Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-12-05

school that Is comfortably housed
and in a building that was likely
erected Before the days of State
plans. The State supervisor was
pleased with the distribution Of the
pupils and grades In this school, aud
with the earnest effort of the teach
crs to make the instruction ample
and thorough. Nobody realizes,
however, better than these two hard
working teachers themselves the i'm
possibility Of two teachers doing ten
grades of work with the enrolment
that is found at Richland. With as
many enrolled as fifty it is impossi-
Bile for a two-teacher school to give
adequate preparation for college,
and In an effort to do so the pupils in
the intermediate and primary grades
are necessarily neglected.
Effort was made from Rich,and to
reach the Clearmont school. The
party was too late to reach there be-
for school closing, and had opportu-
nifty only of meeting the teachers.
On Friday
Blue Ridge, Tabor and Madison were
visited. Blue Ridge Is a two-teacher
school that had been open for the
fall session only few days. The
State Supervisor was pleased with
the distribution of the classes and
the organization Of the work. The
school Is comfortably housed in
comparatively new building.
The next stop was made at Tabor.
This is also two-teacher school,
with an excellent division Of the
school work between the two teach
ers. An addition has recently been
made to the Tabor building. The
work was we'll done, but unfortunate
ly the location of the windows does
not conform to the State plans and
modern requirements of light on one
side Of the room.
The last visit of the day, and of
the week, was made at Madison. This
Is also a two-teacher school and ano-
ther where excellent work is being
done in both departments. The State
Supervisor was impressed at this
school with how wellM country school
might provide itself with plenty of
playground apparatus and with the
least outlay Of money. Swings, see
saws and slides were provided at
Madison to accommodate practically
all Of the children at recess period.
These were made by the principal
and larger boys, with only small
outlay for the necessary lumber and
other material. Such "A condition as
this makes the children happy and
contented, and contentment at school
greatly promotes thorough going
school work.
Enrolment and Attendance.
Several conditions in Oconee coun-
ty were observed that seemed to be
general. One Of these is the low en-
rollment and attendance in nearly all
the schools at this season Of the
year. Oconee Is white county, and
this situation makes 1t necessary for
the children in many places to help
gather the crops. While the absence
Of the children Is, therefore, to a GER
tain extent excusable, the parents of
the children should not lose sight of
the harmful effects of such absence
upon the schools. With a fresh in
gathering of new pupils every week
for several weeks during the fall, 1t
Is impossible for the teachers to or
ganize classes and to promote prop
erly the progress OF the pupils who
enroll at the beginning. In every
school it would be wise for the pa
irons to meet with the teachers the
first morning Of the school session,
and come to some understanding with
reference to the school work and the
farm work Of the boys. With an
early opening hour each morning,
and with the taking up OF such fun
damental subjects as language and
mathematics during the forenoon, it
might be possible for boys to attend
school during the forenoon and work
during the afternoon without greatly
retarding their own school progress
and the progress Of other pupils, and
still have sufficient time to help
gather the crops.
The State Supervisor was pleased
that in great many Of the two
teacher schools no work was attempt
ed beyond the eighth grade. With
the large rnllmant found In aue1.v