LA 2.. I\z^ BEN HILL COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. HON. J. H. BULLARD, Superintendent Fitzgerald, Ga. HON. R. R. DORMINEY, Member Board Fitzgerald, Ga. HON. Wm. WILLIAMS, Member Board Fitzgerald, Ga. HON. L. ROBITZSCH, Chairman Board Fitzgerald, Ga. HON. — . — . PITMAN, Demonstration Agent Fitzgerald, Ga. HON. Z. A. DORMINEY, Member Board Fitzgerald, Ga. HON. S. S. YOUNG, Member Board Fitzgerald, Ga. SECOND WARD SCHOOL BUI LDING I I r/(.i:K \i.i» ( 1 1 ^ SCHOOLS .1. I'.. I{irk»'tson. Sii|Mrint«iulfi\t. BEN HILL COUNTY Ben Hill county was organized in 1907, contains 350 square miles of territory, a population of 11,863, and a school population of 1,244 whites and 1,359 negroes, not including Fitzgerald. The taxable property outside of Fitzgerald (subject to the county school tax) is approximately $1,657,060.00. Un- der a five mills school tax this should yield to the rural schools $ 8,385.00 to which is added from State fund 10,385.97 making a total for the rural schools $18,770.97 Fitzgerald, the county seat, is a thriving city of 9,000 population, enjoying a special public system separate from the county and well known as one of the most progressive in the State. Fitzgerald is the only post office in the county, all sections of the county being supplied with R. F. D. routes from this office or from a few offices outside of the county. A fine system of public roads traverse the county in all directions, and the county invests annually approximately $20,000.00 in their maintenance. This amount, it will be noticed, is about .$11,615.00 mere than the county pays for the maintenance of its public schools, although the school levy reaches the constitutional limit of five mills. Both are important public interests, and are mutually helpful in promoting each other, but does this proportion properly express the public's estimate of the importance of their public schools? BEN HILL COUNTY SCHOOLS. We have seen nowhere in the State a broader and better foundation laid upon which to build a strong and efficient system of rural public schools than that begun in Ben Hill county in the matter ul" large school districts and the lo- cations of the schools. This work has not yet been com- pleted, for there are still parts of the county where con- solidations are as yet only in contemplation. When the original plan of consolidation is completed there should be no further serious obstacles in the way of building educa- tional plants capable of great efficiency. Furthermore, as will be seen from these reports, where consolidations are accomplished large areas have been accjuired for school grounds, substantial buildings have been erected with pro- visions for class rooms, community auditoriums, education in the practical arts. etc.. etc. At the fu'st one of these schools completed (Ashton) there was also provided a com- fortable and attractive teachers" cottage on the corner of the school lot of five acres. It is a di.scouraging sign, how- ever, to see this pretty cottage no longer occupied. Here, as also at several others, was provided some ecjuipment once used for teaching cooking, manual training, etc.. giving evidence of former progress at some of the schools in im- portant directions so plainly indicated by the demands of modern education. It is greatly to be regretted that .some of this eciuipment has been disposed of, and that none of it is being utilized in the educational work of the county now when the exegencies of the times call .'^o loudly for practical education in the home-making activities. It is also to be regretted that the opportunities for the now uni- versally popular and important activities in school gar- dening, so well provided for in the large areas at these con- solidated schools, are being neglected at many places and so little u.sed at others. By reference to the reports on the individual sciiools liere. in it will be observed that there are still commendable ef- forts at school gardening at a few of them. This year above all others is the loudest call for this work. It is a (juestion as to whether the lack of enthusia.stic school spirit on the part of most of the schools and com- munities is a cause or a result of this attitude of the schools towards progressive practical activities. Anyway, if a strong and aggressive school spirit is to be created or re- created the initiative must arise in the schools by