Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-12-05
A VISIT TO ocoNEE SCHOOLS.
State Supervisor of Rural Schools
Writes Of Recent Trip.

spend tnree days recently IN the
schools Of Oconee county. This was
the second attempt the State Super
visor had made in an effort to spend
some time in Oconee. The first at
tempt failed because Of very unfav-
orable weather conditions. The
County Superintendent Of Education
had planned well the itinerary, and
his assistance made the trip over the
county pleasant and profitable as
well. For two days we had the pleaL
sure Of the company Of Verd Peter
son, the State supervisor OF agricMl-
tural teaching. He Is especially in
terested in the introduction Of the
teaching of agriculture In some Of
the strongest country schools Of Oco-
nee, and his presence with us proved
very profitable to the teachers and
the children visited.
The three days were spent in the
schools of the lower section Of the
county. Practically all the schools
In the mountainous section have a
: summer session, and for this reason
the fall session has not yet begun.
The State Supervisor. is looking for
ward to an early opportunity Of vis-
itinS some schools in the mountain
ous section Of the county.
The First Day
of our visit we were able to reach
only two schools-Oakway and Fair
Play. Oakway is one Of the largest
and strongest country schools of the
State. 1t has been an effort for the
people Of the district to provide ade-
quate facilities for the large number
Of children enrolled in the school, but
the Willingness of the taxpayers to
vote special tax, combined with the
help of the State through the equal
,izing fund, seems to have placed the
school at present upon q firm finan-
cial basis. The State Supervisor Of
Rural Schools found the work we'll
organized, and to all appearances the
teaching proceeding in a very satis-
factory manner.
Fair Play was found to be in excel
lent condition in every way. The
building at Fair Play is modern in
arrangement and is unusually we'll
constructed. The large auditorium
gives excellent uportunity to the
school for service as community
center. At this school the visitors
spent some time in each class room,
n13 tGo
character Of the instruction.
On Thursday
the following schools were visited:
Bounty Land, Return, Providence,
Earles Grove and Richland. With
an early start the visiting party was
able to reach Bounty Land at the
opening exercises. The State Super
visor, Of Rural Schools was pleased
with the building and the organiza-
tion Of the work at Bounty Land.
AS this school Is not far from SEN
, eca, State-aided high school, the
+. pupils in this vicinity who would be
In the high school grades go to Sem
) eca. This gives the teachers an OPP
portunity to do thorough work with
the elementary grades, very desira-
BILE situation.
Return is another two-teacher
school that gave appearances of ex-
cellent organization and good school
work. The teachers In this school
are all crowded for time, and with
the incoming Of large number Of
pupils during December and Janu-
ary it will be impossible for two
=. teachers to do the thorough work
that these teachers would like. This
school ought to have better facilities
and larger teaching force for the
winter enrolment
Owing to arriving just before noon
the visitors did not have the oppor-
tunity OF remaining at Providence as
long rs they would have enjoyed, but
even with the short stay they we're
impressed with the organization Of
the school for good work in all three
class rooms.
Earles Grove Is two-teacher
school with a comfortable, though
not modern. building, and with good
opportunities for work as a two
teacher school. The pupils were we'll
distributed, and with little high
school work attempted in the school
the teachers have opportunity for
thorough instruction.
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