Educational survey of Ware County, Georgia [1923]

Educational Survey
-OF-
M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent,
Under ~ireetionof State DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
M. M. PARKS,
State Superintendent of &hode 1923

Educatio~~aSlurvey
OF-
Ware County
M. L. DUGGAN, Rural School Agent, State Department of Education and SARAH MELL DUGGAN,
Extension Dept. Ga. State College for Women
No. 43.
Under Direction of State DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
M. M. PARKS, State Superintendent of Schools
1923

WARE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Hon. C. W. Pittman, County Superintendent, Waycross, Ga.
COUNTY BOARD OF EIIUCATION
IION. C. D. JORDAN, Chairman.. . . . . . . .Waycross, Ga. HON. G. W. CRIBB.. . . . . . . .. R . F. D. No. 1, Manor, Ga. HON. JOHN L E E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Waresboro, Ga. HON. W. W. GRIFFIS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Millwood, Ga. HON. J. A. JAMES.. . . . . . . .It. F. D. No. 1, Waycross, Ga.

WARE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
A hurried survey of the Ware county public schools, a brief report of which is herein submitted, shows unmistakably that the administration has wisely planned and partly consummated the foundation for an efficient public school system. Such a public school system cannot be accomplished in a short period of time but the constructive work done so f a r and the definite plans outlined for the near future give promise that Ware county will soon have one of the best county systems of public schools in the state if the citizens of the county will continue to give the administration the support it deserves. It is confidently believed that a citizenship which has already made so much possible and received so much from the limited resources a t the hands of the county school administration will give a still heartier and more liberal support until all the plans for a n adequate county school system can be consummated.
The general public jzidges mainly by w h a t it sees. Not much is expected of the schools operated in the average little country schoolhouse in Georgia, so there can be but little disappointment. Schoolhouses and grounds and equipment made commensurate with the supreme importance of the cause, exhibiting evidences of permanency, efficiency, and beauty, cannot fail to inspire confidence; and confidence i s t h e best asset ilz any business. Adequate and attractive physical conditions create great expectations on the part of the public, inspire greater effort on the part of teachers and pupils, draws more liberal moral and financial support, and generally insures success.
Everybody expects more of and will do more for an institution representing the sacrifices and expectations of an e~llargedcommunity than for "A little piece of ground,
5

upon which is a little house, in which is a little equipment, a t which a little teacher, on a little salary, for a little while
during the year, is attempting to teach some little children
a few little things."
The one is a financial asset ,promising permanency and
profit to the community; while the other is a liability on the neighborhood, which produces small and unsatisfactory re-
sults, and nobody expects or hopes that it will last very long.
In 1919 Ware county voted $630,000 for public road
construction and $70,000 for public school construction-
probably consenting to the $70,000 for school bonds in order to more easily carry the $630,000 for road bonds. (The State will not likely ever be able to put through a bond issue for roads until it is joined to a bond issue for schools). However, this $70,000 was entirely insufficient for schoolhouse construction throughout so large a county. Several local school districts supplemented apportionments from this fund given by the county administration by voting additional local bond issues which would bring the amounts up to their several requirements, viz.: Wacona district voted $35,000 ; Waresboro district $20,000 ; Emerson Park district $2,500; etc. With sucli aid the administration has been able to accomplish a notable work in rural schoolhouse construction, as will be seen from the pictures and descriptions of progressive schools exhibited in this bulletin, and this work will be continued until every community can "point with pride" to an up-to-date, attractive, and comfortable schoolhouse.
The same measure of moral and financial support accorded to the rural public schools as is being given by the county to the rural public roads, and given similar strong central administration and professional supervision, similar satisfactory progress and results will be accomplished. And none will deny their equal importance. It is said that "progress in good public roads and good public

