The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-05-09
THE SCHOOLS ONCE MORE.

An encourage sign of school i'm
provement is the constant criticism
of methods and systems by our edu-
Gators themselves. Mr.. Hands let
ter, published yesterday, was peril
nent, and should receive the atten-
ton of all school boards.
At the Southern education confer
ence, recently held in Richmond
President Whitfield, of the Mississip-
pi State College for Women, present
ed a report of committee which
discovered these defects in the exist
ing school system:
It does not teach health.
It does not train for nome life.
It does not train for parenthood.
It gives no real instruction in sci
entidc feeding and clothing.
It does not teach how to make san
itary and convenient homes.
It does not teach how to make beau
tiful homes.
It does not train for proper use of
leisure in the home.
It contains no training fer political
citizenship that is worth the name.
Bhe criticism is severe and unfor-
tunately it applies to very many of
our schools and colleges. A criticism
is not worth much, however, unless
its author can suggest a remedy If
these educators can select those
studies of genuine value, while they
repudiate the non-essentials, if they
can suggest to the minds OF the pu-
pills the various occupations that might
awaken latent talent, if above all
things they can teach sincerity in
effort, and thoroughness in all tasks
however small, then may they begin
to find some light in these dark plac-
es. It is not the fault OF the high
school boy or girl that they finish the
ten years of school life, and go out to
meet the world utterly icnorant as to
how or where they may make a live
Iibood; it is not the fault of the hun
dreds of graduates who leave college
next month, that they hesitate what
they may do, knowing so we'll their
unpreparedness for doing anything.
The fault is in the system, and the
system being impersonal, there's no
harm in abusing it, even if it cannot
be made better.-Spartanburg Herald.
The rural school problem is the
most important and far reaching be-
fore the American people today. It's
salution IL. the proper way must b
gradual, bat it will come. The one
great trouble in tlis section is that
the people have never walked up to
the importance of the subject. The
world is raoTiEx and making progress
in almost every line but unfortunately
the schools in many places have been
going along in the same old way.
There is need of wise and efficient
leadership. Too often the leaders and
school men are chosen for positions of
leadership with absolutely no thought
OF their efficiency or ability, but for
reasons entirely foreign to any such
questions. Many of the things enum-
Grated above cannot come in many of
the schools for many years, because of
lack of money. Many of the schools
that have the money do not seem to
have broad and liberal grasp of the
situation or the need of it.
The improvements are coming, but
first the people must be aroused. If
once they see the true conditions and
realize their obligations to the child
ren of this generation, the improve
ment of conditions will begin, because
the people are able to do whatever
they make up their minds to do.
The sufragettes in England have
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