◆ SpookStack

Discussion Group in Front of Main School Building. . | Early Years. When Doctor Lillian Johnson, pioneer southern educator, gave her frame house and farm land to the new School, the founders resolved not to create another formal institution, but to develop an educational and cultural center 10 meet the needs of the students themselves, and of the community, Hence, during the firat few weeks, the house served chiefly as a community center, where neighbors dropped in for a eocial evening of songs and friendly discussion with the tcachers. Later, a few of the neighbors asked for a discussion class, and during the first winter, evening classes dealing with psy- chology, economics, and current events, grew naturally out of the interests of the community folk. A few resident studenia began to live at the school and to be given individual instruction in writing and speaking. In addition, each selected a community activity ranging from music classes and a dramatice club to educational meetings among the miners and relief workers in neighboring communi- ties, Thus, the three aspeets of interrelated activity which the school now carries on, grew out of the demands of the first year: I—the residence program of short courses and weekend conferences for workers, H]--the work in the community. ; Hi—the extension program, in which students and staff carry the educational work to other rural and indus- trial areas. i we ee