rendering such kinds of service as the times demand. A broad foundations laid only furnishes the opportunity for a strong superstructure, which it is to be hoped the progressive citizenship of Ben Hill county will insist upon seeing completed in accordance with the educational de- mands of the coming generation. A constant and aggres- sive leadership and supervision, well trained teachers of good scholarship, a rigid enforcement of the compulsory attendance laws, and enthusiastic interest on the part of patrons and citizens will bring about the desired results. We beheve the county will be satisfied with nothing less. There are fourteen white rural schools in the county served by twenty-four teachers. Of these five are one-teach- er schools; three are two-teacher schools; three are three- teacher schools; one four-teacher school. Consolidations are under contemplation for several of these one-teacher schools. Ten wagons transport 160 pupils at a total cost of $1,365.00. This is less than it would cost to operate ten other little schools for these children otherwise out of reach of schools, to say nothing of the better service to them. However, this very low average cost of transportation ($1.16 per month) is possible only through co-operation of appre- ciative patrons who realize the better service to their chil- dren. RECOMMENDATIONS. I would respectfully recommend: 1. Completing the program of consolidation as contemp- lated. 2. Increasing the professional strength of the teaching force of the county by selecting only well trained teachers. This implies better salaries. 3. The full utilization of the large >thool grounds for school gardens and the study and intensive cultivation of these by the teachers and pupils. The exigencies of the times will give impetus to this work and assure its success. Also the introduction of Home Economics and home-making activities into all of the larger schools. For directing this work a Home Economics Demonstration Agent could proba- bly be secured from the E.xtension Department of the State College of Agriculture under a co-operative arrangement. 4. The promotion of an inspirational spirit of loyalty to the schools throughout the county by all of the above sug- gested methods, and by promoting wholesome rivalries and contests betwen the individual schools, school meets of vari- ous kinds, and educational mass-meetings among the people of the county. Respectfully submitted, M. L. DUGGAN. Rural School Agent for Georgia. April, 1918. 1. ASHTON SCHOOL. 2. TEACHERS' HOiME. ASHTON SCHOOL. \SHr(»\ S( H(MH. Tt-aihtTs: .Miss Melcena Boney, Miss Blondine VVilbanks, Fitzgerald, c;a. 1. mat ion: I\>ur miles southwest to Union; five miles northeast to Eureka; six miles west to Fitzjrerald. «, rounds: Area, live acres; title in county board: grounds neglected; ample jjlavKrounds; no school jrardens; two toilets, in bad condition. HuildinKs: Value, school buiidinu^ .^vl.ditu.OH. teachers' home $2,500.00; three class rooms, piano, domestic science room, auditorium, etc.; cloak rooms; well lighted: in ^rood repair and well kept; floors oiled. Equipment: Double patent desks and teachers' desks: first-class blackboards; one United States history map only: charts; no jrlobe; framed pictures: a reference dictionary; library of 200 vols.; formerly had a small equipment for Domestic Science, but it has been disposed cf Organization: Two teachers (usually three): seven months school year; ei^ht ^'rades: enrollment 180: programs posted; no orjjanized clubs: four wajrm;ill >(h(M)ls.) Ti'acJuTs: ('. T. Smith; Miss Elvvnne Alberson; Miss Elizabeth But- ler; P. (). Rebecca. Ga., Route 2. I.tuafioii : Four miles east to Oak Ridjre; five miles northeast to I.akeview. (■rounds: Area, seven and half acres; cleaned off, but unimproved; ample playgrounds; small flower ^rardens; two toilets in pood condition. Huildin^: N'alue, $:{,(i(iO.On; three class rooms; cloak rooms; insufli- ciently liirhted; painted inside and outside; in prood repair and well kept. Kguipnuiit: Double patent desks; first-class blackboards; four maps; no charts; no >rlobe; framed pictures; a small library; no reference dictionary; piano: flatus, etc.; buildinp insuffi- ciently heated with small stoves. Oruania/lion: Three teachers; seven months school year; eijrht grades; enrollment 120; programs posted; literary society; Thrift Stamp club; one wapon transporting 1.5 pupils. Maintinance: .