schools can neither ever very much precede the other." It is a matter for congratulation that the road administration and the school administration have worked harmoniously and helpfully together, and especially is the road commissioner to be commended for working the approaches to the progressive public schools. Tlnquestionably good public roads make good public schools possible, and there is plenty of proof of this in Ware county. And the very superior public road system soon to be fully accomplished is a prophecy of greatly improved educational opportunity for the country children.
CONSOLIDATPON
The geography and topography of Ware County must be taken into consideration in any planning for consolidation. While the administration has accom~~lishedsome very notable instances of consolidation (as shown elsewhere in this bulletin) it is not contemplated to htteiilpt consolidations inadvisedly. Conditions in the upper part of the county indicate the wisdom of consolidations: while conditions in many sections, particularly near or adjacent to the Okefenokee Swamp, forever isolate small comnlunities. I n such sections it is the plan of the administration to build as nttrctctiz9e a n d comfortable one-teacher .scltoolhouses CLS p o s s i b l ~ ,equip t h e m well, and give t h e m welltrained teachers.
I t has been a mistaken idea on the part of many that to consolidate schools ~ r o u l dniean to lessen their costs. Such was never the intention. T h e purpose i s to increase t h e i r efficiency. And this is true economy. The public should understand that education costs high, but ignorance costs more. We do not want to "cheapen" our schools, but make them better. Rural schools in Georgia have been too "cheap" for all these years, and our children deserve more at our hands.

TRANSPORTATION
The difficult problem of transportation seems to have been well solved in Ware county. The good roads program, enabled by the $630,000 bond issue supplemented by State and Federal funds, is rapidly bringing this South Georgia county to the forefront for its splendid system of permanent good roads. These good roads have helped to solve the problem of transportation to the consolidated schools. The school trucks are purchased and kept up through local district taxation, which is probably the most satisfactory solution. Distance along paved roads means but little. Attendance is regular and prompt. The average attendance of pupils who come on the trucks is better than those living near the schools.
MAINTENANCE
When the present permanent building program shall have been accomplished it wi1.l be essential that a more liberal maintenance be provided. This will be the more easily accomplished because of the confidence inspired by the adzquate buildings and equipments. Proper schoolhouses, properly located, is only the foundation for an adequate public school system, but is essential. The county now receives annually as its pro rata share from the State School funds approximately $15,000, which is supplemented by a county levy for schools of 5 mills, yielding about $21,000. Several school districts further supplement these funds by local district school levies varying from 3 to 5 mills. Compared with other counties this looks very liberal, but compared to the educational needs of the children it is none too much.
I n some states, and in many cities of Georgia, several times a s much is paid per capita for the education of the children.

WAYCROSS

Waycross, the county seat, operates its public schools

under a special system independent of Ware county. With

a little further development of the county system, it will

probably be to the best interests of all to reorganize into

a "Coztnt?~Unit S?jstem." No good fortune can come to any

part of a county in public schools or public roads or public

health without being shared by all parts of the county; nor

misfortune to any without affecting all. No county can

have the best schools for any of its children until it pro-

vides good schools for all of its children, and a n y cozcntl~

sent is ns m w h clepencleizt ~ p o ngood rztral schools a s upon

goocl rzwnl ronds f o r permanent prosperity.

May, 1923.

M . L. DUGGAN,

Rural School Agent for Georgia.

EMERSOS I'ARK SCHOOL
9

WACONA CONSOLIDATED COI'NTY HIGH SCHOOL (Consolidation of I'ine View and Jamestown School.)
Teachers: J. L. Stanford, principal, and faculty of twelve teachers. Location: At Hebardsville, near Waycross. Grounds: Area. 10% acres; titles in Board of Education; good con-
cfition; play equipment. Building: P;:36,000 value; eleven rooms; cloak rooms; properly lighted
and ventilated; auditorium, laboratory and library; new; good contlition; well kept; painted; shower baths; sanitary flush toilets. Teacherage: Valuc $S,Or)0.00. Title in Board of Education. F~uipment: Sinple patcnt and teachers' desks; blackboards; maps; charts; globes, pictures; lihrary; reference dictionary. Value of equipment $11,000.00. Organization: Eleven teachers anrl one music teacher; 11 grades; ,122 enrolled; nine months school year. Maintenance: Supplemented by local tax by district approximately $?,000.00, and $8,000.00 t o retire bonds.
WACOXA SCHOOL TEACHERAGE

OLD SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATED AT WARESROR.0 I. Hasty. 2. Pine Valley. 3. Waresboro Teacherage.
4. Friendship. 5. Stampede.

FIVE SCHOOL TRUCKS TRANSPORTING CHILDREN TO WARESIXOR0 COSSOLIDATED SCHOOL

f-,, .. . * .; .

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Ware County Roads which make cunsolidation and transporta-
tion possible.

