The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-10-01
PROGRESS OF EDUCATION
PLEASING TO GOVERNOR
Manning Says Means Must Be Pro-
vided to Train Children of State.
Commends Support of Cause
by the People.


rollment in our public schools and
colleges are very gratifying to me-"
said Gov. Manning yesterday, in dis
cussing education and prosperity in
South Carouina. at is healthy sign
to note the awakening of our white
citizens to the very great necessity for
universal education, especially along
practical lines-cooking, sewing,
farming, mechanics, etc. 1t is also an
evidence of the return of prosperity
to our land. What a marked con-
trast to the conditions existing short
while ago, when, as an effect of the
European war our financial system
was in a turmoil, large numbers of
our people, though clamoring for the
education of our boys and girls, were
not in position to gather together
enough money to pay even the small
expense items incidental to the edu-
cation which they so much desire for
their children. Many of them could
not purchase the books necessary to
be used in their schools. Now learn
the most important question before
us is how are we to provide the
teachers and room necessary to prop
erly care for the large numbers apply
ing for admission. The cry hard
times has been forgotten in South
Carolina, and our people are looking
to the future with a degree of opti-
mism heretofore unknown.
"There is no questioning the fact
that if we are to continue to progress
along business and moral lines, we
must provide for the children of
South Carolina the education to which
they are entitled. A grave RESPONSE
bility rests upon the mothers and
fathers of South Carolina in this mat
ter, and I have such great confidence
in the honesty and integrity of our
people that know this responsibility
will be met with the proper response
and the necessary facilities for the
training and education of our youth
will be provided. If we can not pro-
wide as well as we would like, then
let us by all means provide as we'll as
possible. Well lighted, well ventilated
and we'll heated school buildings with
first class teachers are always desir-
able, if possible, but log cabin, with
a good teacher, makes a much better
place to train child than no school
at all. 1t is far better that the pa
rents make personal sacrifices, if nec-
essary, rather tx'i have the training
of the mind of the child neglected.
People Aroused.
"The people of South Carolina >Sre
aroused along educational lines ~
they have never been before. N. Wis
best evidenced by the fact that in ap-
proximately 1,400 school districts out
of total of 1000 in South Carolina
the people have voted themselves
a special tax for the improvement of
their educational system. In other
words, they have, by their ballots,
spoken in no uncertain terms in favor
of the progress of the State and the
advancement of our civilization
through the training of the minds of
our children. Especially is this true
in the mill villages and rural COM
munities.
another commendable feature
about our educational progress is the
advanced ideas our people are put
ting into practice along the line of
vocational training. | am especially
interested in this particular branch of
the work. We have come to the point
in our educational life where our
children are now being taught to use
not only their brains, but their hands
as we'll. Every year We note that
the schools are turning out more
skilled mechanics wives and farmers
wives than ever before This is true,
not only of the colleges and universi-
| tinc h,,t nf ha ,o,,Hlsn
high schools as well. My whole heart
is in this work. said the governor,
"and / hope that we may soon see
the day when our educational facili-
ties, especially those in the mill viii
lagos and rural districts, are brought
TO the highest standard. The money
we spend in the improvement of our
common schools is an investment, the
return from which can not be esti-
mated in dollars and cents, but in the
Improvement of the minds of a rising
generation, thereby assisting them in
making of themselves better citizens.
at is the duty, and | believe the
pleasure, of every true South Caro-
linian to offer to the younger genera
tion every opportunity to properly
prepare themselves for the struggle
that awaits them in this life, and, to
my mind, the best method of perform
ing this duty is to provide for them
the education and training that is
best suited to the needs of the indi-
vidual child"
The governor has always been an
advocate of education, especially in
the common and high schools of
South Carolina. He is devoting great
deal of his time to the study of this
subject just now and will likely have
SOME important recommendation
along this line in his message to the
iegislature.-Sunday's State.