•? 1,1, ")."). 0(1 for teachers; $140. (Mi for transportation; $lU.O(t for incidentals. 12 "A ■^*t,Tr..'^ t I H .' '<_ LAKEVIEW SCHOOL. (A consolidation of two small schools.) Teachers: Miss Lucile Thomaston; Miss Myrtle Stone; P. O. Abba, Ga., Route 1. Location: Five miles southwest to Emory; five miles northeast to Vaughan-Taylor. Grounds: Area, five acres: titles in county board; new location not yet improved; ample playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets in average condition. Building: Value, $1,000.00; two class rooms; cloak rooms; well lighted; floors oiled; painted outside; ceiled, but unpainted inside; in good repair and well kept. Equipment: Double patent desks; fairly good blackboards; 1 United States history map; charts; no globe; no pictures; no library; no reference dictionary; covered water-cooler; common dip- pers. Organization: Two teachers; seven months school year; seven grades; enrollment 43; programs posted; no organized clubs. Maintenance: $662.50 for teachers; $49.00 for incidentals. 13 \ \i (.iiN-r A^ loK s( nooi.. (A consolidation of t«o small schools.) Teachers: W. A. Stone; Miss Donna Stone; F'itz^rerald, (la., Route 1. I. (nation : Kivi- miles west to Lakeview; seven miles south to Lynn- \V(Kh1. (•rounds: Area, five acres; titles in county board: new location as yet unimproved; ample playjrrounds; no school pardens; two toilets, new. Huildinj;: Value, $1,000.00; two class rooms; no cloak rooms; well lijrhted; painted inside and outside; in pood repair and well kept. Equipment: Double patent desks and teachers' desks: first-class blacki)oards; no maps; no charts; no plobe: no framed pic- tures; a small library: a reference dictionary: orjran. ( >r^aIli/ation: Two teachers; seven months school year; nine prades; enrollment 65; programs posted; no organized clubs; one waffon transporting 1^ pupils. Maintenance: $80r).(l() for teachers; $140.00 for transportation; .•<"j;{7.00 for building, incidental, etc. 14 COTTON MILLS SCHOOL. (A consolidation of two small schools.) Teachers: C. A. Cozart; Mrs. T. J. Henderson; Miss Arrie White; P. O. Fitzgerald, Ga. Location: At Cotton Mills, just outside Fitzgerald. Grounds: Area, one acre; titles in board of education; unimproved; ample playgrounds; small school garden; two toilets in fair condition. Building: Value, $3,500.00; concrete; four class rooms; wide halls used for cloak rooms; well lighted: floors oiled; plastered inside; painted outside; in good repair and well kept. Equipment: Double patent desks and teachers' desks; first-class blackboards; no maps; charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; a small library. Organization: Three teachers; school year seven months; seven grades; enrollment 100; programs posted; no organized clubs. Maintenance: $1,102.00 for teachers; $69.36 for incidentals. 15 KO \N()l\i; S( MOOI.. Tt-achers: Miss Jessie Lee Rodjres; Miss Louise Gibbs; P. O. Fitz- gerald, Ga. L»Kati(>n: One mile to Fitzgerald. (i rounds: Area, two and half ac-res; title in county board: yards well cleaned up: ample playy-rounds: no school u-ardens; two toilets in pood condition. Building;: \alue, $1,GOO.O(); two class rooms; no cloak rooms; in- sufficiently lighted; floors oiled: painted inside and outside*. in pfood repair and well kept. Equipment: Single patent desks and teachers' desks; poor black- boards; 1 United States history map; a chart: a small ijlobe: no pictures; no reference dictionary: library of (U) vols.: ortran; flaps, etc. Orpani/ation: Two teachers; seven months school year; eipht prades; enrollment 50: proprams posted; no orpanized clubs. .Maintenance: STdU.dO for teachers; $04.15 for incidentals. 16 UNION SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Ethel Mayo, Fitzgerald, Ga. Location: Three miles northwest to Fitzgerald; four miles northeast to Ashton; no other school near. (Soon to be removed to a new location.) Grounds: Area, two acres; titles (conditional) in the county board; unimproved; ample playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets in fair condition. (New location to have five acres.) Building: Value, $800.00; two class rooms; no cloak rooms; well lighted; painted inside and outside; well kept, but in bad repair. ' (New building to contain four class rooms, etc., an approved plan, and fully equipped, to cost $4,000.00.) Equipment: Double patent desks; good blackboards; one United States history map; charts; no globe; no pictures; no refer- ence dictionary; very small library; organ; pencil shapeners, etc. Organization: One teacher (usually two); seven months school year; seven grades; enrollment 65; program posted; a Literary so- ciety; a tooth-brush drill twice daily. Maintenance: $575.00 for teachers; $75.25 for incidentals. 