Old Roads over which children walk to little schools.

12

WARESBORO SCHOOI, (Rear View)
(Consolidation of Pine Valley, Hasty. Friendship. Stampede and Waresboro.)
Teachers: A. H. Shuler, Miss Ava Harper, Miss Jimmie Carlton, Miss Thelma Renfroe, Miss Vera Driver, Miss Lovie Stubbs, Mrs. A. H. Shuler, Miss Grovie Dockery; music teacher, Miss Aggie Hargrove.
Grounds: Area 4 acres; titles in Board of Education; good condition; water from hydrant; ample playgrounds; sanitary toilets in good condition.
Building: Value $25,500.00; eight class rooms; cloak rooms; correctly lighted; good ventilation; new; service rooms and auditorium.
Equipment: Single patent and teachers' desks; good b!ackboards; maps; charts; globes; pictures; library; reference dictionary. Value of equipment $15,000.00.
Organizaticn: ight teachers; ten grades; enrolled 343; programs posted; seven months school year; pupils transported in five large school trucks.
Teacherage: Value $3,000.00; title in Board of Trustees. District t a x approximately $3,000.00 f o r maintenance and $3,000.00 to retire bonds.

DIXIE UNION SCHOOL (Consolidation of Rolon, Haywood and Bennett-Lynn Schools.)
Taechers: W. W. Griffis, Mrs. W. W. Griffis, Mrs. C. D. Jordan, Miss Irene Henderson.
Location: Three miles south to Cason; 6 miles north to Bickley; 4 miles west to Walnut.
Grounds: Area 5 acres; titles in Board of Education; good condition; ample play grounds; two toilets in good condition.
Building: Value $6,700.00; four class rooms; cloak rooms; properly lighted; properly ventilated; new; well kept; painted.
Equipment: Single patent desks and teachers' desks; jacketed stoves; sets of maps in case; globes; dictionary.
Organization: Four teachers; 8 grades; 185 enrolled; six months school year.
Maintenance: Supplemented by district tax approximately $600.
Remarks: Two trucks for transportation of children; three schools consolidated; average attendance of children transported better than others.

BICK1,EY COSSO1,II)ATEP) (Consolidation of Old Bickley, Moore, and Mt. Zion Schools in 1922.)
Teachers: R. T. Kennedy, Miss Eva Minchew, Miss Maud White. Location: Four imels south to Edenfield; 5 miles east to Beach. Grounds: Area 5 acres; titles in Board of Education; two toilets
(new). Buildings: Value $6,000.00; four rooms; properly lighted; properly
ventilated; new; well kept; painted.
Equipment: Single patent desks; good blackboards; set of maps; charts; globes; no library; a reference dictionary.
Organization: Three teachers; 8 grades; 150 enrolled; six months school year.
OLD SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATED

Old Rickley

Moore
15

Mt. Zion

WOODARD-GODWIS CONSOLIDATED Teachers: Miss Elise Ewing, Miss Letha Wells. Location: Five miles northwest to Waycross; 5 miles southwest to
Briganza. Grounds: Area 5 acres; titles ( ? ) ; good condition, well kept. Building: Value $4,500.00; two class rooms and two cloak rooms. Equipment: Single patent desks; blackboards; jacketed stoves; a
library; a globe; set of maps. Organization: Two teachers; 8 grades; enrolled 90. Maintenance: Supplemented by district tax approximately $350.
OLD SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATED
16

. ... .. - MT. GREEN-SYCAMORE CONSOLIDATED

.. m l e a c .n e r s :

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b"rlDD,

miss

Bell3 . e

LOX.

Location: Four miles southeast to Millwood; 5 miles northwest t o

Inman; 6 miles south to Camp Branch.

Grounds: Arear 5 acres; title in Board of Education; ample play-

grounds; surface toilets.

Building: Value $3,600.00; two class rooms; cloak rooms; properly

lighted; properly ventilated; new in 1921; well kept; painted.

Equipment: Single patent desks; good blackboard; no maps; no

plobes; no library; no pictures.

Organization: Two teachers; 8 grades; 80 enrolled; six months

school year.

OLD SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATED

Old Mt. Green
17

Old Sycamore

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COLEMAN SCHOOL

Teachers : John Earheart, Rosa May Courson.

