The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-05-20

ways stand still. 1t cannot always
be satisfied with present conditions,
: especially when the people are
brought to realize that they are wor-
, thy Of better things. Under the able
leadership of the school authorities
of Dillon county the people in gener-
al have needed the call to place the
very best possible educational advan-
tages within reach of thei' children.
AS a result. they have been erected i'll
nearly every school district in the
county modern school buildings. Oak
Grove has not yet joined that pro-
gressive band of school folk. l am
happy 10 report, however, that it has
not been of her own choosing that
she has not done so, because several
years ago bonds were voted for that
purpose. But conditions due to the
war were such that the enterprise
had to be abandoned for the time
being.
The work of the school was ser
iously crippled last year owning to
the epidemic of influenza then rag
ing throughout the country and had
to shut down permanently in the
early part of 1919.
At the beginning Of the present
session last October, reorganization
was effected and for several months
the school seemed to be making rea-
sonable progress when again we SUI
fered another serious interruption in
the early part of last February in
the loss by five of our buildings.
However, temporary quarters were
secured and the work will be con-
tinued to the end of the session.
The trustees of Oak Grove school
district are forward looking men
and they are now planning to erect
in the near future an up-to-date two
story four room brick building with
a large auditorium upstairs. Such a
building will not only meet present
needs but will be adequate for years
to come. and will greatly enhance
the educational spirit of this COM
imunity.
i Another step forward will be TAX
en-. at the beginning of the next
school term, as it is now proposed to
open the first week in October and
run for a term of eight months with
one teacher in charge for the first
month.
The matter of salaries has also not
escaped the attention of the trustees.
During the coming session they
will pay the very best salaries the
district can afford.
1t would not be wise to close this
article without saying something in
regard to the stand the negroes of
this district have taken in school
work. They are undoubtedly taking
a livelier interest in the education of
their children than ever before and
under the leadership of the white
trustees and other influential citizens
of the community they are preparing
to build school house costing sever
al thousand dollars. This year their
school has run for longer term
than usual and has done good work.
This element of our population is
here to stay and we should not with
hold from them any aid that will bet
ter their condition.
In conclusion the writer wishes in
behalf Of the trustees, patrons and
friends of the Oak Grove school to
thank Superintendent Rogers and
his assistants for the kindly interests
they have always taken in our COM
munity and the faithful and efficient
service shown the school and their
continued hope that the school might
reach a high standard of work. 1t
is the desire Of all in this community
who work for better things that
these untiring officials shall not be
disappointed in their hope.
]. S. FAIR,
Principal, Oak Grove School.