Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3221mately 8,000 children. Superintendent Olliff is a democrat in his politicalviews, is a Mason and a Pythian, and belongs to the Baptist Church. "Whenhe can put aside his arduous duties for a time he delights to interest himselfin farming, and at this time has some valuable agricultural holdings.Mr. Olliff was married in Bulloch County, Georgia, in November, 1904, toMiss Pearl Riggs, daughter of James Riggs, of Bulloch County, and she diedin 1909, at Statesboro, leaving two children: Proneta, born in 1905; and James,born in 1907, both now attending school. In 1910, at Statesboro, Mr. Olliffwas married to Miss Julia Dekle, daughter of the late W. M. Dekle, and tothis union there have been born three children: Pearl, born in 1910; Ellene,born in 1912; and Eva, born in 1915. As giving an idea of the aims, workarid character of Superintendent Olliff, we quote the following from apamphlet recently issued, in which he writes, in part: "Bulloch has wellearned the reputation of being one of the largest, richest, most progressiveand most resourceful of the southeast Georgia counties. Until the recent cutsfrom its territory for the formation of three new counties, it was one of thelargest in the state, and still qpvers a very large and rich territory. It hasfor some years stood in the foremost rank of Georgia counties in the matterof progressive agriculture, yet only about one-third of its land is under cultivation. There still stand untouched large tracts of original south Georgiayellow pine that will long be a memory of the past in the state. If every acreof arable land was under cultivation, and all as intelligently tilled as the bestnow are, Bulloch county could feed the state. However, it would be unfortunate, indeed, if its material resources should be rapidly developed at theexpense or neglect of the educational. Bulloch county has built many milesof fine public roads, over which I traveled to inspect the ninety-three publicschools of the county. Notwithstanding these good roads, and with the constant use of an automobile, it required seven full weeks' work to complete ahurried personal inspection of each one of these schools. Very little help orsupervision was attempted for the limited time and the large number of schoolshardly allowed rnpre than a hurried inspection. This experience was convincing proof that no one man, however industrious, could satisfactorily superintend and effectively supervise so large a system of rural schools. Such closeand efficient supervision as the needs of Bulloch county schools indicate, orthe teachers and children of Bulloch county deserve, would require at leastone supervisor working constantly with and under the direction of the superinten^ent.And, next to a more liberal and businesslike plan of maintenance,this is now probably the most immediate need of the county school system. Tolimit his work for the schools of the county to the 'letter of the law,' andmerely 'visit each school at least once in every sixty days,' would occupy allof one man's time. But the interests of the cause and the spirit of the lawdemand far more than this. There are good titles to nearly all of the schoollots in the county, and generally they are vested in the county board of education. Furthermore, the areas are above the average, generally from two tofour acres. They have not generally, as yet, been improved for educationalpurposes. There are some notable exceptions where the grounds are beingbeautified and school gardens planned. Very few have given very muchattention to playgrounds, and none to providing play appliances and apparatus. Very many good and some expensive schoolhouses have been built,generally by the patrons, aided by appropriations from the board of education. With few exceptions, however, these have not been well planned. Someof the i>est ones are fine auditoriums, but unsuited for class rooms, neitherproperly shaped nor sufficiently lighted. This is generally the case in everycounty in proportion as the units of administration are increased. It is evidence of commendable zeal and a lamentable lack of knowledge as to schoolarchitecture. So in the painting of schoolhouses in this and mostcounties, it is noticeable that due consideration is not generally given to. a