Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-12
getters from the Sfhouls.
conducted by Miss Leila A. Russell.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL
Where There is a VIII There is Way
and II Will Come.

For The Yorkville Enquirer.
Many sections o. York county are
thoroughly interested in the schoo
question, and are taking steps to i'm
prove their schools. One hears on one
hand of district that has voted 6
five-mill tax, of another that Is in.
creasing its levy, and on the othei
hand here is school looking for plans
for a new school building, one improv-
ing its water supply, getting library
planting trees, shrubbery, and flowers
and everywhere there is demand fol
better service from the school. This .,
true of every part of our state, and OF
the United States. A friend writes
thus of one of the schools under her
supervision: ..
1.-The school of which I shall tell you
was typical country school, with the
natural environment and all the diff
culties Of the ordinary country school
The building was an ordinary box-car
structure with the light coming in on
all sides, and with small hall pro-
truding in front The overhead ceiling
was old and dingy, the walls which
happened to be plastered were very
ugly, the plaster missing in spots, the
window panes were broken and paper
patched; the seats old and double and
deliberately decorated with the jack
knife's carved initial The stove, rus
ty and unjacketed, stood in the middle
of the room. The chimney above was
braced by a wooden signport from the
floor. There was an old organ, but no
library. The teachers first work was
sweeping cobwebs, scrubbing floors,
and polishing the stoye. The yard was
large and roomy and well shaded. but
rnarred in front by the presence of the
usual ugly woodpile. The outbuildings
were mere shells, disgracefully open
and scant of boards. The children as
a whole were typically average, too
There was but small appreciation OF
the value Of daily school work and less
Of the school as functional source OF
Though this spirit Of progress is
abroad in York county. the above de-
scription is a fine one of goodly num-
Der Of our schools. My friend told also
Of the improvements made In this
school, I shall quote her again. hope
every trustee, patron, yes, all the citi-
zens Of York county who read this ac-
count of improvements made, will stop
to consider whether or not their school
has received the same attention this
one did. ~
"In attacking the conditions that
were in such dire need Of improvement,
the work Of the school was organized
under four heads: ..,,..
81. The problem OF physical environ
ment, or the Improvement Of buildings
and grounds.
"2. The problem Of social environ
ment-that is, Of making the school q
center of community service and q
source of growth for social and intel
lectual betterment.
"3. The problem OF introduction and
of the development Of course of study
adopted to the actual life needs OF
country children.
~. The problem Of administration
making possible through organization
and management the solution Of the
other problems named.
I'm the campaign for improvement
started, attention was first directed te
the physical environment Of the school
1t was soon decided TO build two new
outbuildings, to move and turn the
school building, construct a basement
and put in furnace. The interior was
then remodeled and redecorated, a bay
window and a window seat being add
ed to close the end Of the building left
open by the removal of the hall. New
seats, a clock, a bookcase, work bench
primary chairs and tables, curtains
hall linoleum, rugs, pictures and pi.
ano were later added to the influence
of the room. In the meantime the yart
came in for a share Of metamcrphies
Trees were set out, shrubs, vines, ant
flowers were planted, a strawberry bee
started, and garden and corn plo
laid out. After some necessary grad
ing, the lawn was. well seeded and 6
lawn mower provided with which l,
keep it trimmed. A new fence and &C.
ment walks were built. To these in'
provements was added mail box
which with the telephone, Furnished
connection with the outside world ant
| removed the isolation in which mos
country schools exist.
1.-The first STRINGS Of the social awak
ening which soon began were manifest
ed in the unity engendered by thi'
campaign for physical Improvement.
parents association was formed; {
girls club sprang into being and de-
veloped with surprising enthusiasm
community gatherings became popu
lar; exhibits were held; local and ever
railway excursions became a reality
and school house parties and athletic
activities added much to the solution
Of the neighborhood recreative ques
ton, binding the young people Of tn
district not only 20 the school but ais
to the community and its life.
1.-The educational reform was as grea
as that Of the school home. 1t was tn
ideal of the teacher to so direct tn
course of study and to make it fit tn
needs of the local community. In thi
redirection old subjects were frs
culled of their chaff and then vitalize'
by being taught in terms Of daily life
| for example in the study Of arithme
tic stock and bonds, cube root, com
pound proportion and some othe
things were left out and the problem
worked in this subject were those oc
curing in the life Of the farmers livin
in the community. Practical agricul
ture, household science, and manua
training were introduced"
Is this not an interesting account?
is a change that can be brought in an
J community where the people are reall