17 cuisi' s( H(K»i.. Teachers: E. C. Hofran; Mrs. Mattie Williams: P. O., Forest Glen, Ga.. Route — . I,(Kati()n : Four miles east to Dorminey; seven miles south to Ashton. < I rounds: Area, one acre: titles in county board; partly improved; ample playprrounds : a school garden; two toilets in averajje condition. Larpe United States flap on pole, donated by ladies of G. A. R. Huildin);: \alue. $1,600.00; two class rooms; cloak rooms; well lijrhted; floors oiled; painted inside and outside: in jrood repair and well kept. Equipmt-nt: Double patent desks; first-class blackboards; 1 United Slates history map; chart; no plobe; no pictures: a refer- ence dictionary; a library of (io vols, in case. Organization: Two teachers: seven months school year: ei>rht ^'•rades; enrollment 47; programs posted; literary society; one wagon transporting 10 pupils. Maintfuance: ?<).■{(). (10 for teachers; $110.()() for transportation; .^To.no for incidentals. 18 EUREKA SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Annie Mae McGlamry, Fitzgerald, Ga. Location: Three miles east to Evergreen; five miles northwest to Dormineys. Grounds: Area, one acre; titles in county board; entirely unimproved; ample playgrounds; no school garden; one toilet only, con- dition bad. Building: Value, $200.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; well lighted; unceiled; unpainted; in bad repair. Equipment: Double patent and home-made desks; good blackboards; no maps; no globe; a chart; no pictures; no reference dic- tionary; no library. Organization: One teacher; seven months school year; seven grades; enrollment 22; no program posted; no organized clubs. Maintenance: $280.00 for teachers; $49.21 for incidentals. 19 evkk(;uep:n sc nooi.. Tt-acher: .Miss Nettie Harrell, P. ()., Wray. (Ja., Route 2. Lucation: Three miles west to Eureka: six miles northwest to Dor- miney. (■rounds: Area, (?): titles (?); unimproved; ample playgrounds; no school prardens; two toilets, averajre condition. Huildinj;: \'alue, $500.00; one class rot)m: no cloak rooms: fairly well lighted: ceiled, but unpainted: well kept, but in bad repair. K((iii|)nunt : Duulile patent desks; ^ood blackboards; no maps; a ihart; no plobe; no pictures: no reference dictionary; no library. Oruani/ation: One teacher; seven months school year; seven jrrades: enrollment 5.T. no protrram posted; a community school club meets weekly. .Maintenance: $:}:J2.50 for teachers; $41). 21 for incidentals. 20 DORMINEYS SCHOOL. Teacher: W. E. Flanagan; P. 0. Forest Glenn, Ga., Route 1. Location: Four miles west to Crisp; five miles southeast to Eureka. Grounds: Area, two acres; titles in county board; entirely unim- proved and neglected; very small playgrounds; no school gardens; only one toilet, average condition. Buildings: Value, $600.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly well lighted; ceiled, but unpainted; in good repair, but not well kept. En: Four miles west to Emory; four miles north to Lakeview. (irounds: Area, one acre: titles in county board; jrrounds unim proved: ample play^rrounds: no school trardens; only one toilet, in bad condition. Building : N'alue, $(i50.00: one class room; no cloak rooms: well lijrhted; floors oiled: painted inside and outside: in >rood condition and well kept. Kciiiipmcnt : Double patent desks (in bad repair): jrood blackboards; line United States history map; a chart: no jrlobe: no pic- tures: a reference dictionary; a library of <>0 volumes: orpan. Orjranization: One teacher: seven months school year: seven grades; enrollment ♦>'.»; no projrram posted: no orjranized clubs. Mainlrnance: $;iS5.0U for teachers: $41>.21 for incidentals. 22 ENGLEWOOD SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Bertha Ballinger, Fitzgerald, Ga. Location: Four miles east to Roanoak; five and half miles northeast to Fitzgerald. Grounds: Area, two acres; titles doubtful; unimproved; ample play- grounds; no school gardens; two toilets, one in fair con- dition, one bad. Building: Value, $700.