The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-03-07
SUPERINTENDENT SWEARiNGEN
DISCUSSES THE FIELD FOR
WORK.
DISPATCHES FROM COLUMBIA
Ooings and Happenings That Mark the
Progress Of South Carolina People,
Gathered Around the State Capital.
Columbia.

tendent Of education, has prepared for
publication the following discussion
Of the excellent work by and the great
adults in the state:
One OF the most significant educa-
tional efforts of recent years is the
night school for adults. Sporadic and
isolated attempts in this direction have
been made iii many communities at
different times. For years Columbia
has maintained successful and SER
viceable night school. Other locali-
tieB have undertaken night school
work in the form OF social service or
community betterment But the real
this neglected field Is due to Miss E.
Julia Selden Of Spartanburg and Miss
Will Lou Fray Of Laurens.
Work in Spartanpurg.
1t is interesting now to recall Miss
Seldens pioneer service among the
mill schools. Of Spartanburg. A grad.
uate Of Converse College. a teacher Of
successful experience. a young woman
Of wealth and refinement, Miss Selden
undertook this difficult service for the
mere joy of helping others She turn
ed Immediately to the whitened fields
stretching along her pathway, enlist
ing the cooperation Of mill presidents
and superintendents, she secured con.
tributions and organized q volunteer
corps Of teachers. Her enthusiasm
was contagious and won the conf
dance Of the people she was trying
to help. Her work was merged in the
statewide effort that came in 1916.
Night Schools In Laurens.
About the same time Miss VIII Lou
Cray. rural school supervisor of Lau.
rens county, organized group Of rura;
night schools in Young's township.
Her experiment. was similar to the
moonlight schools OF Kentucky The
cold wet nights Of the winter were al
most void of moonlight, but this un
propitious circumstance could not
dampen Miss Gray's ardor. Young
lady teachers and stalwart adult far
mers showed what could be accom-
plished in the rural night school where
tho instructors are anxious to help
and the instructed are anxious to
years made their mark, soon learned
TO write their names. At the spring
field day celebration the most inter
csting and interested group Of pupils
was the enthusiastic bunch from the
night school,
Other counties hearing Of the sue
cess Of the experiment in Laurens
undertook night schools the following
year. The statewide agitation that
resulted was another contribution that
Influenced the legislature to give f.
nancial support to the work.
Approved by Legislature.
The first legislative approval Of
night school activities was shown by
the appropriation of $4,000 in 1916
The state superintendent was author
lied to undertake the work wherever
. whenever and however it was deemed
advisable. The magnitude Of the task
had already been recognized by earn
ost teachers everywhere. The federal
census Of 1910 had shown that 10 per
cent Of our wfsite population and 38
por cent Of our negro population are
illiterate. Since the census definition
OF illiteracy includes any person bare
ly able to read and write, these fig
ures indicated an equal proportion Of
both whites and blacks who were only
little removed from the line Of illit-
eracy. To put it in round numbers,
one-fourth Of our adult population was
illiterate and another fourth was bare.
ly literatc To attempt to remedy this
of@ ,it II ~ In
undertaking. But a beginning had to
be made. Interested workers every.
where organized night schools Sue
cossful classes were conducted by hun
dreds Of teachers without pay as well
an by few teachers with pay for moth
ing above expenses.
Night schools were operated ir
cities, towns. mill villages and rura
districts. The most reliable and avail
intendent's office showed 5000 adults
under instruction. The reports in
dlcated that each dollar had been the
means Of teaching one man on The
average to write his name. The state
department Of education considered
the experiment a statewide success.
New Enterprises Authorized.
The Grcenvlle Amuse ment Com
Dany OF Greenville was commissioner
with a proposed capital stock Of $50
900, the petitioners being w. c
Cleveland, A. l.. Mills and 8. A. Ouin
crly. all Of Greenville.
The American Automatic Fair De
tector Company Of Walhalla was char