The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-03-05
gnasgspa gntelligeneer.
TEAGHERs'Go COLUMN.
J. G.. CLINKSCALES, EDITOR.
A CURIOSITY.

While out among the schools two
weeks ago We happened upon curiosity,
o real curiosity. 1t is called school.
As we approached we noticed six or eight
small boys scamper off toward the house.
"That is the way they do things here"
was the prompt reply of our companion,
q Trustee, to our question as to what it
meant. We entered after time. We
found we'll constructed house made
comfortable by handsome, new stove,
furnished with bright, new derks. and
occupied by quite number of children
and what they called their teacher. Tne
teacher met Us at the door with DISNEY.
eled Eair and boot legs outside his pants,
and with an calculate, Good morning,
gentlemen, come in and be seated" re.
sumed his work. And such work AS it
was-may the fates deliver us from see.
ing such again. The floor looked like it
had not been swept in month; the
children were allowed to go out Just when
they pleased and return il 1t suited them :;
they were allowed to sit wherever they
desired and TO change seats at will ; they
were allowed to make as much noise rs
they could, studyipg out in a tone pain.
fully ito us) audible, having no restraint
put upon them whatever. Now, then.
leave it To the reader to say whether that
il not @ real curiosity. Just imagine
thirty children spelling out with all their
might while the teacher is pretending to
teach class Of six or eight. Well that
il not the worst of it. That teacher (?)
has been going on for years just that way.
The fact that such o thing is III existence
in Anderson County is 30 ridiculous that
one becomes almost diagustcd at the
thought of it. But tho worst Is not told
yet. That teacher ~ does not propose
to change his modus operandi. When we
callsd his attention to the big mistake he
had made in discarding all system, he
threw himself back on his dignity, and
replied with all the pomposi,y Of style /:
eyes, sir; but that is simply difference
of opinion. have tried your plan, aud
I prefer this. l give satisfaction to tho
patrons, and the children arc progressing
finely. allow the children to go aud
come as they feel disposed, and all ro
quire of them il to know their lessons I"
We tried to argue the question with him
respectfully, but he very soon convinced
uB that we were beating the wind. The
great trouble 10 that he knows 1t ell.
My predecessor informs me- that lie knew
it ell years ago. He wants no sugges
tions, will take no instructions, and wilI
make no changes. Now he has been u
boy, and ought to know that it will not
do to give boy such privileges rs he
gives them. Will not nine teu,hs Of the
boys, uEder such circumstances, foul
away Dine.tenths of their time? Ger.
tlinly they will. He said his pupils were
progressing finely. We examined them
and found that they knew nothing. Que
class had passed through common and
decimal fractions, yet they couldn't make
the sign Of addition Or substraction.
They had been studying geography for
months, but il was ouiy utter very puiu
ful effurt that one could give me few Of
the natural divisions of the land and the
water. We mention these things, frat,
to let the friends Of education in Ander.
son ClVnty know what we have in our
midst, and that 1t 10 called . sUhoul, aud
secondly, that our friend may take warn
ing and change his plans. We would
not deal harshly with him, but We can
not afford to deaf leniently toward him to
the detriment of the interests Of the con. {.
niunity he pretends to serve. He says
hs cav 10 some paper that some very dis.
tinguished educator is advocating his
plan. Surely he meant his Dant OF u
plan. We would like to know who that
distinguished editor is. Unless our
friend shake up his school from center to
circumference aud begin new school
work, he can not expect TO hold his posi-.
tion. We will be forced to revoke his
certificate. That would be very unpleus
ane-qpite unpleasant; but when duty
calls we have to obey.