference discussed
cooperative plans and the rural credit
system. Mr. A. o. NelBon Of Minneso-
Ia, told of how eighteen years ago
some farmers in certain neighbor-
hood In that state struck out to make
themselves Independent. Fifty-five of
them subscribed fifty dollars apiece
and built and equipped a creamery.
He said that during the past eighteen
years this creamery hsd brought the
farmers Of this neighborhood more
than 100000.
AS is well known, Minnesota is a
great grain state. Mr.. Nelson told of
hnu, thaco ooyna nro-o pfzod nm
elevator warehouse and sold their
grain direct to the mills. In two years
they cleared over $1,000. Not dollar
was paid on the capital stock. Encour-
aged by these successes these farmers
organized a store which paid II per
cent dividend for the first year on all
purchases. These people then organic
ed an association to sell their own cat
tie, and in eight months they saved
$500. After this they. put up a coop
erative telephone.
Seeing the value Of cooperation and
having become accustomed to working
together, these farmers united upon
one strong central church, erecting
church in the state, building near the
church a beautiful manse. and getting
a pastor Of unusual ability.
The cooperative spirit next took
hold Of the schools. They were
consolidated or united; increased reve-
nues enabled these farmers to put up
first class building and now they are
developing plans looking to an effec-
tive farm school with extension activ-
tiles in every direction. In this Min
nesota neighborhood, the farmers have
practically all their business in their
own hands. There Is no middle man
coming in to share the profits. I wish
every farmer in South Carolina could
have attended this conference. "The
business of farming is the greatest
American business" says Mr.. Butter.
field in his delightful little book, "The
Country Church and the Rural Prob
lem" and whenever our farmers unite
in making this business profitable,
more 80 than II Is now, we shall find
everything else looking backward.
The county superintendents Of edu-
cation in their conference were at work
on county plan Of procedure for the
development Of the rural schools. The
large auditorium Of Mechanics' Insti =.
tute was crowded with superinten-
dents, supervisors, and teachers to
hear the discussions. Among the sub
jects discussed were the necessity for
expert supervision Of our schools; the
tion Of the rural school, making 1t do
more to prepare boys and girls for life
in the home; what shall we do with
the one-room school; what one expert
teacher did with one-room school.
The charge was made and justly 30.
as was agreed by all capable Of judg-
ing, that our rural schools do not teach
health. They are conducted in unsan-
itary buildings which are not even
kept clean as they might be. Lessons
are given there on dust and its dam
gers, perhaps, and nothing Is done
to allay the dust. The floors are not
oiled and no dust down Is provided. It
was further stated that our schools do
not teach the children to read, that
they are allowed to call words from q
words in q certain book and then they
are given another. It was agreed that
the rural school did nothing to teach
the child the beauty Of the world
around him. There is almost no pic
ture study in our schools, very little Is
done toward studying the trees. the
birds. and the flowers, there Is no
drawing Of any consequence, and
hence II was felt the charge was a just
one. -.-..
Having just heard these charges, the
conference took up the discussion Of
how to make the training more ade-
quate, and the following suggestions
were among the numerous ones made.
Trustees should be asked to pay better
salaries and secure well trained teach
ers; the teacher should make this
school meet the needs Of the commu-
nifty, in other words the pupils should
be taught to do the things they will
have to do at home The patrOns both
men and women, must be organized to
help the school, in other words Coop
Grafton Of home and school must be
secured.
Time would fail me to tell Of all the
valuable lessons learned at this con-
ference.
Leila A. Russell.