The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-06-13
BETTER SCHOOLS
AT CALHOUN FALLS

Calhoun Falls, June 11-At the
invitation of the School Improve
men Club DR.. VIM. S. Currell and
Prof. Lewis lectured at Calhoun Falls
May 21 in the interest of the schools
in this. town and community.
Prof. Lewis in his opening remarks
sounded a call to the patrons of
these schools urging that we consol-
idate our four small schools into
large central school and reap the
following results
1. Longer terms and better work.
2. Better work by teachers and
pupils.
8. Economy-We will get better
work and longer terms for same mon
ey.
More money!, for by consolidat-
ing we will get special state aid.
5. Larger attendance, because of
increased interest by pupils and
teachers.
6 Better buildings and equipment
7. Better and broader communi-
ty spirit.
8. A better school in every way.
In union there is strength.
DR.. Currelrs address was forceful
throughout and was well received by
a large audience. He emphasized the
fact that the hope of our community
is better schools. He pictured wrong
and right education. "a nation with
the wrong kind of education is men,
ace to the peace and safety of the
world, on the other hand a nation
with the right kind of education is
blessing to the world"
! There are eight teachers employed
in our schools. These schools teach
what is known as the fundamentals
Of our language, reading, writing and
arithmetic, consequently nine-tenths
of our pupils get no further than the
three Rs. Put these eight teachers in
one central graded and high school,
and they can do almost twice as much
work as they are doing today.
Our opponents and critics may say
that teacher can do as good work in
a small school as in a larger one. It
is evident to the practical teacher
that these opponents and critics have
never experienced taking charge Of
eight or more grades in a small poor
ly equipped building such as we have
at Calhoun Falls. Imagine yourself
teaching forty or fifty pupils from
varied environments, and represent
ing various characteristics and ten
dencies. We may infer that their
plans of work would be ideals and
their methods Of presentation would
be likewise, but what pray would be
the results?
The teachers have seen and will
see the errors Of their past work, and
may resolve that we shall do better
work during the coming year. 1t is
easy for teachers sitting at their ease
to fancy that ideal work should be
done during the ensuing term, but
when they are again before their
classes, no longer theorizing, but
dealing with the actualities of class
room life, how quickly would -disap-
pear those ideals They had miscal-
eulated, because they had not taken
the number of pupils, and the poorly
equipped buildings into serious con-
sideration.
Methods and plans may have been
excellent, but the difficulties were
the same as of yore, and because of
this our noblest ideals were again
beyond our reach.
1t is very unfortunate indeed that
these conditions exist at Calhoun
Falls.
Let US get together and establish
a school that will be an honor to our
community. We can do it.
1. Wherever tried consolidation
has proved a complete success.
2. Nothing is more important
than the education of our children.
8. Short terms, with one teacher