Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1916-04-20
STATE TO PROVIDE
COURSE IN FARMING
TOoLE ACT BLAZES TRAIL FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF AGRIcuL-
TURAL RESOURCES.
PALMsITO CAPITOL NEWS
Genera! News Of South Carolina Col
lected and Condensed From The
State Capital That Will Prove Of
interest to All Our Readers
Columbia

Columbia
"One of the most important meas
ures passed at the 1916 session Of the
legislature was the Toole act to pro-
vide for the teaching of agriculture
in the public schools" said ]. f.
Swearingen, state superintendent OF
education
Such law has been urged and
discussed for years. Mr. Toole has
been an insistent advocate of the
policy, in and out OF the legislature.
The proposal was discussed through
out the gubernatorial campaign of
1914
THE establishment OF county or dis
trict agricultural schools in other
states has proved expensive The
Toole plan is the outgrowth of the ex.
pertinent conducted in Darlington
county by state, county and district
school officers, in cooperation with
Clemson college
I'm the fall of 1914. Prof ]. NJ
Napier took charge of an agricultural
class in each of five consolidated
country schools. The principals co.
operated heartily by aiding him in
class room instruction and filed ex.
perimentation. The result was pro.
nounced successful by men like d. r
Coker, Bright Williamson, L. w. Dick.
V. E. Rector and ID. l.. Lewis In the
fall OF 1915, two additional experts
were employed in Darlington county
and Ia schools organized regular
classes in agriculture.
THE act is based also on the Nichol.
son rural graded school law of 1912
which has been so stimulating in pro.
noting rural graded school progress
Three, four or five schools must co.
operate in the employment OF an agri
cultural teacher. Each school must
nave an enrolment of at least rs
three teachers. a three-room building
an eight mill tax and school farm
OF at least two acres. The tax is re
quired in order to insure adequate
support; the school farm is necessary
in order to provide a demonstration
plot.
THE group OF cooperating districts
supplies $3.50 and the state contributes
an equal amount. A salary of $1SOC
is thus made available for the employ
ment OF trained teacher of agricul
ture, who may act as superintendent OF
the group of schools"
The act was approved March 81
1916
In commenting upon the outlook
the state superintendent said that Il
or 15 groups OF schools are readily
available. Anderson, Chesterfield. Col
letan. Darlington, Dillon. Florence
Greehville, Horny. Laurens. Oconee
Orangeburg, Spartanburg and viii
liamsburg, all have sections with
schools that ought to undertake this
work. In selecting the localities con
sideraton must be given to good
roads in order to prevent too much
waste OF time in travelling from schoo
to school
Letters have been addressed to the
county superintendent of education
in these 13 counties. urging them tC
look into the local situation, confer
with their district trustees and com
municate with the state superintend
ent
All the agricultural and educationa
forces of the state and the nation are
behind this movement The appro
priation for 1856 was only $4,000
and will, therefore. take care OF only
seven groups OF schools