The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-12-01
THE PURPOSE OF OBSERV.
ING EDUCATION WEEK
b. Rion Mck:ssic&


By Rion Mck:ssick
What is the purpose O. the observ-
ance of American Education week IN
South Carolina this year?
1t is, firss, to inform the people OF
TIE state as TO their mos. inpc:as asive
educational need, namely, the up
building Of their country schools, and
second, TO create a general powerful
pubic sentiment that vii! secure the
development and bcttern.cn. OF hos;
schools.
By every consideration Of justice
and democracy the country school
child is entitled to IS good education
al opportunities as the city child has,
yet how far the country child falls
short OF getting that square deal IS
matter of common knowledge.
The average annual expenditure
for the city child attending scnoo. is
nearly twice that for tae country
child, according TO :Ioln J. Tigart,
United States Commissioner Of Eda-
eaton.
All those who have C heart the
welfare of the state and nation have
united with politica! economists in
holding tha: the dr;ft c. population
away from the rural G'stril s % the
towns and cities must be checked in
the interest Of national stability an|
prosperity, but Power ". Bethea, one
of our s+"te supervisors OF ICra!
schools, declared in - '~+"~- '''''N'''
According to the figures OF the 1890
census there has been gradual exc
dus from the country to the town
within the past decade. This means
that number of our best families
have left the rural districts and have
settled in the more populous centers.
The reason is clear. Their children
can secure better educational adEa2-
tiges in the rich and cong2ste+ dis
tricts. But such should &c. DC the
ease, for the state should provide the
same educa .ional advantages for the
children Of Horny, Pickens, Chester
field, Jasper and Oconee counties
with their sparsely settled commun;-
ties as It does for the boys and girls
Of the wealthy "enters. inclldinc,
charleston, 'Columb;" n5u--::s.
Greenville and Anderson. The areas
Of the districts and the number of pa
pills to the school may vary, but the
quality Of service should be the
same. The hope Of our nation de-
pends upon the rural schools
What are some of the outstanding
needs of the rural schools Of Soatsh
Carolina, the satisfaction Of which
would more nearly equalizc the cdll-
e2tional advantages Of the country
pupils with chose in the towns and
cities?
First, the country schools must
have longer terms. The average
term for city schools is now III days
as compared with 13l days for ne
country schools. This means tha, the
average country child each year GEES
forty days less schooling thu tie ar-
erage c:ty child. Desoite the fact
thct state financial aid IS available to
schools desiring to extend their
terms. many Of them do 10, seek il.
The average country school te.'al Is
now little more than four months.
Safe Superin sendent Of Education
John Z. Swearingen declares Ca;t the
minimum tom N every white s>aoCi
ROW should be - months and nine
as soon as possible.
Second. abcue 20 ner cens q the
.2aral schools employ o%.y one teach
cr. IN these schools approximately
10000 pupils are taught. Here IS
the weakest Ink in or educational
chain" says the state superintendent
of education. After extended ooser-
v,stion. of numerous country schools