Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-09-15
I" Patrony in Reply to Messrs. J. ".
Bearden and ]. A. Elrod and School
Commissioner Macaulay.

.oAKwAY, S. c., September 5, 1892.
MEssRs. EDITORS: notice cards in a
recent issue OF your paper from Commis-
sioner Macaulay and Messrs. j. W. Bear
den and j. a. Elrod, denying that they
have ever signeu a pay certificate author
izing the public funds to be paid out for
the services of teacher who did not
hold certificate from our county board
of examiners. How strange it seems for
church members, Sunday school workers
and even preachers to deny thing which
they know to be a positive truth! Now,
wish to ask Mr.. Bearden that if he does
not well know that his daughter, Miss
Anna Bearden, taught school in Febru-
ary, 1891, at Bethel Academy, in District
No. 5, and that pay certificate for her
services was made out in W. A. Shell
dod's name? And at that time, while
service was rendered by Miss Bearden,
was not Mr.. Sheldon in Atlanta, Ca,
attending medical institution, where he
had been for five or six months previous: ?
Now, Mr.. Bearden, can you deny this?
Can Mr.. Elrod deny this? And can Mr..
Macaulay deny that he was notified of
this monkey work. before he approved
this certificate? These are cold facts
which truthful men cannot deny, and if
they should, can and will furnish the
proof. Even the records in the Commis-
sioner's Office will bear me out in these
statements. This pay certificate was
presented to D. T. DAILY, school trustee
of said district, for his approval, but he
refused and protested against as hereto
fore stated; but Mr.. J. ". Bearden and
Mr.. j. A. Elrod did approve it under his
protest, and the money was drawn on it.
Can this be denied9 Every patron in the
district knows that Miss Bearden did
teach at the time and place above ST ed,
and every pupil knows that Mr.. Sheldon
was not in the school room during the
time she was teaching. And Why make
the pay certificate in his name? VIII
Messrs. Bearden and Elrod please tell Us?
Is it not plain that they, as trustees, rec
ognized the fact that Miss Bearden could
not lawfully teach in the public schools
for the reason that she had no certificate
from our county board of examiners? l
call the attention of Messrs. Bearden,
Elrod and Macaulay to Section 1905 OF
the School Law of South Carolina, part
of which SAYS: 'No teacher shall be
employed in any of the free public
schools without certificate from the
county board of examiners or the State
board of examiners" Section 1919 says:
'.All claims of every description against
the public school funds, ar3 the correct
ness and legality of the same, shall be
sworn to and subscribed by the person
presenting such claims before it shall be
approved by the person or persons
authorized by law to give such approval y
1 ask Messrs. Bearden and Elrod if they
did not know that said pay certificate
was Incorrect and iUcga! when they, as
sworn officers of the State, approved it?
And did Mr.. Macaulay not know the
same? And what respect have they for
-ssis sss5ss g oihcss
this Why should they care to sign such
statements IS "the above charge is false, y
ETC., without any remorse Of conscience
whatever? l very respectfully call the
attention of the grand Jurors Of oconee
county to Section 1920 of the School Law
of South Carolina. In conclusion, l sub
NIT certified statement from D. T. DAILY,
school trustee of Bethel School District
No. 5, to which call your attention.
PATRON.