History of Lauderdale County School District | Page 84

science; chemistry and biology alternate. Other courses are: typing, bookkeeping, shorthand,
basic business and business law.
The next article will deal with conditions in other county schools.
Meridian Star, October 27, 1959

Our County Schools: 3 - Clarkdale, Long Creek Both Lack Adequate Facilities

For Science
(Editor’s Note – This is the third in a series on the Lauder County School System. In the next several article, each
school will be examined individually. Today, Clar kdale and Long Creek are discussed.)
By Jack Wardlaw, Meridian Star Staff Writer

Science facilities or the lack of them is the big problem at both Clarkdale and Long Creek
schools according to their principals. At Clarkdale, biology is the only science offered high
school students. Long Creek offers a year of chemistry in addition, but both have woefully
inadequate equipment for teaching these courses. In both cases, the “science department”
consists of a classroom with a long table with some water and Bunsen burners along with
assorted utensils, slides and etc. “We are badly in need of a science lab room,” said H.W. Pruitt,
Clarkdale Superintendent. Other problems facing the Clarkdale School are a teacher shortage
and lack of classroom space.
Building OK – The building itself is in good shape. It is constructed of brick and was
erected in 1948. There is an older vocational build and a lunchroom that is the most spacious in
the county white schools. Clarkdale is situated on the line between Clarke and Lauderdale
counties. Its enrollment includes 222 student from this county and 110 from Clarke. Despite the
shortage of teachers, Pruitt said he has been able to avoid doubling up in the lower grades and
has a separate teacher for each. However, high school teachers have a heavy work load. Pruitt
himself has to teach four classes in addition to his duties as principal. There are 14 teachers in
the school, or an average of one for each 23 students. Several classes, however, have more than
35 students in them. Pruitt said the lack of classroom space had forced the use of the agricultural
building for classes in past years, but this was avoided this term. The auditorium is used for a
study hall.