Georgia Southern University - Reflector Yearbook (Statesboro, GA)

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REMINISCENCES OF THE FIRST DISTRICT A. M. SCHOOL, STATESBORO, GEORGIA The Period 1915 to 1920 MY FIRST thought of teaching at the First District A. M. School was when Dr. EC. G. Matheson, President of Georgia Tech, wrote to me at Jonesboro, Tennessee, w here 1 was superintending a cotton mill, asking if I would be available for a position at Stateshoro. Replying affirmatively. Professor J. . Hendricks visited me and I was engaged to teach mathematics and mechanics. On a cold, blustery, wintry daw January I, 190X, Mr. Hendricks met me at the depot in the surrey. When we drove out to the school I looked over the poor sand hill with scrub oak and pine bushes growing on it and was not particu- larly impressed. The school grounds were unkept, and the fields beyond had num- bers of recently pulled pine stumps scattered over them. School opened February 5, rcjoS with fifteen students in attendance. We had with us at this opening the Hoard of Trustees and many of the influential people of the town and county. Classes started the next day with Mr. Hendricks teach- ing English and physics; Mr. Harper agriculture, chemistry, and biology; Miss Josephine Schiffer, home economics; and my subjects were mathematics and mechanics. During vacation 1 was given a mule and buggy and started out on a canvassing trip for students. My territory was part of Bulloch, all of Screven, Effingham, Chatham, and Bryan counties. We had no pre-arranged plans but 1 ju c t drove through the country asking for boys and girls that were prepared for the sixth grade and above. I spent the night where dusk found me. Every one was hos- pitable and I look back with a great deal of pleasure n those evenings spent in these homes. The fall term opened in September with a creditable enrollment. Several new teachers had been added to our faculty. Literary societies were organized. The Training Home was established where girls were taught to cook, keep house, and entertain. This training was continued until 1920. The method of punishment in those days was one hour ' s work for one demerit and this usually meant one stump dug by hand for the boys for each hour. The penalty for smoking was five hours. Mr. Hendricks resigned at the end of the first school year and Mr. E. C. J. Dickens, a member of the Board of Trustees, was elected to take his place. We regretted to see Mr. Hendricks leave as he was held in high esteem by his teachers and students. Mr. Dickens immediately started an advertising campaign in the papers of the district for students, and consequently the fall term of 1909 opened with an increased attendance. Many students were given jobs around the school to help pay their way. For six years I had charge of the boys ' dormitory and the discipline connected

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and girls now useful citizens of several states. Some of the most useful men and women in Georgia today are graduates of our school during those years. T could ni it close this record without giving due recognition to the men who made my administration and the school possible. No school ever had a nobler or more unselfish Board of Trustees than ours. As president of the board, Hon. J. Randolph Anderson of Savannah never failed the school. Eve was truly the school ' s best friend. His board members were, lion. S. L. Moore of Statesboro, Dr. W. F. Peacock of Vidalia, Hon. J. R. Miller of Statesboro, Hon. Ben Alex- ander of Reidsville, Hon. J. 11. Evans of Sylvania, and Hon. A. W. Palmer of Millen. I can newer forget these men. they made possible the education of hun- dreds of farmer boys and girls in that good school. In addition to thorough training and valuable discipline our school by real ex- periment work in scientific farming did splendid work. )ur boys on the farms actually learned -oils and plant life and plant food. They actually bred corn, cotton, and other crops and saw proof of its value. It revolutionized farming in Georgia- I mean those district Agricultural and Mechanical Schools and the State College at Athens. They produced results needed at that period of Georgia history. I could write pages, but space prohibits. May heaven smile upon the school in its new and large field of work. E. C. J. Dickens, Lake City, Florida.

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therewith. We had an inspector and a lieutenant in each wing of the dormitory. Each student at morning inspection was required to have his room in order and be dressed. He was required to remain in his room and keep quiet during study hours at night. He had to be in line for all meals when the bell was rung at the old residence dining hall at the back gate. He was not allowed to go to town at night except when the group went. Each inspector was expected to report any infringement of the school rules. They were faithful, dutiful officers, and stu- dents knew to obey them just as they would a teacher. Penalties might go as high as 28 hours and any infringement while under this black list meant a whipping or expulsion. The black list lasted four weeks and a student was not permitted to leave the campus or attend socials until it expired. Main amusing incidents happened in connection with the discipline. One trick the boys pulled was to put fly paper just outside each door after lights out at night and yell fire ! One can imagine what happened. It was decided by the Board of Trustees during Mr. Dickens ' administration to build an additional girls ' dormitory and dining hall. In 1910 an extra appro- priation of $7,500.00 was made by the Legislature for this purpose. 1 drew up the plans on very short notice from the Board and after their approval we started to work with day labor, principally boys, under my supervision. The boys did all the excavating, made the window and door frames and put down all flooring and ceiling. We hired several masons and one carpenter, and I put in ten hours per day bossing. This building was put up with the idea of plenty of room and cheapness uppermost in our minds. It has served very efficiently and has been a big asset to the Institution when cost and other conditions are considered. Mr. Dickens resigned in December, 1914, effective January 1, 1 9 1 5. During the years, [915-1920 inclusive, our school attendance increased and our teachers were paid higher salaries than formerly. The enrollment in 191 5 was about 160. In 1920 the average attendance was 189 with a somewhat larger enrollment. The largest graduating class previous to I 21 was the 1918 class with 27 members. The curriculum during my administration consisted of the state adopted sub- jects taught in the eighth to eleventh grades inclusive with the addition of agri- culture and mechanics for all the boys, home economics for all the girls, with Latin, solid geometry, music and the Teachers ' Training Courses as elective sub- jects. »ur students were especially strong in mathematics and industrial subjects. Since many of our graduates were teaching and our students were interested, the Teacher Training Course became very popular. Elementary psychology, methods of teaching and special work in English and composition were given. The de- partment continued to grow, and in 1020 we had the largest number of students taking this work that we had ever had. Expression was added to the curriculum in 191 5 as an elective course. Extensive farm improvements were inaugurated in 191 5. Among these was a new dairy barn which we designed and for which the boys should receive credit for about one-half of the building. A silo was put up, a milking machine was in- stalled, government co-operative tests were started, and hog and chicken yards were built. Our fine hogs, cattle, and chickens won many prizes at the county fair. ( ur Home Economics Department always compared favorably with the