The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1920-05-20
ADULT EDUCATION
IN DILLON COUNTY

The year 1915 saw the first adult
work ever attempted in the schools
of Dillon County. Three were es-
tablished in different sections of the
County and were taught three nights
in the week for six weeks by the reg
ular tachers. The remuneration was
very small for their services. The re-
suits were splendid; so good, indeed,
that since then fifteen other schools
of like nature were held and men
and women of varying ages were
taught to read and write. In the
short time that the schools ran, what
each individual felt was most need
ed, was stressed. Reading. writing,
and "fggering" were most sought af-
ter. One old lady wanted to learn
to read so she could.use the eXplana-
tionson her patterns in sewing. She
and her son went to school together.
After a number of these schools,
commencements were held and they
greater night school work. Medals
were awarded and the joy and pride
they brought to the winners were
wonderful to behold.
In the year 1916, a parade was ar
ranged Field Day with float from
each school. One of these floats
represented a night school and was
drawn by the night school men. Were
they ashamed that they were the
men who bent over their childish
tasks night after night? Not so,
rather were they proud that they
Were the men who had used oppor-
tunity when opportunity presented it,
self and were saying So to the thous-
ands of people who saw them parade
through Dillon's streets. One of
these men was heard to say that he
would not take a thousand dollars
for what he learned and he started
in the Primer.
Last summer when the Lay BY"
Schools were fighting their noble
fight against illiteracy, Dill Coun
ty felt that on account of the tobacco
crop, such schools could not be held
in the rural districts. Some work
was done though during the cam
paign. A teacher was paced in each
of the two mill villages for the month
of August. Ninety two were enroll-1
ed, fifty four being taught to read
and write. Individual work was done
also at this same time throughout
the County. Besides the fundamen-
tails, Domestic Science was taught al
so
So much has been accomplished in
the work, that it wa sdecided to put
on special all time teachers during
the months of January and February.
Seven of these teachers were en-
ployed. In four other communities,
the day teachers held classes three
nights in the week. Quite number
of the men wanted to learn to di-
vide, and to see them struggling ov-
er this with untiring zeal was les
son to every man and woman in this
State who could help with this war
fare for kowledge and was not doing
so.
The work with the all time teach
ers was both day and night. At
night, they met with all who could
come to the school building for two
hours; the beginners three times a
week and the more advanced twice.
In the day, they went 10 the homes
of as many as found it impossible to
get out at night, hoping in this way
to reach all.
The following clippings from the
reports Of the special teachers will
give to the public an insight into the
work They will show the crying
need for workers where men and
women in this home land are yearn-
ing for enough education to read
their Bibles or write to their absent
children. This is their birth right
as American citizens.
"Thcse are very interesting people
to teach and seem quite anxious TO
learn. The men are all farmers and
profess to be dreadfully handicapped
by their inability 10 "figger', as they
express it. The women want to be
taught letter writing and spell
ing. have not been able to get
them out to school at night on ac-
count of the little ones, so l go to
the homes TO teach them. Most of
my pupils are interested in their
school work. One mother who had
learned to read and write since
came told me few days ago that she
was so excited over knowing how to
spell and read that she went to bed
repeating her spellin lesson and
woke next morning still spelling.
These men and women ranging in
age from twenty TO sixty are making
an effort TO accomplish that which
they iui,ed TO get in youth and feel
that il is quite privilege to re num-
bered among the workers who are
helping in the fight against Hitter
acy."
.. The adult schools are run
along the same lines as other schools,
eycert that We necessarily have TO
leave off 4 great many frills that us
ually 90 along with first and second
reader classes. Life is real, life Is