History of Lauderdale County School District | Page 90

Study group has been received, under the leadership of M.C. Welch. This group feels that the
small schools will never be able to offer the diversified training that is needed in the modern
world.

Board Orders Study – The county school board has moved toward improvement of the
schools by retaining the firm of Englehart, Englehart, Leggett and Cornell of New Your to make
a comprehensive study of the school situation and make recommendations for improvements.
The study, already under way is headed by Dr. C.J. Martin of Greenville, S.C. The group will
report to the county school board in February, according to Superintendent of Education Turner
S. Pigford.
The seven men most closely connected with the county school program, the principals of
the seven present high schools (six white, one colored) are divided in their feeling on the subject
of consolidation in a larger school. J.B. Gill, Lauderdale principal, is strongly in favor of a large
school in order to diversify the curriculum for high school students. He emphasized the
differences between individual student and the difficulties involve in making them all study the
same course. T.R. Chisolm, Collinsville principal, said he favored larger schools on the high
school level, but stressed the problem of taking younger children too far away from home. He
advanced the possibility of leaving grade schools in local communities while having a large
county-wide high school.
Transportation Problem – H.W. Pruitt, Clarkdale principal, said he felt the county
should have two or three large schools, rather than the proposed one. He emphasized