Joseph Kershaw Academy - Epaulet Yearbook (Camden, SC)

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[if The Annual staff of Joseph Kershaw Academy proudly :.fh ■ dedicates its 1968-1969 edition of POOR JOSEPH'S JOURNAL ;i I f to Mr. Robert Marsh. i I From the earliest growth of Joseph Kershaw Academy, Mr. £ i Marsh has displayed a continual interest in our school, both as a ,jv J I v parent and as a loyal supporter. His participation was further I I ■ increased this year when he was elected to serve as treasurer of ■ I I the Board of Trustees. I I In his enthusiastic support of all our activities from “bar- I r beques to basketball”, Mr. Marsh has exemplified and demon- I fjf strated his ideals in a complete education for each student. I 3

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FOREWORD Nestled admist a beautiful array of pine trees stands a building. One has only to pass by to feel the warmth, friendliness, and love encased in its walls. A great day is about to begin at this site. Students arrive; laughter is heard; a bell rings; hustle, hustle; silence in the halls; the beginning of a great day at this site. The site is Joseph Kershaw Academy. A day filled with preparing, participating, and playing. A day filled with aquiring knowledge which shall enable us to cope with the secret of success, and failure which we will encounter outside this building. We at Joseph Kershaw Academy urge those who follow us here to make each day of his life A Great Day, and we urge this day be spent in preparing for future great days. Editor, Susan Freitag 2

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History of Our School THE JOSEPH KERSHAW ACADEMY The Joseph Kershaw Academy opened its doors for the Fall Term of 1965 with eight grades, eight teachers, and 125 students. This school was bom of a need, and the recognition of that need; from precedents galore; and from the inspiration, interest and hard work on the part of parents, committees and a host of interested people. The town of Camden was founded and settled and developed in much the same way over two hundred years ago. The town was planned and laid out by men with a purpose beyond their own immediate needs. The wide streets and the parks just didn’t happen—they were planned. Early in 1965 several committees, one following the other, planned for the development of a private school. It was recognized that for two hundred years our schools, whatever the form, were developed and controlled by those most interested in the education and welfare of tire children of the community namely the local citizens who were represented by the local school boards. These local boards determined the school policies, including the curriculum, which were coordinated with the requirements of higher education and of course the local social, economic, patriotic, and religious principles. Parallel to those schools operated and supported by taxes, Camden was fortunate in having Private Schools available also for those desiring particular instruction, and the success of the private schools are a matter of record of satisfactory results. When a transfer of local and state authority over the schools to the more distant Washington became apparent in 1965, it was determined by a canvass of a representative cross section of the community, that a private school was not only desirable but actually a serious need. Also it was realized that with today’s economic competition and scientific life, a more thorough and complete education would be required, and of course the basis for this lay with the primary schools. In addition and quite as important was the belief of the founders of Joseph Kershaw Academy, that our children should have the complete opportunity of learning and practicing loyalty and patriotism, to our country, and to the religious principles held by the individual. So, with this philosophy as a background, the organizing committee (selected and established in a public meeting in the spring of 1965) with full authority to determine the feasibility and the desirability of such a school, started their work. With no money and no building or property, with no formal commitment for students or teachers, the committee nevertheless perserved and after a long and careful study of the question, recommended that a school be organized to meet the demands of a large segment of the community. A charter was applied for. At a formal meeting called for the purpose, the charter was adopted and accepted with enthusiasm, and a Board of Trustees was elected, (the same members of the Study Committee were elected Board Members). The board was instructed to proceed with the development of a private school. The school was named the Joseph Kershaw Academy in honor of both men by that name who contributed so much to the development and welfare of Camden-Joseph Kershaw who settled Camden in the 1750’s and his grandson General Joseph B. Kershaw of the Confederate Army of the 1860’s. The Board of Trustees decided to build a new school building on the property so generously given by Mr. Mrs. Raymond C. Firestone. The building was started during the summer of 1967 and completed in time for the Academy to open its 1967 Fall Term with ten grades, ten teachers, and 145 students. The remarkable progress made at Joseph Kershaw Academy from the Fall Term of 1965 until now is evident by the beautiful new building, the increased enrollment and the finest qualified teachers available. This progress could not have been made without the backing of a large number of friends, the hard-working Board, the able leadership of the Headmaster, the office personnel, and the active P.T.O. The Academy has operated for four years and is looking forward with confidence to serving the community in the educational field in the years to come. ►IZ] rs --------------[JOSEPH KERSHAW ACADEMY 1------------------------------------------ 4