The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1921-11-17
PRAISES PlCKENS
COUNTY SCHOOLS

NVOlNl1 ONklVVLO
Mr.. D. L. Lewis, state supervisor
Of rural schools who recently spent
week with different schools in Pick
ems county, has submitted to the state
superintendent Of education the fol-
lowing interesting report Of his visit
here:
Nov. z, 1921.
Hon. j. E. SweaTjngen,
Columbia, S. c..
Dear Sir:-
Below is given summary of school
conditions in Pickens County, as seen
by me during week ended Nov. 81
On Tuesday j visited the Easley
Grammar and High school. This
school, under the supervision of j.
V. McElveen, is progressing finely.
On Wednesday, Norris school, five
teachers; Cateechee, four teachers
and Six Mile Academy, ten teachers,
were visited.
On Thursday, Dacusville, three
teachers, and Maynard, splendid
four-teacher building in process of
erection, were visited. Thursday af-
ternoon was spent at the Pickens
County Fair at Easley.
On Friday Oolenoy, a four-teacher
school, and Hagood Nos. and 2, two
teacher buildings in process Of con-
struction, were visited
Saturday we attended the first
meeting of the Pickens County Teach
ers' Association.
The country schools Of Pickens
county are among the best this far
visited by me. 1t shows that Pick
ems county in the past has had eff
clent and capable educational leader
ship. This efficient leadership is 90
ing to be continued under the present
county Superintendent.
The number of one-teacher schools
in the county is reported as twelve.
There are sections of Pickens coun
ty where, on account of physical con-
ditions, the teacher school is a
necessity. 1t is we'll, however, for
school folk to realize that the one
teacher school cannot educate the
children; it may perhaps save COM
munity from illiteracy, but this is
about ALL One unfortunate thing
;S&out the one-teacher school is, that
it makes people think they have
something in the way Of school
when they have nothing.
Too often, the one-tcacher school
is only monument to the prejudice
OF communities-pre ejudice in favor
of ones own community, and against
neighboring community. Country
people everywhere must be made to
see by cur educational leaders that
the One-teacher school cannot, from
it's very nature, suffice for the ed
ucation Of the country children. When
country people are informed as to
what is best for their children, they
are always glad to take steps to inn
prove existing conditions State
Supt. Swearingen says, "if you in
form the people. then you can trust
the people" The great task Of our
educational leaders is to inform the
people as to what their children need
in the way of schools. The people
will respond.
The first great work. therefore, is
to reduce the number Of teacher
schools as far as practicable. This
will ncccsSitate consolidation. Where
consolidation is attempted, it is bet
ter not to stop with the two-tcachcr
school, which, while much better than
the one teacher school is still not
what our country children must have
IN order to receive the foundations Of
an education.
Two teachers can teach successful
~ only eight grades.
Consolidation should take in. if
possible, enough territory to support
a four-t2achcr school. -Four teachers
can teach ten grades, and some
eleventh grade subjects With colleges
now requiring Is units for admission
it is absolutely necessary for co,n-
try children, if they wish to enter
college, either to attend good fou,
OF more teacher school running
eight months, or q high school.
1T is well for two-teachcr schools