Location :

Grounds: Area 3 acres; titles in Board of Education.

Buildings: Value $3,600.00; two class rooms; library room; domestic science kitchen; cloak hall and lockers; erected 1922 with county bond fund and district fund; painted.

Equipment: Single patent desks and hyloplate blackboards.

Organization: Two teachers; seven grades; six months term.

Maintenance: Supplemented by district t a x of approxinlately $125.

PITTMAN SCHOOI, (On Swamp Side of County)
Teachers :
Location: In lower p a r t of county where consolidations a r e not generally advisable.
Grounds: Area-acres; titles ( ? ); playgrounds ample, surface toilets.
Ruilding: Value 12,500.00; one class room; new; cloak rooms.
Equipment: Good desks; good blackboards; some maps; no globes; no charts; no library.
Organization: School closed when visited.

INMAN SCHOOL
Teachers: Miss Mattie Henderson.
Location: Three and one-half miles to Camp Branch; 3?/2 miles to Manor.
Grounds: Area 2 acres; titles in Board of Education; water from pump; surface toilets.
Building: Value $2,000.00; one class room; cloak room; properly lighted; good ventilation; well kept; painted.
F ~ u i p m e n t : Single patent desks; good blackboards; no maps; no charts; no globes; no pictures; no library; no reference dictionary.
Organization: One teacher; 7 grades; 40 enrolled; six months school year.

31ASOR SCH001, (Partial Consolidation)
Teachers: T. E. Harrison, Mrs. Tempie Vaughan, Miss Georgia Coleman.
Location: T h r e ~and one-half milei northwest to Camp Branch; 3lh nlilrs north to Inman.
Grounds: Arca 2 acres; titles in Trustees; good condition; water from pump; good playgrounds.
Buildinp.: Value $900.00; three class rooms and library; properly lighted; good condition; well kept; painted.
Equipment: Single patent desks; good blackboard; jacketed heaters; maps; charts; gloves; pictures; a library; a reference dictionary.
Organization: Three teachers; nine grades; 125 enrolled.

>lII.I,WOOD SCHOOL
Teachers: R. C. Cavender, Mrs. Cavender, Miss Lois King.
Imation: Three miles south to Sycan~ore;2% miles east to Fairfax.
Grounds: Area 4 acres; titles in Board of Education; water from pump; two surface toilets in bad condition.
Ruildinz: Value $8,000.60; three class rooms; cloak rooms; well l i ~ h t e d ; properly ventilated; good condition; well kept; painted inside and outside. Auditorium.
Equipment: Single patent desks; good blackboard; set of maps; charts; globes; pictures; no library; no dictionary.
Or~anization: Three teachers; nine grades; 126 enrolled; seven months school year.
Maintenance: Supplemented by district tax approximately $850.00.

HOPKINS SCHOOL (On Swamp Side of County)
Teachers: Miss Pearl Cox, Miss Lucile Thomas.
Location: A t railroad station on edge of Okefenokee Swamp; a mill village.
Grounds: Area-acre; titles in trustees; two surface toilets in bad condition.
Ruilding: Value $3,000.00; two rooms; cloak room; properly lighted and ventilated; good condition; well kept; painted inside; unpainted outside.
Equipment: Single patent and teachers' desks; good blackboard; charts; globes; no library; no dictionary.
Organization: Two teachers; seven grades; 45 enrolled; nine months school year.
Maintenance: Supplemented by district t a x of $400.00.

The pictures on the following pages represent the "little schools" in Ware county not yet reached in t h e constructive pclicies of the administration. As to how soon they too will be cared for will depend upon the financial and moral support given to the superintendent and Board of Education. Their plans contemplate better facilities throughout the county, and it is to be hoped t h a t they will have the sympathy and support of the good citizens of the county.
The bare pictures of these "little schools" bespeak their inadequacy without detailed descriptions. The children deserve better educational facilities.
The photoaraph is typical of the physical hazards menacing the health of the
little pupils-at most of them.

I. Ruskin. 2. Beach. 3. Elwood Park. 4. Cason. 5. Ecleniield.

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-.rrr5ar
1. Melton.

2. Eraganza.

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3. Jordan. 4. Thrift. 5. Mixon.

1. Ft. Nudge. 2. Crews. 3. Tntum. 4. Strickland. 5. Suwanee.