The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-08
Some Facts About the One
Teacher School.

CBy Miss VII Lou Grav, Sunorvis;np

CBy Miss VII Lou Gray, Supervising
Teacher of Laurens County,
There are in reality forty-six one
teacher schools in Laurens county. 1t
Is true, nine of these schools employ
assistants for brief period This
plan is bad for the little children are
placed under the direction of young,
inexperienced teachers, who are
merely filler-ins. The pupils spend
their school term in getting used to
the different teachers ways. They,
practically, have three teachers dur
ing the year, first the principal, sec
ond the assistant, third, return again
to the principal
The enrol Pment in these schools
varies from nine to fifty-six The at
tendance is spasmodic, thus making
classification difficult The equip
ment in many instances is poor-num-
bers Of the schools have no out-houses
In four schools the children sit on
long benches; the lighting is misera-
BILE.
| The teachers, in twcnty-thrce Of
these schools, are holding their po-
sitions for the first time. Among the
| forty-siX teachers, not including the
assistants, there arc fifteen college
graduates, nineteen hold first grade
certificates, eight, second grade; and
two third grade certificates The av-
eragc term is six and three fourths
months, with an average salary of $i5
q month.
The following problem comfronts
the teacher in the average one-teach-
er country school. This data was Civ
Ell by a teacher
First grade, 3 pupils.
Second grade, ; pupils.
Third grade, 4 pupils.
Fourth grade. 4 pupils.
Fifth grade, 3 pupils.
Seventh grade, pupils.
| Eighth grade, | pupil.
Ninth grade, | pupil.
Number Of grades, 8.
Number OF pupils, 81.
Number Of classes recitc in one day,
80.
How much time is given to each
recitation
Number OF minutes in school day,
$50.
35 minutes for chapel and recess
325 minutes for 80 recitations or
Sl-3 minutes for one recitation.
The above facts suggest the follow
ing qucstions
Are the children IN these schools
Being given fair chance for life
equipment, when thcy have only six
and three fourth months term, with
a recitation period of s 1-3 minutes?
Can these pupils compete in life
tend school nine months, with a rcci-
tation period OF 45 minutes?
Can trained teachers be employed at
a salary Of $40 a month for only six
and thrcc-fourths months? DO teach
ers not have to live twelve months? :?
Are the teachers paid enough to
warrant their attending summer
school, buying professional litcra-
ture and keeping abreast with the best
in their profession?
Would 1t not be best to pay more
and demand more? Is not unframed
labor the highest In the long run?
Are the communities not doing the
smaller children an injustice when
they demand that the teachers in
struct four pupils in three high school
grades, while the majority Of the
children are in the lower classes?
Are the teachers not at present ex-
pccted to do impossible things?
Could these conditions not be remc-
died by consolidation and transporta-
ton
If consolidation is impossible, would
it not be we'll to limit the work Of the
One-tcacher school through the 7th
grade, thus giving the little children
and those children who are forced to
earn bread before they reach the high
school age, chance?
Can good work be accomplished
without equipment?
Arc not occulist's bills higher than