Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-04-05
WALIIAIITA, s. g.:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1910.
SCI, 80. FAIR AND FIELD DAY.

Oconce's second event "f this kind
has passed into history. And it will
prove interesting history to those
who study local school conditions for
che benefit Of future school work.
Thr two school fair and field day eel
cbrations have served q splendid pur-
pose. Thcy have developed Il spirit
OF rivalry among the schools Of the
county that must prove beneficial in
the days to come But every good
thing reaches u point where its use
fuEness is questionable unless
changes are made and modifica tons
Inauguratcd THAI will lrnd to meet
conditions as they arise
The School Fair and Field Day was
designed to meet conditions as they
existed. in JcOnec. two years ago.
In our opinion. ii has not only met
and admirably and adequately met
those conditions. but it has created
ncw conditions that will not i'm the
future be best served by repctitions
Of the School Fair and Field Day un-
modified
The schools Of Oconcc were sick,
lhey lacked energy. they lacked ini-
tiaHvc; they were encrvated and run
down, so to spoak-lacking that V. .n
and energy that denote real true
life. Fair mnd Field Day proved to
hn hC
and life to the schools. 1t has ac-
romplishcd that end admirably. But
it seems to us that there liz now need
ed change in the system of treat
mcnt. Some OF the patients. The
schools. are stronger than others,
and the medicine that suits and slim
hlates one may prove too strong for
others, the effects being detrimental.
The teachers OF Oconee are to be
the diagnosticians in this case, and
we do not seek to dictate to them in
the matter. 1t Is frequently the case,
however, that the most ordinary lay
man can throw out an idea or sug-
restion, and the skilled practitioner
can bring facts to bear to such de-
gree as to result in good to a patient
whose case may he somewhat baf-
Ming. II is in This spirit and with the
hope for this result that we submit
few prop oSitiOns to the teachers OF
'Oconee for consideration in connec-
tion with the competitive side OF our
educational work
FIRST Is unequal competition de-
signed to prove beneficial TO any
great extent?
second Is not the competitive
work Of Fair and t'icld Day unequal
IS between high schools and tie r,l-
raj schools or the county?
Third: With the advantages pos
scsscd by the high schools over the
rural schools, are not the former apt
TO drop into Il condition OF laXncss
nr at least to fccl--:lnd worse still
10 show that they fecl---a sense OF
superiority over the weaker and
smaller schools? Aud arc not the
weaker schools already beginning to
f"cl that they arc being crowded out
10y the stronger schools. with little or
no chance left to them to show to
advantage what they are and what
they are doing?
Fourth: II. taking it for granted
that the position we take is more or
less We'll founded. and such condi-
ElonS exist or may exist in the future,
would it. not be well to take hold
now and cast about fer remedies for
nnheHlthy conditions?
An unequal compctition~-and Fair
and Field Day brings competition at
every tnrn--must prove discourage
ing to the weak. aud it is robbed OF
its incentive for the strong.
We do not mention these things in
a carping or criticising spirit, but in
the hope that from full and free
discussion Of the matter by the teach
crs OF the county, future gatherings
of a nature similar to that Of last Fri
day may be given tho full portion OF
lnVigorating and Strengthening in
flucnce that 1t was designed they
Thould have.
IN one feature there can be no
question OF the good that has been
accomplished by the two Fair and
}'ield Day occasions. Eliminate
every particle OF good that has been
accomplished for the schools them
4 IL. -.