LP 262 .S7 fl2 1917 Copy 1 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiij Educational Survey of Spalding County Georgia 1 .. / r • By M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent No. 18 Under Direction of the State DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION M. L. BRITTAIN State Superintendent of Schools 1917 riiiiiiiitMiiiiiiiiiniiininniiHniniiMniiuniiiiiMiMiniMiiiiiiiiiiHiiiniiiiiniiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuMiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiniiiniiiniiiiiiiniiiMiiiiMiniiHiiiiiir Educational Survey of Spalding County Georgia By M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent No. 18 Under Direction of the State DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION M. L. BRITTAIN State Superintendent of Schools 1917 p. of D* FEB 20 13^3 A PROBLEM TO BE CONSIDERED ^ The value of all taxable property in Spalding county, as returned to the county Tax Receiver, is approximately $6,000,000.00, about half of which is located inside of the city of Griffin. However, the half within the city limits is returned for city taxation at about $4,000,000.00, taxed for school purposes at four mills, and bonded for building- ade- quate school houses ; while the half in the rural districts is returned for taxation at about $3,000,000.00, taxed for school support at two mills, and leaving the building of school houses to the interest or indifference of individuals or communities. In Georgia, country people will rarely vote for bonds for anything except the building of court houses and jails, while every city has pledged its property for adequate school houses for the children. Are not "children more important than property" everywhere? COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. HON. W. H. BOLTON, JR. Griffin, Ga. County Superintendent of Schools. HON. J. P. NICHOLS, SR., Chairman Board of Education, Griffin, Ga. President Griffin Banking Co., President Griffin Mfg. Co., Treasurer Rushton Cotton Mills, Director Savings Bank, Di- rector Kinkaid Mfg. Co., Chairman Griffin Hospital, Treas- urer Hawkes Library, etc. HON. J. D. TOUCHSTONE Zetella, Ga. Planter. HON. J. B. BELL Route B, Griffin, Ga. Planter. HON. T. M. MANLEY Route D, Griffin, Ga. Planter. HON. G. B. WESLEY Route C, Griffin, Ga. Planter. SPALDING COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The general conception of the average country school in the South has been defined as "a little piece of ground, upon which is a little house, in which is a little equipment, at which a little teacher, on a little salary, for a little while, attempting to teach little children little things." The rural public schools of Spalding county measure up somewhat better than such a definition would indicate, but do not fulfill the modern conception of "Big Business". The fundamental rural school problem is that the people should have a bigger conception and deeper conviction of the purpose and meaning and tremendous significance of our rural public schools, for not until then will our schools approximate what they should be. There is no greater pub- lic interest or any that demands more liberal support and business-like administration. As in any other "big busi- ness" liberality and business sagacity in administration is the first and indispensable essential. Fortunately in Spalding county the "Directors" of the rural public schools— the county Board of Education — are men fully capable of successfully managing "big business", as shown by their success in managing private and corporate enterprises. Similar wise and liberal business methods ap- plied in administration of the county's rural public school system will assure similar success in the education of the county's children, and the profits to the public will be even greater. The services rendered would be classed as un- selfish patriotism in a righteous cause. THE SYSTEM. By a special Act of the Legislature, approved August 28, 1911, "All of the school districts in Spalding county outside of the city of Grifhn" were "consohdated into one 9 iiiX school district", and placed under the complete 'manage- ment of the county superintendent and county Board of Education". This special Act also provided that "within ninety days after its passage", and "after being ratified by a two-thirds vote of the people of the county," (which was duly ratified), the county Board should have the right to levy for school purposes a maximum of five mills against all the property of the county outside of the city of Griffin. Under this authority the county Board has levied annually two mills, which in 1916 yielded $6,000.00. This amount added to the state fund of $11,788.65 gave for the county schools last year a total of $17,788.65. Divided by the num- ber of children of school age according to the last school census this was $5.00 per capita for their education, which was a pitifully small sum and altogether inadequate. Under this meager maintenance the children of the rural districts do not have an equal educational opportunity with those who live in the cities. The reason is that city property is both returned for