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SPECIAL NUMBER
Public Schools of Augusta and Richmond County
(By Supt. Lawton B. Evans.)
The public school system of Augusta
and Richmond County was organized in
1872 by an Act of the Legislature'. The
Board of Education consists of 43 mem
bers, three from each city ward, three
from each country district, and the or
dinary of the county. One-third of the
membership expires each year. The
board is elected by the people, and pos
sesses the power of taxation for school
purposes. The authority of the board
covers the entire county, and embraces
all the schools of the city of Augusta.
*-The school fund consists of a local levy
df $125,000 a year, and a state .appropria
tion of $56,000. In adidtion to this there
are high school fees amounting to ss,ooft,
and an income from the John W. Hough
ton endowment amounting to $4,500. In
all the school fund amounts to about
$190,090 a year. This fund is distributed
on a basis of school pouplation, and re
sults in'giving the children of tic- rural
districts an unusual facility in the way
of school houses, well paid teachers, and
long term schools. In fact the county
can well boast that :i good school, ac
cessible to every child in the rural dis
tricts. is maintained as long ;is the pu
pils will attend. The school term ends
in the spring when the children leave b>
work In the fields. The shortest is
seven months, the longest ter n is nine
months. The enrollment of wiii:e pupils
la gratifying In these districts. In the
119th district 200 pupi's out of 2*;:; wr?e
enrolled; in the 121st district 412 out
477: in the 123rd district 425 out of 173%
Jn the 124th district 120 out of *96; in
the 1269th district 170 out of 1* v -; i: the
1660th district 153 out of 168; in ' hph
stlbah 86 out of 112. Altogether in the
rural districts 1.268 white eliildVen on' of
1,547 were enrolled in the schools This
is 82 per cent of the white school popu
lation.
In the city schools there is a total en
rollment of 5.009 white children attend
ing private and parochial schools, milk
ing about 6,000 white children in school,
or 7* per rent of the population. Of the
negroes thcVc are 2,490 enrolled i:i the
schools out of 6.580. As many as 1.900
are enrolled in private .schools, making
about 3.500 negro rhildren in school or
53 per cent of the population.
All the city white schools present un
usual advantages Jn the way of insiruc
tion. athletics, domestic science training
medical inspection, and In all lepavi
ments demanded l>\ a modern school sys
tem. The schools of the city have k’.r:-
( dergartenF. free to all white eliildv* n of
school age. In these kindergart ms are
enrolled 25 Opuplls in charge of a coiys
of eleven teachers The largest »f the
kindergartens is at the John MilWlgo
Vschool, where 102 arc enrolled, the next
r In size is at the Woodlawn school where
89 are enrolled.
One of the notable features of the Au
gusta schools is the emphasis placed on
practical arts. Tn the negro schools
much time is devoted to teaching t lie
girls the art of cooking, sewing, and
laundry. In each of the large negro
schools there is a special teacher for
each of these practical subjects, and I
NORTH AUGUSTA HAS SPLENDID
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
» GEO. W. COGGIN, Sup!.
(By Geo. W. Coggin, Supt.)
Kqrth Augusta schools have just
closed a very successful year. Nine stu
dents finished with a credit of is units
for those taking the regular literary
course and lf>V& units for the scientific
course.
This year the high school has re
quiVed domestic science and manual
training. The students have done ex
cellent work in these departments in so
much that they won nearly every prize
in the contests at tlie Aiken county
school meet.
Separate rooms have been fitted up
for the different lines of domestic sci
ence and really practical work has been
done in both cooking and sowing. < hie
large room in the basement has been
eauipped with ten modern work benches*
and over S2OO worth of the best tools so
that the boys are able to turn out useful
articles at the same time acquiring cul
tural training of value. Along with this
same excellent work in mechanical draw -
ing was clone one of the best things in
Schultz High school is the high moral
Standard which the students maintain.
The atmosphere created h\ the students
coming from the v«vy best homes wh ue
none of the undesirable element exists
. makes this school an ideal place for boys
•rtd girls Weekly reports showing tho
work of the students are sent to the par
ent and whenever a student shows a
spirit of logging the parents are ad
jyised at once that the student may he
removed if unwilling to work. The school
board has provided ample teaching force
so that the classes are not crowded and
by this means the pupils are able to ro
- ceive much individual instruction.
