The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-12-24
RURAL SCHOOLS
SHOW PROGRESS
CASH PRIZES FOR YEAR ARE
DISTRIBUTED.
Rivalry Was keen-Improveme As
sociatiOn Reports Some Remark
able Achievements-Aw
Are Made Public.

Rural schools to the number of 1854,
IN 30 counties, have reported to the
South Carolina School Improvement
association achievements during the
year in the direction of betterment,
many of these accounts being accom-
panied by photographs contrasting
conditions "before" and "after." The
change from one-teacher school
house in rough, box car like build
ing, to the graded school in modern,
well equipped building seems a mar
velous record for one year, yet more
than 100 schools showed such pro-
greSs.
Prizes for the year have been al
loted by the executive committee of
the association. Members present
were: Miss Elizabeth Dickson, acting
president, Columbia; Miss Mary Eva
Hite, Batesburg; Miss Sadie Goggans,
Columbia; Miss Will Lou Gray, Lau-
rens; Miss Mamie McLees, Dillon;
Miss Madeline Spigener, st. Mat
thews; Miss Ethel Dreher, Lexington;
Miss Isadore Williams, Liberty; Mrs.
Hugo S. Strickland, Walterboro.
First Prizes $50 Each.
First prizes of $50 each were award
ed to the following schools, each re-
porting satisfactory status in build
ings, equipment, taxation, compulsory
education, enrolment and attendance,
and each having besides an active
school improvement association:
Bethea, Aiken; Buffalo, Cherokee;
Ruby, Chesterfield; Tabor, Collector;
Dothan, Dillon; Bell, Dorchester;
Trinity, Florence; Travellers Rest,
Greenville; Utopia, Greenwood; Three
C's, Kershaw; Oakhurst, Lancaster:
Oak Grove, Lexington; Eulonia, Ma
rlon; st. Phillips, Newberry; East
Elizabeth, Orangeburg; Peters ;yreak,
Pickens; Piedmont, Richmand; Os-
wego. Sumter; Gault, Union; Cafes,
Williamsburg.
A second series of prizes was Of
fered to the counties for Improvement
along stated lines. In this contest the
points were so very close in some
cases that the committee found it hard
to reach decision. Dillon, Darling
ton,' Laurens and Kershaw had made
splendid records. Each county en-
ploys supervising teacher, who de-
votes her time to securing class room
efficiency in the rural schools. Each
county annually holds a field day:
each county showed the celebration
of cleanup day in each school, thus
proving that the health of the pupils
is considered. Compulsory school
attendance has been secured by many
districts in each county, and in each
one special effort III going on to secure
the adoption of compulsory law.
1t is significant that in each county
making high record of improvement
nearly every district has an active
school improvement association. Night
schools have been established to meet
the problem of illiteracy. Agricultural
instruction in rural schools, domestic
science departments-these things
show the efforts of the schools to edu-
cate all the children of all the people.
Prizes to Counties.
Dillon was awarded cash prize of
S1OO; Laurens a cash prize of $50,
Darlington and Kershaw $25 each.
Among the most interesting appli-
cations were those for the local asso-
Citations. These tell of the community
interest in the school, of local taxa
ton and compulsory education secured
by the women of the association.
Money needed for better equipment is
raised in many ways. In one district
an acre of potatoes was planted by
the association, in another bale of
cotton secured, every form of enter
tainment was given. The four schools
which showed such marked effect in
school development were awarded
cash prizes of $25 each. These were:
Kelleytown, Darlington; Minturn,
Dillon; Wexford, Spartanburg; Mo-
netta, Aiken.
Second Prizes Given.
Second prizes of $25 each were
awarded to the following schools:
Pineland, Aiken; Jackson, Aiken;
Davis Branch, Barnwell; Patrick,
Chesterfield; Strickland, Colleton;
Ashtown, Colleton; Pond Hollow, Dar-
iington; Bermuda, Dillon; Mars Bluff,
Florence; Fairview, Greenwood; An
drews Chapel. Greenwood; Red Hill,
Hampton; Nixville, Hampton; Oak
Grove, Horny; Good Hope, Horny;
Tarboro, Jasper; Antioch, Kershaw;
Piedmont, Kershaw; Oakland, Ker-
shaw; Halfway, Lexington; Mount
Olive, Laurens; Eden, Laurens; Eden,
Laurens; Blenheim, Marlboro; Bounty
Land, Oconee; Fairfield, Otonee; New
Providence, Orangeburg; Cherry Hill,
Saluda; Fairview, Saluda, Salem,
Sumter; Providence, Sumter; Boiling
Springs, Spartanburg; North Pacolet,
Spartanburg; Oakland, Union; Tink
ers Creek, Union; Cedar Hill, Union;
Mulberry, Williamsburg; Blairsville.
York; Brandon, York.