The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-03-31
NIGHT SCHOOLS FOR ADULTS
ura School Supervisor Gives Interesting Account of
the Night School Work in Youngs Township
BY Miss Wi Lou

~ some OF the adult members OF the
rural communities not only to open to
thcm in a limited degree the treasures
OF the store house Of knowledge but
because with fuller information there
would come to them the will to educate
their children in spite Of all obstacles.
The moonlight schools of Kentucky,
organized by Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart
showed that this idea was capable OF
effective execution.
The examination Of the Democratic
Club list showed that 22,25l Of the
men in South Carolina made their
mark This showed that 563 Taurens
county men made their mark, ranking
fifth from the top.
This evidenced the need of school
for adults After consultation with
Mr.. James Fl. Sullivan, Supt. of lIduca-
ton, it was decided to make a trial os
such work in Youngs township.
\ meeting of the teachers Of this
township was called for Saturday, Jan.
9Th. or the eleven schools, eight were
represented. The teachers were told
Of the wonderful success Of the Ken
tucky schools and the need OF such
| Schools--schoOlS not only for the men
and women, who in youth lost their
opportunity for education but for all
| who wanted to learn moro or review.
All the teachers sgnificd their willing
ness to attempt the work although
some doubted their aEiity to interest
and secure their attendance. II was
decided that | should make a circuit
OF seven schools the following week,
when the plan should be outlined to
each community. \ weeks schedule
was made, each teacher agreeing to
invite the adults to the school house
/ TO see some stercoptican pictures,
stating that after the pictures a Ger
tain school question would be placed
before them for discussion.
On Monday, Jan. S;h, | started on
my rounds, making the first stop in
| the Noungs school community. Here
an old pupil and Clemson college grad
uatc accompanied me through rain and
mud in house to house canvass. |
| had been told by nearly every one that
uneducatcd mon would be insultcd
when approached upon subject OF
making up lost opportunity. The first
man to whom | spoke could neither
| read nor write. In response to my
| question he replied, Il would give half
I expect to make this year to learn to
read and write" So anxious was he
i to forward the work that he agreed
to rake a number Of us to school that
night in a wagon. In this special com
been interested. One trustee when re-
QucstcG to come for sake OF influence
replied, 81 am coming because | need
| it." While 7 worked on the outside.
the teachers interested the pupils in
the schools and insisted that they en-
courage their parents to attend
The first night. although the rain
came in torrents, twenty-onc people
assembled at the Youngs school. Nf-
ter the stcrcopticon pictures Of Ycl-
lowstonc Park, the details Of the night
school were outlined. The men were
intensely interested and thus began
one Of the most successful schools. ]
am glad to state that ! received a let
ter a few days ago from the man who
was willing to give half he made TO
learn to read and write.
The entire week was spent in organ
i2irg the schools. Since the teachers
had more time to advertise the night
meetings, | spent the following days
in the schoolroom. At Friendship.
Huntcrsvllc, Grays, Patton, Riddles
Old Field excellent audiences met ne.
They were told Of the work accom-
rlishcd in Kentucky, and OF our plan.
every instance, the people expressed
desire for the work. Since there We're
seven schools and only six nights,
met with the EbcrneZCr folk Saturday
morning, only five were present After
discussing the proposition it was de-
cided that the people of that commun-
ity couldn't be interested in going to
school three nights week but that
It would be best to organize Get
Together Club. BY appointment, I
met with the people Of this communi-
Nv Tho follow;po Irridoy nipht whon