[ The ischools believe that a healthy
body is requisite for a healthy mind so
for several years they have had medical
i inspection. In addition to tins Dr. A.
*A Walden teaches physiology in the
SOUTHERN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
sth FLOOR HARISON BLDG.
■ ; i j mM! v* ,;
y?
■'O§SOA,;; t '"Va- *■. fe ''* : ’
about one-fourth of the time of the up
!p€* grade pupils is devoted to work. In
all about 350 negro girls are taught do
mestic work, and 80 hoys are taught car
pentering in tiie carpenters shop. In
the white schools the proper emphasis is
placed upon these subjects. Jn each
school there is a kitchen and a sewing
room, and two teachers are assigned to
this instruction fotr all the schools. In
the Tubman High school for girls, there
is a special teaeheV for Household Econ
omics. By all these means the schools
are endeavoring to prepare the hoys and
girls for a useful and capable life.
One of the largest schools in the South
is the John Milledge school, located in
the fifth ward of Augusta. It contains
nt present 29 school rooms, and space sots
a large shop for boys, and a complete
domestic scienve equipment. The en
rollment has gone up to 1,035 pupils at
one time, though as many as 1,100 pupils
have been enrolled during the year. In
this building is a large auditorium capa
ble of bolding 700 people. It is in con
stant use for school and community
purposes. A play ground of five acres
surrounds the school, giving ample space
fi.v games, exercise and recreation.
The building next in size is the Wood
lawn school with 20 school rooms and an
enrollment of 800 pupils. This school
has grown very rapidly in the past few
years, until all the rooms are occupied,
and in spite of its size mere is demand
for more space and more sealings for
pupils.
The Tumban High school for girls is
the generous gift of a noble lady to the
gi'i Is of our city. It is situated on Rey
nolds street, and in spite of its cramped
quarters has long been the training
sehool for the young women of our citv.
The present enrollmetn is 230 pupils. The
Richmond Academy is ihe high school
for boys. This is one of the oldest in
stitutions in the South. leing chartered
immediately after the revolutlonady war.
Its gVaduates include many of the great
men of Georgia. Its present enrollment
is 2no boys, coming from all parts of the
• •ountry and from several near-by towns.
Resides a splendid academic course, the
Richmond Academy offers unusual fa
cilities in science, commercial studies,
wood and iron working. Probably the
best equipped shop of any kind in the
Souih is on the Academy grounds.
The teachers of the schools are thor
oughly trained before they are admitted
as tea«3iers, and are closely supervised
after they are eleetd. They ar a capa
ble and conscientious corps, interested
In their labors, enjoy the school work,
ami giving satisfaction to the patrons.
The city can well offer to all home
seekers a satisfactory system of public
schools. From the kindergarten through
the high schools. a total of thirteen
years for the ordinary child and less
for the unusual one, the children will
find themselves well taught and well
eared fo*r. With due precaution against
extravagance and with regard for pro
gress the Board of Education is endeav
oring to have a modern school system
fully abreast of the times in educational
thought and enterprise.
| high school and Irjs lectures on hygieno
and sanitation go far In aiding the -x
--• -client atmosphere on this rhe highest
point near Augusta to mtainbiin the ex
cellent health conditions which exist.
The Civic League deserves credit for
its interest in the schools, not only <n
keeping everything attractive but tor
mainlining an excellent library which
contains nearly 2,000 volumes.
All the points of excellence mentioned
concerning the high school are true in
the grammar school. Besides manual
training in the grammar school they
have a large and beautiful school garden.
'Phis work is done by the sth and 6th
grades. This year the children spent
I about $25.00 improving the garden and
raised real farm products besides all
kinds of garden vegetables.
Owing to the fact that the buildings
are new most of the work has been done
to get the inside in first-class condition,
so now both buildings have single desks,
I ample blackboard space, maps, sanitary
drinking founts, steam heat, etc. The
next step is to put the grounds in at
tractive order and equip them with ap
paratus so that all may play—for after
all there is nothing more beautiful and
helpful than innocent play.
The real success of the schools 1s due
to the patrons, for they love them and
makes them the center of the community
life. The above statement was proved
during the past year when J. B. White
Do., offered prizes to the schools get
ting the most votes. The North Augus
ta people showed how they loved their
! school and the result was the bringing
home of the first prize, won over all the
schools in the city. So now the status
of Joan of Arc adorns a corner of the
library.
