The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-01-11

dren working in the mills, have not
placed themselves under the compul-
sorry attendance law, by reason of the
fact that the minimum age limit Of the
child labor law is twelve years, while
under the compulsory attendance law,
the maximum is fourteen years, so that
the child labor law age limit Of twelve
years acts as a deterrent influence in
preventing school districts in which
this part of our population live, from
taking advantage Of the opportunities
offered under the compulsory attend
ance law. l. therefore, strongly urge
the passage of a bill which is now on
the house calendar, No. 223, and that
this bill shall be made to take effect
on or before August l, 1916, SO that the
children who would be affected by it,
will be enabled to attend school at the
opening of the school sessions in the
fall of 1916. These children have a
God-given right to an education.
Supervisor, Mill Schools.
At the last session of the legislature
you made provision for supervisor in
mill schools, as a part of the educa-
tional system Of the state. The aim, in
the mill schools, is to place them on
parity with the work in the high
schools, rural graded schools and other
schools. If this is accomplished it will
mean an increased self-reliance and
responsibility on the part of the pat
rons of these schools. This work is
important to many of our citizens, who
are bone of our bone and flesh Of our
flesh, and who are entitled to the same
consideration by the state that belongs
to every other citizen.
I commend the report of the super
visor of mill schools to your attention,
and am confident that the efficiency in
this work will be more and more ap-
parent as time goes on. We can not
afford to stop this work.
Teachers.
1t is all-important that the public
schools should be given adequate sup
port and sufficient appropriation to
meet the urgent demands that confront
us, and which are increasing yearly.
In this connection I wish to empha-
size two important matters. Permit
me to urge upon you the necessity for
greater efficiency of those teachers,
who do not nave the opportunity OF
having special training in teaching.
The more efficient the teacher, the
more effective the work Of the pupils.
would urge, therefore, a special pro-
vision for one-year course for train
ing teachers in limited number of the
high schools of the state.
I call your attention also to the i'm
portance of certifcation of teachers by
a state board. The bill now on the
calendar, known as the Nicholson bill,
should, in my opinion, become a law
of the state.
Institutions of Higher Learning.
The institutions of higher learning
in South Carolina have grown steadily
in popular approval and usefulness to
the state. The number of students is
larger than at any time in our history
and the work of these institutions
grows better with each succeeding
year. A careful study of their reports
and recommendations will prove both
interesting and instructive. In order
that you may better know of their work
and needs, I respectfully request that
you give these reports your careful
and thoughtful consideration.
Agriculture in Common Schools.
From a personal inspection, the eX'
pertinent of teaching agriculture in
the rural schools in Darlington county
has so impressed me with its desira-
bility and practicability that do not
hesitate to commend this matter 20
your favorable consideration, and l
advise that provision be made so as
to make this character of work pos
sible in other counties. This work
in Darlington is now being done by
the extension division of Clemson col
lege, in connection with the consoll-
dated schools in Darlington. The
teaching Of agriculture in these schools
is practical, as we'll as scientific. 1t Is
the training that will enable our boys
to make profitable living on the farm,
to interest them in farm work and ru-
raj life, and makes the calling of agri-
culture attractive in profits that will
enable farmers to secure the comforts
and luxuries in rural life that will