Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-06-03
Sumter County Grand Jury Presentments

Sumter county is taking the lead
among Georgia counties in construc-
tive educational work. Consolidation
has wrought wonders in the rural
schools.
Two years ago we had Is white
schools-nOw we have Is. In some
districts five communities have gone
together and made an accredited high
school, and instead of the one and
two-roOm houses we have now some
of the most attractive and up-to-date
school buildings to be found in the
state.
The county board has purchased 5
auto-trucks in which several hundred
pupils are safely and comfortably
transported every day during the
school term, and the teachers month
ly reports show that these pupils ex-
eel in punctuality and attendance
thereby solving one of the greatest
hindrances heretofore in rural
schools. The enrolment two years
ago with 25 schools was liza. and
the past year with Is schools. the
enrolment was 1890 and the aver
age attendance increased in about the
same ratio There are AZ negro
schools in the county with an en-
rollment of 1882.
With such improved conditions it is
possible to secure more efficient
teachers, and the county superintend-
cnt and local boards of trustees feel
a pardonable pride in the high stand
ard maintained the past year in the
teaching force. Only short time
ago normal trained teacher was the
exception, but now it is the rule.
The club work and other activi-
ties connected with the rural schools
have been very successful. The fine
display at the County Fair last fall
of pigs, chickens, canned fruits and
vegetables showed most excellent
work has been done in the
the school clubs. The health
crusade conducted in most of
the schools in the county last fall
deserves special mention and COM
mcndation, Since it is now
generally accepted fact that a child's
mental condition depends largely up
on his physical condition. so progress
IN school requires a consideration of
health factors which in the past have
not received their due share of atten-
ton.
We wish to commend in the highest
terms the efforts of the board of ed
ucatlon and superintendent to better
school conditions and how admirably
they have succeeded can be verified
by visit to any of the following
consolidated schools: Thalean, Con
cord, Pleasant Grove. Union High
school and Plains. Respectfully sub
mitted.
e. L. WILSON, LOVELACE EVE,
c. w. MINOR.
Roads and Bridges
Your Committee on Roads and
Bridges beg leave to submit the fol
lowing report We find that the roads
and bridges in the county arc in fair
ly good condition. but the roads are
not dragged as often as they
should be. thereby causing them to
become rough and bumpy. We be-
lievc if the roads were dragged regu-
Iarly it would save the county the cx-
pense of rebuilding roads, as often
as is necessary when they are neg
Iected.
The fredericksburg road from
Leslie to Lee county line, distance
of about three miles. is in bad shape.
No permanent work has been done on
this road in several years. This is an
important road for that part of the
county and we would call the atten-
lion Of the county commissioners to
this condition and ask that it be rem
2died.
We are glad to note that the paw
ing of the Dixie Highway is going
steadily on and that when completed
will be one of the finest roads in the
state.
We commend our board Of county
commissioners for their untiring eff
forts in trying to keep the roads and
bridges in as good condition as posi-
bic and feel assured that they will
continue to be alert to the best inter
ests of the county. Respectfully sub