The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-01-27
ABBEv1LLE HIGH SCHOOL.
Suggestions i'm Reference to q School
Ruf1dtnE.

! Since the published statement. q few week
since, Of the condition and progress Of on
school, my at tentiOn has been occupied in de
viSing some means by which we can raise ri
school house; for no one cln form prOre
idea. except from experience, of the wrctchet
condition or our present one. During the Sc
we're weather which we have just experienced
H. was utterly impossible to teach our pupils
properly. on account of the coldneSs of the va
r0uS rooms The pupils of the past may eas
lily recall the disadvantages under which they
suffered and must know that no improve
ment, tending to our comfort. has been SubSe
Quently made. On the contrary, fear, thu
building has been allowed to grow worse ant
worse, and is now almost uninhabltable. ARE
the people of our town willing to subject thei
convinced, from the generous tendencies o
our town in other directions. that II any one
suggest plausible means of raising the neccs
sary amount, all will readily acquiesce, and
that they who might discern some trivial Ol
apparent objection, will overlook ii, wher
they consider the deficiencies from which oul
town is suffering, due entirely to the lack o
such q building.
send their children from home. in order tha
they may obtaina finished educaticm; where
as, If we had Il school Of thorough training In
our town, many would save hundreds of dol
lars that they are now compelled to spend, IN
dcfnying the expenses OF a boarding school
Judging from the competency of my assist
ants, l feel that lam Justified il saying that
can raise our school to its proper standard, i
l be- provided with suitable building. !
therefore, after various comparisons. have
concluded that 1t would be most eXpedient
in our present condition, to impose small
tax, by which the necessary sum can be rails
ed. Aware Of the unpleasiLntneSS attached tC
the word "taN," would like to say. just here
that my ideas do not aspire to any eXtrava
CANT expenditures, nor 10 anything more than
n building that will provide us with such com
forts aS are conditional of our teaching prop
erly: 1t will not require more than $1,000 nl
81 800 for the erection of such q building. TC
obtain this sum would not require tax o
more than mill or l% mill per cent. The
owner, then. OF 5000 worth Of property would
have only s. additional to pay, while owners
reduction. Can any one, then, hesitate TO con
cur in this measure? Would 1t not be a forci
BILE eXemplitcation Of the old maxim, "Com
parisoms are od,ous," and absurd might say
i'm this instance. at lcaSt,-to compare this
small sum with theinfinite advantages that
we would obtain from such un enterprise
Not only from an education point, can we
view this subject; but shall try to touch up
on few of the othor advantages that oul
community would reap from this cXpendi
ture
In the first place, school If high standing
will attract families to our town; for men are
beginning to recognize the primary import
ance of education to their children and will
choose, AS Il residence, that place which can
furnish the most thorough training. Thus
the demand for our property will become
greater; and Il greater demand will necesSi
tn lie an increased value. Again what gives q
town more nOtorety than q t1ouriShing schoo
in it's midst? Will not this notoriety be one
means of attracting the trade Of our county
and be q source of gain to our people? There
Is. also. no safer Standard by which we car
measure the improvement Of any place. thar
ills educational advancement. 1t will not re
quire more than Il moments glance TO discern
The great efforts that other PAGES are making
in behalf of education. Are we, then, willing
to stand still and look, with conpoSurc, upon
the jealous, educational, success of Other
places? Our school is now teeming with pu
pills. eager to learn, and will succeed, If Oul
people sympathizc with it and lend it a help
Ing hand.
At the last meeting Of our school board, the
most satisfactory reports wers read of its con
ditiOn. The roll numbers, now, more thar
ninety pupils, and the general tendency of Oui
school promises gratifying success. This Is
of course, due In large measure, t0.the awak
cncd interest of our community and Is high!
by us; but our friends must eXer
themselves more vigorously and aid us. mate
rally, in our efforts to make our school u feat
ure of our town and an ornament to it. Lei
us, thcn, take hold OF this measure and ell
force it, or if any more suitable one can bt
suggested, shall be pleased to have it Substi
tutcd. IN conclusion, repeat that in no 9th
or way, can the expenditure of such Il sum b(
laden with more lasting and impressive bcne
fits to our people than in the cause of ctuca
tion. THE PRINCIPAL.