The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-10-20

and school is not common because
both choose it, but because it is one
child that goes in and out among
them" f.. ~. i
The mothers and teachers present
at the meeting were generous with
their applause for Miss Allen when
she finished her address to them, and
insisted that she respond with an en-
core and tell them what other Parent
Teachers associations are doing in
other, places. Miss Allen said in reply
that she recalled some social features
used by a similar association in Col
umbus, Miss, which features the To-
cal association may probably adopt
in the near future to bring together
as whole mathers, fathers, daugh-
ters and sons, working for the, COM
mon good Of the community and the
advancement Of the public schools.
Supt. Fulp then asked Miss Allen if
she would mind telling the mothers
just what deficiencies of a>material
nature she noted first upon visiting
.the(graded school. Miss Allen proceed
ed to tell many efficient things she
noted but as Miss Winton Parks, also
of Winthrop College, and former
teacher in the city schools here, has
frequently stated to the teachers in
the graded school building, the pri-
mary toms need considerable more
blackboard space. Miss Allen said
that her experience with beginners in
school had taught her that children
in the first three grades particularly
need endless practice in blackboard
work and writing. Only with a piece
Of crayon. which the tiny tots: can
hold securely, can they be properly
taught to write, make figures and
draw. Pencils and pens will not do.
The next glaring deficiency in this
building is lack Of sufficient light in
two Of the class rooms, one occupied
by Miss Montgomery's first grade
section and the other directly, over
head occupied by Miss Dixon's fifth
grade section. In explanation 1t may
be here stated that the room occupied
by the first grade section was impro-
vised last session to meet an emergen-
cy produced by increased enrolment
in the first grade and no one admits
this room to be anyway ideal.
1t was the sense of the association
that the board of. trustees should be
requested to supply additional black
boards for the primary rooms and
that artificial light be provided for
Miss Montgomery's class room by US
ing a system of indirect lighting that
would produce no glare to injure the
pupils eyes. .. ........
Miss Allen commended the schools
particularly for the splendid spirit
of discipline which she found both in
the graded and high school and stated
these schools were far above the ay-
erage in this matter. She appreciat-
ed the fact that the effort of the
school authorities here is to encour-
age the pupil to do right because it
is right rather than to hang over
them flogging stick or system of
demerits. Miss Allen also congratulate
ed the parent-teacher association for
providing adequate playground
equipment for recreation, which
equipment goes a long way toward
solving the recess problem. Miss AL
len stated that while some of the
teachers had more pupils than they
should have that she was certain each
teacher she observed at work was do
ing the best she could to overcome
the surplus enrolment and that she
believed all our teachers were faith
full, conscientious workers.
Before the meeting adjourned
those present were given an opportu-
nifty to meet the visiting speaker and
a sort of informal reception resulted.
After Miss Allen left to take her
train motion prevailed unanimously
that the parent-teacher association
provide shades for the school build
ings and plans for securing the addi-