The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-04
AN INDIGNANT CORRESPONDENT.
Speaks Plainly of Errors in tho
School management.

Il S1bCtefkS LII vi Ak AAS
School Management.
Editor Press and Banner:
Humanity is prone. to err; also, to COM
plain. l observed III intiInation in your pa
per, not long since, that the local public school
authorities Of this county are contemplating
TO- elevate the standard OF scholarship in grad
ing would-be teachers and postpone opening
the school term until about the first of Feb
ruary. AS to the former idea. the powers
that be- perhaps, entertain The hope or over
coming some p~erceivable defects that exist
which are antagonistic TO the rue 1aodus opcr-
andi Of teaching the "youflg idea how to
shoot" Laudablc ambition. Bat the short
sighted conception OF your humble cores
pondent convinceS him that the good aimed
ut will not compensate for the immense trou.
be teachers are subjected to in going 10 and
from the Court House, it may be, through
mud, rain and Icy weather, and many of
them too, of the "Weaker vessel" to come in
puzzling grammatical, geographical, matle-
~inatical and non-essenlial inlerrogatiOnsever-
l~astingly. I have no faith in such ordeal.
the law requiring It, shonid be abolished or
satisfaction. The correct solution of which.
may or may not be-. to a limited extent, II
specimen OF scholarship, but, I assert, 1t is
not the proper test Of usceriaining the good
teacher" The art Of impartiny, Is equally en-
titlea to as much sway or esteem In the school
room as knowledge, and yet 1t Is ignored.
Both elements are req uiSite to advance puer-
lie education. a teacher may know 'it alp
but, W~oefully defective IN the natural gift of
ilnprcsSing the upon the youthful
aspirant. 10 speak candidly, lam impressed
with the opinion, the school system as 1t
exists is q nuisance and tax upon the people
from which no beneficial results accrue to the
rising generation, and therefore, should be
eradicated and numbered with the debris of
the past. ! class 1t amOngSt the foremost of
the completcst humbugs of the age. The lat
ter idea, defcrrlng toopen the scholastic term,
until about first of February, in my humble
opinion, Is an arrangement Of the Board, that
class Of people that earn their subsistence In
tilling the soil. Great deal Of complaint Is
uttered in this matter and l am dispose d, al
so, to raise Il voice Of objection. The Board
may be Influenced by some pure, i'm partial
motive In modifying the term, but we confess
our inability to comprehend 1t and hope will
be relieved OF this ig lOrant dilemma In your
next issue. If we are convinced 1t Is intend
ell for the general educational good, free from
remain t%aciturn on that point. ] do not wish
to be regarded as encroachlng upon the high
plane Of n dictator in making suggestions
what ought to be done, butt cannot remain
mute, when an occasion presents itSelf, to en-
press an opinion. whether it Is entitled toany
consideration or not. My opinion Is, the pub
lie school term should not disregard October,
November. December and January, the very
months, together with February and March,
the farmers can best afford for their children
education. Their condition are of such char
acter they can't dispense OF their children's
labor in the summer months. Give them all
the facilities possible, TO school their children
without interfering too seriously with their
farming interests. {. II.