At a meeting of the Civic League re
cently. there was a movement started to
add to tlie library—a reading room to be
AUGUSTA, GA.
Special Attention Given to
Voice Culture and Singing
Instruction
Piano, Organ, Harmony, Theory
Ear Training and Sight
Reading
SAMUEL T. BATTLE
Vocal Instructor and Director
MRS. SAMUEL T. BATTLE
Piano Department
Prof. L. B. Evans, Supt. of Public Schools
mm? ' v- Hill
: “ M£ ■ ll \ '
IMrlags , m
" ,,/v '' '
open for the people of the town in the
evening so that tne schools may further
serve the people as a center for their in
tellectual uplift.
Ramie Cloth Made Aqain
Ramie, the fiber from which the an*
clent Egyptians made their mummy
cloths anil finest tapestr'es, is now be
ing manufactured again. California,
where (he newness of an article is its
strongest indorsement, has a small
plant to make ramie cioth. It is being
manufactured under what is known as
the Abbot process.
Over 40ft years ago a French scientist.
Favier, commenced experimenting with
the fiber of this plant with the inten
tion of learning how the Egyptians
made their wonderful burial cloths
which have withstood the passing of
centruies an dare more perfect and
stronger than the finest linen even to
day. He eventually evolved a process
by which ramie could he prepared and
il is now used exclusively for the mak
ing of the bank notes of the Bank of
France, and also for many other things
where its high cost Is not prohibitive.
Tiie objection to the Favier process
is that it reduces the vitality of tile
fiber. The Abbot process, however, pre
serves all its original strength and, hav
ing all the other advantages of th»
French process, makes ramie cloth that
is not equalled even by the mummy
clothes of the Egyptians. It is said
that its great strength will make it
ideal for tire webbing for automobile
use and a quantity is now being pre
pared in California for an actual test.
Ramie is a vegetable silk and at pres
ent is grown commercially in Japan,
China and the Agriculture staes that it
can be successfully grown in Mexico.
California. Louisiana. Florida and Tex
as, and the Imperial Valley in Califor
nia seems to be better adapted to its
growth than any other part of the
state. According to the reports from
abroad ramie has proved to be 100 per
cent, more profitable than cotton in
Egypt, and it is expected will become
a rival to cotton in the Imperial Val
ley. The Department of Agriculture is
making every effort to induce farmers
to plant ramie and it is expected that
California will soon be able to meet the
local demand for the fiber and that the
shipments from abroad will then cease
The difficulty in preparing the fiber
for spinning is that in its natural state
it is gummed together with a pecu
liarly tenacious liquid paste, which must
lie removed. The Abbot process does
(ills bya mixture of chemicals which
THE AUGUSTA HfcHALD, AUGUSIA. UA.
leave it in single strands that can be
handled easily, and it does this without
lessening its strength.
A comparison of the tensile strength
of ramie gives a good Idea of its dura
bility and desirability for manufactur
ing purposes. Taking ramie as 100 per
cent.. It lias been proved that hemp
grades 36 per cent., flax 25 per cent.,
silk 18 per cent, and cotton only 11 per
cent. Ramie fiber has the fineness of
sea island cotton and the luster of silk
—New York Times.
“COME TO GEORGIA."
“If you are ill and yearn for health,
If you are poor and wish for wealth;
Or long for home of beauty rare, •
Where all the breezes perfumes bear;
For country fair and bright,
Filled with joyous air and light,
Where silvery age and hopeful youth,
Abhor the wrong, uphold the truth,
And knighthood’s flower never fades,
Then come to Georgia.”
HERE’S A CHANCE FOR AN
ENTERPRISING AMERICAN
SCULPTOR; WHO WANTS IT?
Berlin.—ls an enterprising Ameri
can sculptor designs a memorial to the
German soldiers who have fallen in
colonial wars he may get an order. 1
would, however strongly emphasize
point that the memorial must include
an elephant or it will not stand a
chance of being accepted. The Kaiser
says there must be an elephant some
where in the memorial, so there is no
argument.
