Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3222 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSharmony of colors of their scientific selection with reference to proper lightingof the buildings. There is, however, a decided tendency towards improvementin these matters in the more recent buildings. All are heated by small woodstoves, and no jacketed stove was found anywhere."In Bulloch county, as elsewhere in the state, there is a lamentable lackof adequate school equipment, and this is a serious hindrance. Such equipment and teachers' helps as are provided for the most progressive andsuccessful up-to-date schools would greatly facilitate the education of thechildren and enhance the work of the teachers. Money wisely spent on equipment in any business always proves profitable and makes for true economy."Always the health of the children should be the first and foremost concern. The most serious matters of sanitation that demand attention are thedrinking water and the school toilets. Practically all of the schools in thecounty are provided with shallow wells or pumps on the school lots, varyingin depth from 20 to 30 feet, but the water standing quite near the top in thewet seasons. At best this is a difficult problem in south Georgia, but nevertheless a serious one. Some of these wells were found in bad, and a few infilthy, condition. Responsible parties should be charged with the duty ofconstantly looking after them, and at least keeping them cleaned out. "Wherethe lives of the children are involved, it would be well to have the waterexamined and its purity certified by the State Board of Health."While one of the most important subjects connected with county schooladministration, consolidation is one of the most difficult. Since it is almostimpossible for a one-teacher school with all the common-school grades to be anefficient school, the matter of consolidation deserves serious consideration.There are a few places in Bulloch county where the consolidation of severalschools could be effected without inconvenience and to the.very great advantage of all concerned. It would only require the surrendering of a fewprejudices, but the greater interests of the children demand it. This is notablytrue in the neighborhood of the schools at Clito, Ivanhoe and, perhaps, others."No school does its best work for the community whep its efforts arelimited to the prescribed academic course of study. If the efficiency of anyschool is to be 'measured by its reaction upon the interests and activities ofthe community,' then its course of study should be vitalized by these community activities, such as literary clubs, civic-health clubs, debating clubs,school gardens, corn and canning clubs, and the like. Some of the schoolsof the county are experiencing rich results from one or more of thesf lifeactivitiesintroduced into the school life, but others are suffering from thelack of any vitalizing agencies. The corn and canning club work and theseveral debating clubs are doing excellent work."EDWARD BURTON CLAXTON, M. D. Thoroughly devoted to his profession,a man of pleasing personality, and with a thorough training and experiencein one of the most exalted of human professions, Doctor Claxton after practicing for several years in his native County of Johnson, moved to a field of largeropportunity more commensurate with his growing reputation, and is nowrecognized as one of the best physicians and surgeons of Dublin.Born in Johnson County, Georgia, December 2, 1883, he is a son of LorenzoB. and Isabelle (Alien) Claxton, both of whom were born in Johnson County,Georgia. Of this same family, in another branch, is Professor L. L. Claxton,who is now serving as United States commissioner of education. The founderof the family was Doctor Claxton's great-grandfather, who was born jn Ireland, and settled in South Carolina about 1830, afterwards gave active serviceto his adopted country as a soldier in the Mexican war, and for many yearsfollowed farming. He died at the age of eighty-nine. One of his sons, ZachariasClaxton, Jr., who was named for his father, came to Johnson County,Georgia, at the age of twenty, and married there Miss Tempy Powell, who