taxation at a higher valuation and taxed at a higher rate to educate city children than country prop- erty for the education of country children. Furthermore, in practically every town and city in the land the institution of the public schools is thought to be of suflficient importance and permanence to justify the is- suing of long term bonds for the construction of adequate plants to meet the growing demands of such "big business", while our rural districts (with few exceptions) still depend upon voluntary subscriptions, box suppers, and other uncer- tain and unbusiness-like methods for building purposes. No wonder that most rural schools command so little respect in the estimation of the public. Property is not proportionately more important than children in the country than in the cities, and could well stand as heavy a tax rate for their education. 11 Looking far into the future the City is still providing for the education of her children. Two buildings just erected from a bond issue voted by the people. New Griffin Higli School Cost $58,000.00. Ttie Mew Morth Side (Jrammar School Cost $12,500.00. 12 A COMPARISON. City County Enrollment (1916) 1770 1150 Averag-e attendance (1916) 1590 1020 Number days school year 180 130 Total Value of school buildings $140,000.00 $ 9,000.00 Value of buildings per pupil $ 79.00 $ 7.82 Total number of patent desks 1400 450 Cost of supervision $ 2,400.00 $ 900.00 Cost of supervision per pupil $ 1.35 $ .77 Total paid to teachers $ 20,116.00 $ 12,769.00 Tax on property for school purposes (1916) 4 mills 2 mills (NOTE: Three mills has been levied by the county for 1917.) DON'T THEY DESERVE IT? Given to the country children per capita as much super- vision, as good teaching, as long terms, as efficient equip- ment, as adequate school plants, or as nearly so as pos- sible limited by the same proportionate tax rate, as the city children enjoy and the rural schools will accomplish as much for them and for the community as the city schools have done for the city. And this would be only reasonable and business-hke. And it would prove very profitable both to the children and to the property involved, even as it does in the city. In Spalding county, however, as in other Geor- gia counties, the cause of education in the country dis- tricts suffers in comparison with the cities both in the val- uation of the property for taxation and in the rate levied, in the manner of raising funds for building school houses, in the length of the school year, in the professional strength of the teachers, and particularly in the amount of super- vision. See the comparisons. AN EXCEPTION. Attention is called to the East Griffin School. Here we find an up-to-date building, by far the best in the county, a more liberal equipment, a longer school year, a better 13 ^ S O bt) i> X [\ -a c en O k c "o 'i « o ;h .c ff IV j= J_, ^' H s h' £: o organized school. Upon inquiry it is found that the Mill owners, after paying the county school tax on their prop- erty, further supplement this from the Mill funds suffi- ciently to provide a good school for the children of the Mill operatives because it pays. They are successful business men. and they consider this good business policy. Spalding county is as well able as the East Griffin Mill or the city of Griffin, and similar liberal policies would pay the county. THE PROSPECTS. In this county, as elsewhere over the state, there are hopeful signs of an awakening public sentiment for more adequate rural public schools. Fortunately, Spalding county already has the necessary legal machinery, and the power and responsibility of administration is in the hands of capa- ble business men. It only remains for a strong and insistent public sentiment throughout the county to inspire and sustain a progressive superintendent and Board of Educa- tion in a liberal and far-reaching policy to make for the county as adequate a system of public schools as has already been accomplished for the city. And with the earnest hope that this Bulletin will con- tribute something to this end it is respectfully submitted to the patrons and citizens of Spalding county. M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent for Georgia. 15 EAST GRIFFIN (MILL) SCHOOL. Teachers: T. J. Purdy, Principal, Miss Rosa Futrelle, Miss Mattie Weldom, Miss Gertrude Hemphill, Assistants. Location: Half mile west of city limits. Grounds Area, several acres; title in East Griffin Mills; level, gently sloping; improved; ample playgrounds; school gardens; two sanitary toilets. Building: Value $5,000.00; four standard class rooms; auditorium; cloak rooms; wide halls; perfectly lighted; well ventilated; painted; well kept. Equipment. Single patent desks in suitable sizes; first class black- boards; maps, globes, charts; well selected library, reference dictionary; framed pictures, etc. Organization: Four teachers; seven grades; 130 pupils; nine months school year. 16 VAUGHN SCHOOL. Teachers: W. H. Carreker, Principal, Miss Rebecca Griffin, Miss Nina Minter, Assistants. Location: Four miles north of Rising- Sun; 4 miles south to Zetella. Grounds: Adjacent to a Baptist church, in whom is probably invest- ed the titles; unimproved; small playgrounds; no school gar- dens; two toilets in good condition. Building: Value $800.00; three class rooms; no cloak rooms; im- properly and insufficiently lighted; in bad repair; not well kept; unpainted inside; painted outside. Equipment: Double patent desks; poor blackboards; no maps; no charts; no globe; no reference dictionary; no pictures; no library. Organization: Three teachers; eight grades; 102 pupils; seven months school year; no clubs. 