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; fairly well lighted: floors oiled; painted inside and outside; in good repair and well kept. Equipment: Double patent desks; first class blackboards; one United States history map; a chart; no globe; no pictures; no ref- erence dictionary; no library; a sand-table. Organization: One teacher; seven months school year; seven grades; enrollment 41; program posted; no organized club work. Maintenance: $350.00 for teachers; $74.21 for incidentals. 23 (ii i:i:m. AM) m:(.i{(» srnooi.. N. K. MrLt-an. I'riiui|)al. The Queensland Netrro School in Ben Hill county is supported by the county board of education, the Slater Kund, and a Nejrro Baptist Association, mainly for the purpose of traininjr teachers for the ne^To schools. It is located eijrht miles from Fitzjrerald in a farming; section, on a ten acre lot, and occupies a two-story buildinjr with five larpe class rooms. There is also a Dormitory and Teachers' Home. The equipment is meajrer. but with si>me provision for teaching cookinp, sewinjr, farming, etc. The faculty consists of the principal and four assistants, and the enrollment averajres a little above two hundred pupils. 24 TYPE OF NEGRO SCHOOLS. Besides Queenland there are thirteen other negro schools in the county, all one-teacher schools. The majority of these teachers hold third grade licenses, and none are above second grade. Their salaries run from $90.00 to $125.00. The school buildings are rude and practically without equipment. 25 I i:rTF:R f rom stme sipekintendent M. I.. I5in T'l'MN To the C(Hinly Superintendent and Teachers: Educational results and j^ood teaching generally are nut often secured in a shiftless-looking building in which neith- er patrons, pupils, nor teachers take any pride. Indefinite- ness has been removed at this point through the standard school. In the larger towns and cities pressure of public sentiment and the comment of visitors will sooner or later force good educational conditions and they are imi)n)V- ing constantly. Kural communities need to l)e shown and inspired by educational leaders and we have sent diplomas to more than two hundred county schools where the super- intendents have certified to the fact that they have mea.s- ured up to the standard in every particular. There are a number of localities in the State where the feeling is that no community in the county is able to bring its school up to these very reasonable requirements. I cannot help but think that this is a mistaken view and that some standard schools could be secured in every county in (ieorgia and that these would serve to inspire the others to progress. Superintendents have written that the use of this etliciency test has developed more progress in the past 12 months than for years previous in the way of improvement. The plan is of no value, however, where it is not used or ai)i)lied and I earnestly hope we will have the effort at least of every superintendent in tlie State to have his county repre- sented on this roll of honor. The list will be published in the next Annua! lieport. The standard is not unreasonal)ly high and no more than the (Jeorgia part'iit has the right to expect. Copies should be posted in every county school room in the State and can be secured for this purpose at any time on application to the State Department of Edu- cation. To be entitled to a diploma a school should measure up to the standard in the following particulars: 26 I. The Teacher. ir Good Teaching. 2. Good Order and Management. 3. First Grade Certificate. 4. Full, Neat, and Accurate School Register. 5. Daily Program Posted in Room. 6. Teacher's Manual on Desk. II. Grounds. 1. Good Condition. 2. Playgrounds. 3. School Garden. 4. Two Separate Sanitary Closets. III. Building. 1. Painted Outside. 2. Plastered, or Ceiled and Painted. 3. No Leaks. 4. Windows without Broken Panes. 5. Cloak Rooms. 6. Good Doors with Locks and Keys. 7. Clean and Well-kept. IV. Equipment. 1. Patent Modern Desks. 2. At least 20 Lineal feet of Blackboard per Room. 3. Building Comfortably Heated and Ventilated. 4. Framed Pictures on the Wall. 5. Dictionary, Maps and Library. 6. Sanitary Water Supply. V. Associated Activities. 1. Manual Arts, Corn, Canning, Pig, Poultry, or Cook- ing Club. VI. Salary of Teacher. At least $40 per month. VII. Term. At least seven months. 27 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 019 877 502 2