German sculptors are up In arms at
what they secretly declare Is the
Kaiser’s intolerable criticism of their
art, and as a mild protest the bulk of
them have refused to take part in the
competition.
Some months ago the Colonial Of
fice invited German sculptors to send
designs for a colonial war memorial to
be erected in German East Africa, the
Kaiser being the final judge. The de
sign which was considered best was
submitted to the Emperor, who flatly
refused to sanction it, much to the
annoyance of the artist, Herr Behn.
Another competition has now been
started, but the Kaiser has caused it
to be made known among the artists
that unless the design includes an
elephant he will not accept it.
Most of the artists who had deeideed
to take part in the competition believe,
despite the Emperor’s wish, the figure
of an elephant is not fitting for a
monument dedicated to German sol
diers who have fallen in colonial
wars.
The American Book Company
The American Book Company, incorporated in the State of New York, devotes
its entire attention to the publication and sale of text-books for schools and colleges.
Its publications number more than five thousand and cover practically every depart
ment of instruction in the elementary school, the secondary school and the college.
It is this company's policy to encourage authorship in every part of the United
States. Particular encouragement has been given . Southern authors, and many of the
foremost publications of the American Book Company have as their authors Southern
men and women. Some of its books of Southern authorship are: The Lee Readers,
widely used throughout the South; The Rose Primer; Peterman's Civil Government,
used in almost every section of the country, special editions being made for seventeen
different states, including Georgia; Evans’s English Grammars and Evans’s First Les
sons in Georgia History, by Superintendent Lawton B. Evans, of the Augusta public
schools; Sanford’s Arithmetics and Algebras, well known to a generation of schoolboys
and girls; LeConte’s Geology; Lane’s Stories for Children; Cooke’s Stories of the Old
Dominion; Joel Chandler Harris’s Stories of Georgia; Whitehead’s Two Great Southern
ers; Field’s Grammar School History of the United States, extensively used throughout
the South and for ten years on the Georgia State list; Baskervill & Sewell’s English
Grammars; Cathcart’s Literary Reader; Halleck’s English and American Literatures and
Halleck’s Psychology and Psychic Culture; Painter’s Poets of the South; White’s Arith
metics; Lyman Hall’s Algebra; Crockett’s Trigonometry; Ferris’s Descriptive Geometry;
Maury’s Geographies, leading school geographies for more than forty years; Brevard &
Bennett’s History of Florida; White’s Beginner’s History of the United States; Bowen’s
Astronomy by Observation; Andrews’s Practical Course in Botany and Andrews’s Bo
tany All the Year Round; Maury-Simondc’s Physical Geography; Wilkinson’s Practical
Agriculture; Ivins & Merrill’s Agriculture; Keffer’s Nature Studies on the Farm- Bing
ham’s Latin Grammar; McCabe-Bingham’s Caesar; Latin, Greek, French, German and
Spanish texts edited by professors in Southern schools and colleges; Bransons’s Page’s
Theory and Practice of Teaching; Roark’s Psychology in Education, Roark’s Method in
Education, and Roark’s Economy in Education; Painter’s Great Pedagogical Essays,
®tc,. ©to.
a T ° rganization the American Book Company has maintain
ed a department in Atlanta for the convenience of its Southern patrons. It is located at
Nos. 2 and 4 North Forsyth street. This Southern Department keeps constantly in
stock an ample supply of all the standard text-books published by the American Book
Company. The Manager of the Southern Department is Dr. A. I. Branham, in former
years prominently connected with educational interests in Georgia, and also formerly
well known as a member of the staffs of The Atlanta Constitution, The Macon Tel
egraph, and The Savannah Morning News, and as editor of The Brunswick Times.
Southern School-Book Depository
■i" -■ i i —. ..in. ..I
1 ' ' I mi.
1
s ; •
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Wholesale School and
College Text-Books
MISS HILL’S SCHOOL
ON THE HILL
PHONE <3932 W.
Primary Intermediate
and College Preparatory.
FACULTY
Miss L. D. Hill, University of Chicago.
Miss M. A. Helton, Smith College.
Miss N. Whiteside, Randolph-Macon.
Miss F. Cooper, Peabody College, Nashville.
Madam Grengeon, French.
Miss J. H Jackson, Music.
Miss Almeda Petit, Dancing.
“AUGUSTA IN T 914-