17 McINTOSH SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Rosebud Garr, Griffin, Ga. Location: Four miles southeast to Griffin. Grounds: Area, one and half acres; titles, (?); unimproved; small playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets in good condition. Building: Value $450.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; improp- erly lighted; in medium condition; well kept; unpainted. Equipment: Double patent desks; poor blackboards; no maps; no charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no library. Organization: One teacher; seven grades; 38 pupils; seven months school year; no clubs. RISING SUN SCHOOL. Teachers: T. E. Elder, Principal; Mrs. T. E. Elder, Assistant. Location: Four miles south to Vaughn School; four and half miles east to Sunnyside. Grounds: Area, one acre; titles in Board of Education; (adjacent to church; slightly improved; small playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets in fair condition. Building: Value $800.00; two rooms; no cloak rooms; improperly lighted; in good condition; well kept; painted inside and outside. Equipment: Single and double patent desks; poor blackboards; one history map; no charts; no globes; no reference dictionary; no pictures; no library. Organization: Two teachers; eight grades; 76 pupils; seven months school year; Boys' corn club; calf club. 19 SUNNY SIDE SCHOOL. Teachers: F. E. Morton, Principal; Mrs. F. E. Morton, Miss Ida Ruff, Assistants. Location: On Central of Georgia Railway. Grounds: Half acre village lot; titles in private individual; unim- proved; very small playgrounds; no school gardens; tviro toilets in fair condition. Building: Value $1,200.00; three class rooms; cloak rooms; insuffi- ciently lighted; in very bad repair; painted; well kept. Equipment: Single and double patent desks; good blackboards; very few maps; no charts; no globes; no pictures; a reference dictionary; library of 200 volumes. Organization: Three teachers; eleven grades; 125 pupils; eight months school year; no clubs. 20 TEAMON SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Ruble Futral, Griffin, Ga. Location: Four miles northwest to Sunny Side school; four and a half miles southeast to Griffin. Grounds: Area, one acre; titles (?); fine grove unimproved; yards well kept; small playgrounds; no school gardens; one toilet in good condition. Building: Value $700.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; well lighted; floors well oiled; ceiled, but unpainted inside; paint- ed outside. Equipment: Single and double patent desks and teacher's desk; fairly good blackboards; no maps; no charts; no globe; no reference dictionary; no pictures; no library. Organization: One teacher; seven grades; 24 pupils; seven months school year; boy's corn club and calf club. 21 VINEYARD SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Susie Southerland, Vineyard, Ga. Location: On Central of Georgia Railway. Grounds: One acre; titles in local trustees; ample playgrounds; small school garden; one toilet, in bad condition. Building: Value $500.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; improperly lighted; in good condition and well kept; ceiled, but un- painted inside; painted outside. Equipment: Double patent desks; poor blackboards; one history map; no charts; small globe; no pictures; no reference dic- tionary; no library. Organization: One teacher; seven grades; 45 pupils; seven months school year; literary club; no industrial clubs. 22 ROVER SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Mary E. Thornton, Griffin, Ga. Location: Four miles northeast to East Griffin school. Grounds: Area, one acre; titles (?); small playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets in medium condition. Building: Value $400.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; well lighted; in good condition; well kept; ceiled but unpainted. Equipment: Double patent desks; fairly good blackboards; several maps; no charts; no globe; no reference dictionary; no library. Organization: One teacher; eight grades; 35 pupils; seven months school year; no clubs. 23 ANTHONY'S CHAPEL. Teacher: Miss Lucile Rogers, Griffin, Ga. Location: Three miles northeast to Hand school. Grounds: Area, (?); titles (?); unimproved; small playgrounds; no school gardens; only one toilet, bad condition. Buildings: Value .$600.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; insuffi- ciently and improperly lighted; unpainted. Equipment: Patent double desks; poor blackboards; one history map; no charts; no globe; no reference dictionary; no pictures; no library, or other helps. Organization: One teacher; eight grades; 35 pupils; seven months school year; no clubs. 