The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-10-21
FINE MEETING OF THE
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Attendance Good-Address by MIR
Swearingen-Lunch Served by
Science Department

The first meeting for the session of
the County Teachers association was
held Saturday morning in the high
school building when a large number
OF the teachers and trustees were
present, besides the state superintend-
ent of education, Hon. j. E. Swearin-
gen.
The meeting was presided over by
Col. E. H. Aull, county superintend-
ent of education, who called the meet
ing to order at 10.45 and prayer was
offered by DR.. c. A. Freed.
Col. Aull briefly outlined the prob
lens confronting the schools, among
them being the financial situation in
connection with which he spoke of the
compulsory attendance law and dis
trict lines.
An informal discussion of these
topics was entered upon mainly by the
rural graded school teachers and trus-
tees as they are closely concerned
with such matters. The relation of
the rural graded school to the COM
munity was discussed by Mr.. j. H.
Dickert, and. Mr.. J. Walter Richard
son, and Mr.. L. H. Sease and Mr.. N.
L. Wessinger discussed conditions in
four-teacher schools. Miss Mamie
Crooks discussed the relations of the
one-teacher school to the community
in a concise manner, showing that
much thought had been given to the
subject.
Mr.. C. M. Wilson of Whitmire dis
cussed the relation of the high school
to the community in practical man.
ner and Gadvocated. vocational train
ing in the high school. The opposite
view Of this question was taken by
Mr.. E. O. Counts, superintendent of
the high school at Prosperity. DR..
S. ]. Derrick, president of Newberry
college, made a few remarks, as did
Mr.. ). H. Bedenbaugh and Mr.. Price
K. Harmon. Prof. o. B. Cannon in
speaking of vocational training in the
schools said that conservative course
of study in the high school should be
adhered to, as mapped out by the
state board of education, since stu
dents of high school age are not cap
able of choosing the best course for
themselves, but that they should be
given good foundation
The principal speaker of the meet
ing was the Hon. j. E. Swearingen:
who is no stranger to Newberry au-
diences, and he was introduced by
Col. Aull.
Mr.. Swearingen's address was along
practical educational lines and he dis
cussed in detail the problems of the
rural graded schools.
In discussing the one-teacher
schools he said that they are the fun
damental weakness of the educational
system, although necessary and per-
1nanent. The great drawback to
them is the lack of recitation time and
the slowness of promotion, and he
stated that teachers of these schools
should limit their work to seven
grades in order to put their best eff
forts into the work. He said that the
chief evil of the one-teacher schools
is the tendency to over-emphasize the
higher grades to the neglect of the
lower.
He outlined the amount of work
that should be attempted by teachers
of the two-teacher, three-teacher and
four-teacher schools as recommended
by the state board of education and
stated as his belief that every child IN
South Carolina is entitled to a high
school education. He said the line of
general intelligence should be raised
and to do that country schools must
realize their limitations. He spoke IN
a most complimentary manner OF the
handsome new building at the Mol
lohon mill village.
Mr.. Swearingen advocated the
Standardization of teachers salaries
which is being attempted by the state
board of education and said that
teachers could not be blamed for 60
ing outside the state when they re-
ceived higher salaries than within the
state. He explained the appropria-
tions made by the legislature for pay
ment on teachers salaries and advised
schools to-close when funds are lack
ing instead of going into debt.
In his closing remarks Mr.. Swear
ingen urged the development of the