The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1914-02-13

Thursday was a. gala day for the
schools of Maury county. In spite of
the threatening weather, not less
than a thousand or twelve hundred
wildly enthusiastic children, fathers,
and mothers fairly packed the New
Grand opera house, filling every nook
and corner to hear the speakers who
had been brought for the occasion.
The procession of children filed
into the building about 10 o'clock,
and after fifteen minutes of cheering
and giving the yells of their respec-
tive schools, Supt. Graham called for
order promptly at 1890. He asked
the audience to stand while the c. M.
A. Band led the audience in singing
America. DR.. J. c. Molloy then de-
livered fervent and eloquent invo-
cation.
Supt. Graham, in his Introductory
remarks, stated that six years ago,
when he had Prof. Claxton here,
there were less than 100 present to
hear him. Today he was glad to state
that not less than 1920 pupils were
here from every section of the coun-
ty to listen to the speakers. In 1907,
when he became superintendent, the
school property of the county was
valued at $4,000, while in 1914, it
was estimated to be worth $4,000.
The enrolment was now over 5000,
and when the new compulsory law
got thoroughly to work, he hoped the
stated that the salaries of the county
teachers had been increased, the
school terms had been heightened
and the standard of work had been
made far higher.
DR.. Thompson, the state superin-
tendent of education, was given an
ovation when he arose to speak. He
declared that in all of the Sc towns
that he had visited on this trip, not
one had turned out so many for a raj
ly, or had there been near so much
interest manifested, as in Columbia
and Maury county. He gave it as his
opinion that Maury county had one
of the most marvellous records in ed
ucational work of any of the counties
in the whole state He gave the cred
it for this increase in numbers and
interest in the schools to the efficient
work of Supt. Graham, Prof. Harris
and the members of the various edu-
cational boards. He congratulated
them upon their work and their eff
forts in the cause of education, and
pledged them his best aid in every
possible manner.
"In the course Of my travels over
the state, nowhere have l seen a bet
ter equipped and more up-to-date high
school than the one which I visited
in Columbia this morning. l was es-
pecially interested in the manual
training department which is admir-
ably taught I notice from the re-
cords that there are 5000 children of
school age in this county, but that
only $500 of the mwere inattendance
from the country schools. I believe
that the recently enacted compulsory
school law will reach many of these
$500 children, who have not gone to
school. Maury county ought to have
better rural schools. The city schools
are very fine, but the country ones
are not yet what they should be. The
day Of the one room school house is
past, and there should be strong, s..-
stantial two, three, and four room
school buildings erected for the bene-
fit of the country school children.
They ought to have a teacher for
each grade not less than the city
schools have. There is great room
for improvement yet, and if you will
but follow the lead and instructive
guidance of Prof. Graham and the
state department of education, we will
have you better rural schools. How
ever, we must have the active sup
port and cooperation Of the people
of these communities and the county
court of Maury. More money must
be expended and greater effort put