Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-06-17
Transplanting the Folk
School to North Carolina
By BRYAN w. SIPE
In the Red Cross Courier.

BY BRYAN w. SIPE
/ In the Red Cross Courier.
1 The eyes of educators, sociolo-
| gists, and social workers are To-
cused on the activities of the
experimental folk school estab-
lished in North Carolina last No
vember. Beginning with moth
ing but plot of ground and ma
ny willing hands, the work of
building the school in the eastern
part of Cherokee county has gone
steadily forward under the di-
rection of Mrs. John C. Campbell
and her co-worker, Miss Mar
guerite Butler. The dwelling
house on the farm is now receiv-
ing finishing touches and the mu-
scum is under way. The workers
have been living on the farm and
directing the work at first hand
work done largely by voluntary
aid from the people living in the
area surrounding the school.
The site of the school is about
eight miles from the town. of
Murphy, just off a State high
way, which leads to the county
seat of the adjoining county of
Clay. The school is close to the
dividing line between these two
counties and Murphy is the rail
road point. The school property
includes about rs acres, most of
which was donated, principally
by Mrs. John O. Scroggs, in order
to secure the school for the COM
munity. In addition to the land,
many days of labor, supplies of
wood, telephone poles, stone and
other building material have
been pledged to the school as it
may be needed.
The people are all native born
and perhaps of as pure strain
as can be found anywhere in the
United States. They are open
hearted, frank and genuine.
They are interested in their COM
munity and for some time have
been advising with friends in
Murphy and elsewhere as to how
their social and economic con-
ditions might be improved.
When it was learned that a folk
school was to be established
somewhere in the Southern APP
palachians they were enthusiast
tic and, at their request, Miss
Marguerite Butler was sent to
make preliminary Investigations
and report to Mrs. Campbell.
She came, held two public meet
ings, visited the homes, talked
with the people individually.
She was so impressed with their
earnestness and with the general
economic and social conditions of
the section, that she brought
Mrs. Campbell. to look over the
ground.
Sites in several other States
touching the: Appalachians were
being considered, but soon after
Mrs. Campbell's arrival, an
nouncement of the location of the
school in the Brasstown section
of Cherokee and Clay Counties
was made. Both Mrs. Campbell
and Miss Butler have been there
since that time laying the foun-
dation for the school.
The school is to be conducted
so far as feasible on Danish folk
school plan. Mrs. Campbell and
Miss Butler spent two years in
Scandinavia in preparation for
the founding of school in the
Southern Appalachians. In the
establishment of the school Mrs.
Campbell is carrying forward the
work of her late husband, who so
well understood the needs of the
people of the Southern Appalach-
ians, and who had planned to
make a study of the schools of
Denmark, Sweden, and Norway
preparatory to bringing their
best things to this section. The
World War interfered and before
the plan could be started, Mr..
Campbell died. Mrs. Campbell
thereupon took up the work.
This folk school is for adults
between the ages of IL and IS
years. It is the plan to bring
the students together into one
big family of not more than 100
for a course of training covering
one to two years. If the Danish
idea can be carried out, as is
planned, the lessons will consist
largely of singing in groups, lee
lures on economic, social, and
agricultural sciences, and studies
/ of nature in this section. The
duties incident to its operation
will be divided among those at