The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-04-03

Decides to Withdraw from School
Day Contest This Year.

l7th, the managing secretary OF the
Sumter Chamber Of Commerce imme-
diately wrote the trustees Of School
District 40. ), McssrS. Il. T.. Hodge,
). A. flarrin and j. NJ. Kolb, urging
a reconsideration OF the determination
of the trustees, teachers, ard patrons
to withdraw from Field Day excr-
ciseS this year.
Bethel school is one of the most
progressive and leading rural schools
In South Carolina. This school has
carried off the greatest number Of
prizes in different Field Day events
for several years. 1t is also one of
the largest rural schools in this sec
ton of the State.
One of the school trustees has TAX
Ell the matter up with the CONNER
cial secretary and states that Bethel
school is not opposed to Field Day
as a general proposition. But that
there are q number Of good reasons
why this school will not participate in
the Field Day exercises this year.
To begin with, it was explained
that while Bethel school only runs
seven months in the year, that never
the'ess the teachers and pupils really
put in a nine-months curriculum.
That it is very hard on teachers and
pupils to prepare for Field Day con-
tests while undergoing the strain in
cidental to completing the school work
in seven months.
Another reason assigned is that
Bethel school has been eliminating
the regular annual commencement
exercises for several years in order
to participate in the general county
school day exercises and contests.
a majority Of the patrons Of this
school feel that it is due the. pupils
and teachers that this school occa-
%sionally hold its annual ommence-
ment separate from Field Day ex-
ercises so that a clearer and more def
mite showing can be made Of the re-
suits Of that years school work.
The local commencement brings
out more clearly, collectively and in
dividually, the progress made by the
community school. whereas the Field
Day exercises and contests are SO nu-
merous and there are so many pupils
and schools engaged that the COM
munity school loses to a great extent
Its identity in the great shuttle OF
scholastic exhibitions and training.
So that it is held that there should
be at Bethel an occasional commence
ment wherein the patrons Of the.
school will have the opportunity to
witness h achievements Of their
particular SHOOT, and wherein the pu-
pills will have the opportunity Of
showing individual achievements to
their parents.
To continue eliminating the local
commencement every year, the pa
irons Of Bethel school feel has a ten
dency to drown out community inter-
est and local pride in the school. and
further minimize the rivalry of a To-
cal nature and so completely merges
the local school into the general
county school day program in which
only a few Of the pupils of each
school participate, hat the majority
OF the pupils are not in the picture,
and that commencement day, 80 dear
to the hearts OF the pupils is an an
nual event TO be encouraged.
The Bethel school patrons, teach
ers, and pupils are also generously in
clined to rest for a brief period upon
the laurels won by this magnificent
school, and to give other schools the
opportunity Of carrying off that many
more prizes. Bethel school is not be-
hind the times, but desires to pull off
their 1915 commencement at home
where there will be for 1915 at least.
a general family or community gath
ering at which the individual achieve
ments Of pupils, and the collective
results OF Bethel as one school NAV
be more definitely exhibited. Local
pride and community interest in
their school may be summed up as
the chief reasons for this school not
being in the 1915 Field Day picture.
While this enterprising school will be
missed from the parade and other
events Of 1915 Field Day, nevertheless
the motives behind the withdrawal
point TO a continuation Of progress in
the school.