The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-10-13
The Greenwood Schools.
Editor Press and Banner

Editor Press and Banner:
We arc glad to report the success sful
workings of the different schools in
town. They are being managed upon
the broad basis of pure and liberal
education. More energy is being eXerted
in this direction than has been man.
ifested heretofore for many years. This
is q step in the right direction, and if
perscvered in will prove blessing to
the town and country. We notice a rad
ical change in the Toclfs O11cr01adi in
the class room, and the order of educa-
lion being taught. A thorough up-root-
ing of the old curriculum of textbooks,
and a complete revolution in the order
Of thinking, show pre-eminently that
the Greenwood schools are alive and
wide awake to the ne necessity Of taking
passage in the car Of progress as ii passes.
| The teachers have SO classed their stu
dents that none are held in check, or
others too hurriedly pushed forward,
thereby giving to the patron Whid pro
quO for amount of tuition charged. The
idea held prominent, and course pur-
sued, show that the case of each student
has been considered with an eve to his
| future usefulness. TO instance, why
should students spend time in the study
of Geometry, when its application to
surveying ard leveling is omitted
This is ridiculous and farclcal. The To-
gician will call us to task and pronounce
Judgment against us for this assertion,
but we contend that the "art of reason
ing" must be obtained by a shorter
route, with less expense than the rigid
rules of logic require. In other words,
iS for /, 70 0f hn nl,
pay out money for certain studies unless
Il collegiate course is intended. Let us
! first shape our course, and then apply
ourselves accordingly. The present
times require us to know we'll what we
pretend to follow. a smattering educa-
tiOn-so called--must give place to the
pure and applied principles of thorough
education. AS everybody can't be law
yers, doctors and philosophers, then of
course the studies of logic, rhetoric and
the languages can not be available ;
hence the absurdity of spending time
and money in that direction.
Only study those things that will di-
rcctly apply to our special avocatiOns
in life. In this way we apply the study
daily, and become masters of our pro-
fessions. The mere committal of rules
and formulas to memory is no part of
education, without the power Of apply
ing them to whatever practice or course
we see fit. What would the rules of
grammar profit us, unless We apply them
to the correction of our imperfect lam
guage? Algebra, with its representa-
tons, would be meaningless signs and
symbols; but when applied, reveal most
beautiful mathematics.
TO close these thoughts, we advise pa
irons of schools only to suffer such
studies rs their children viii! need in
their various relations of life. Go with
| the times.
CHURCHES.
Three churches in town, and the nu-
cleus of the fourth. The several church
es have good membership now, with a
tendency to increase.
The Presbyterians are just finishing
their beautiful little church-a gem and
ornament to the town. They dedicate
| it on next Saturday, when an immense
crowd is expected. Would it not pay
YOU to come down
MORE ANON.