The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-31
REPORT ON RURAL SCHOOLS.
MISS H1TE REVIEWS PROGRESS
MADE DURING YEAR.
School Improvement Association Try
Ing to Unite People for Educational
e Retirement.
Columbia State.

Columbia State.
Recently issued by the State depart
ment OF education Is n bulletin on the
South Carolina School Improvement
association. IL is in pamphlet size of
half n hundred pages or so and con-
tains. among other data. the report of
the president. Miss Mary Eva Hite;
the statistical report OF the work OF
the association by counties. list of
the schools winning prizes In 1914 for
showing the greatest amount Of i'm
provement during a given time. an
nouncement OF similar prizes to the
amount OF s2.3oo to be given this
year: practical suggestions by Miss
Hite TO local associations. short help
fui articles by teachers and principals.
reports and photographs OF improved
schools and Of progressive methods
being employed.
The reports from the local associa-
tions are made up for the most part
Of accounts OF ways and means used
I'm the raising OF funds necessary for
Home desired addition TO the school
house or It's equipment, and they tell
n story OF ingenuity. energy and re-
source. and not only OF money made
hut OF pleasant community and social
life developed.
Tho president opens her report with
the statement that ''at present the
sonth Carolina School Improvement
association represents the only band
Of folk I'm this state working volun-
tariiy for the betterment OF educa-
tional conditions and she proceeds
to set forth facts to show how we'll II
has thus far accomplished it's purpose
Ito unite the people OF each COM
munity for the betterment Of the
school" We feel sure that we have
about TOO local associations" writes
Miss Hite. but II has not been pos
sibie TO get certified reports from
that number. Since the first OF Janu-
airy reports have come in showing a
membership OF 10.13s with 1869
meetings held during the precedinS
IL months. These organizations have
raised and spent s16.O99.s4 in the
betterment OF schools during that
time"
The president further states that
I'm every community where the In
nuence OF the school Improvement as
ISOLATION Is felt. the organization
stands for: 1. A minimum school
term OF seven months. 3. A special
tax In every district. 8. The enroll
ment OF every child OF school age.
4. The regular attendance of every
pupil. s. AT least one teacher for
every 30 pupils. 6. Modern build
ings with modern equipment. Z.
Hearty cooperation between the home
and the school. Each local associa-
ton In directing It's attention TO the
one greatest need I'm It's community.
in addition TO the field work al
ready described. four definite things
have been undertaken by the associa-
ton during the past year. namely. ar
educational exhibit at the State fair.
the observance OF cleanup day in
the schools. a contest in which $3.50
In prizes was awarded. and the ad-
option OF the compulsory school at
tendance act by IA many districts as
possible where local associations were
at work.
But all this. 80 Miss Hite points
out. deals entirely with the monetary
and material side OF the work. where
as the primary object or the organiza-
tlon In to arouse the interest and the
United effort OF the people In the i'm
provement OF schools.
TO sum up the great aim OF all
school improvement workers, we need
but one word. and that Is coopera-
tion." writes she. The association
forms the coopertive link between
the home and tho school. between the
entire community and the school.
The hundreds OF local associations
with their thousands OF members rep
resent the very finest type Of coopera-
ton-voluntary cooperation - ever
Instituted In any form of club work
In this State"