24 HAND SCHOOL. Teacher. Miss Hester May Walker. Location: Three miles southwest to Anthony's Chapel school. Grounds: Area, half acre; titles (?); open, bare, neglected; very small playgrounds; no school gardens; only one toilet, in fair condition. Building: Value, $450.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; insuffi- ciently I'ghted; in fair condition; painted outside; unpainted inside. Equipment: Single and double patent desks; poor blackboards; one history map; no charts; no globe; no reference dictionary; no pictures; no library. Organization: One teacher; e'ght grades; 40 pupils; seven months school year; no organized clubs. 25 MT. ZION SCHOOL. Teachers: J. R. Gillespie, Principal; Miss Annie Joy Coppedge, as- sistant. Grounds: Area, 265 acres; titles Methodist Conference (Camp Grounds); magnificent oak groves, unimproved; ample play- grounds; no school gardens; one toilet only, in bad condition. Building. Value, $1,000.00; two class rooms; no cloak rooms; im- properly lighted; in good repair; well kept; painted inside and outside. Equipment: Single and double patent desks and teachers' desks; good blackboards; one small State map only; no charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no library. Oaganization: Two teachers; nine grades; 50 pupils; eight months school year (with seven months pay); no organized clubs. 26 PITTS SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Eva Kendrick, Griffin, Ga. Location: Four miles northwest to Griffin. Grounds: Area, (?); titles (?): unimproved and neglected; very small playgrounds; no school gardens; one toilet only, m fair condition. Building: Value, $400.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; improper- ly lighted; in fair condition; ceiled, but unpainted. Equipment: Single patent desks and teacher's desk; very poor blackboards; no maps; no charts; no globe; no pictures; no reference dictionary; no library. Organization: One teacher; eight grades; 24 pupils; seven months school year; no clubs. 27 ORCHARD HILL SCHOOL. Teacher: Miss Mattie Simonton, Orchard Hill, Ga. Location: On Central of Georgia Railway. Grounds: Area, (?); titles (?); adjoining church lot; lot unim- proved; ample playgrounds; no school gardens; two toilets, in fair condition. Building: Value, $450.00; one class room; no cloak rooms; well light- ed; in bad repair; well kept; painted. Equipment: Single and double patent desks and teachers' desks; fairly good blackboards; two small maps; no chart; a small globe; framed pictures; small library; no reference dic- tionary. Organization: One teacher; seven grades; 45 pupils; seven months school year; a literary club; no industrial clubs. 28 RINGGOLD SCHOOL. Teacher: Mr. J. O. Futral, Griffin, Ga. Location: Four miles east to Beulah school; three miles south to Midway school; six miles northwest to Teamon. Grounds: Area, eig'ht acres; titles in Masonic Lodge; fine grove; unimproved; yards clean; ample playgrounds; no school gardens; no toilets. Building: Value, $600.00 (?); two story (lodge overhead); one very large class room; no cloak rooms; insufficiently and improp- erly lighted; well kept; unpainted; in bad repair. Equipment: Single patent desks; poor blackboards; one history map; no charts; no globes; no reference dictionary; no library; no pictures. Organization: One teacher; nine grades; 30 pupils; no clubs; seven months school year. 29 MIDWAY SCHOOL. (A standard School.) Teachers: D. H. Standard, Principal; Miss Sarah Oxford, Assistant. Location: Three miles north to Ringgold school; three and a half miles west to East Griffin school; five miles southeast to Rehobeth school. Grounds: Area, (?); titles, private individual; unimproved; well kept; small playgrounds; no garden; two toilets in good con- dition. Building: Value, .$900.00; two class rooms; cloak rooms; insufficient- ly and improperly lighted; floors oiled and well kept; painted inside and outside. Equipment: Single patent desks and teachers' desks; first class blackboards; good set maps in case; charts; globe; refer- ence dictionary; library of 200 volumes; framed pictures, etc. Organization: Two teachers; eight grades; 86 pupils; seven months school year; programs posted; boy's corn club. 30 REHOBETH SCHOOL. Teachers: A. H. Shuler, Principal; Miss Lillian Maddox, Miss Annie Bell, Assistants. Location: Four miles west to Orchard Hill school; five miles north- west to Midway school. Grounds: Area, three acres; titles in a Baptist church; (adjoining church lot); lot in good condition; partly improved; school gardens; ample playgrounds provided; well kept; only one toilet, in good condition. Building: Value, $900.00; three class rooms; no cloak rooms; fairly lighted; well kept; painted outside; ceiled, but unpaintel in- side. A teachers' home on lot. Equipment: Single patent desks; medium blackboards; set of maps mounted in case; charts; globe; framed pictures; no refer- ence dictionary; no library. Organization: Three teachers; ten grades; 85 pupils; boys' corn club; calf club; seven months school year. 31 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 019 877 529