Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-01
Miseellauenus Readins.
The YORKYILLE GRADED SCHOOL.
A Surprised Patron Is Delighted With the
Efficiency Of the Institute.

A Surprised Patron Is Delighted with the
Efficiency Of the Institute.
Editor Of The Enquirer.
One day last week, received
neatly written invitation to be present
at an entertainment to be given by the
pupils of the graded school on Tues
day morning, December 81, beginning
at 10.15 o'clock.
Now, 1 will say in the outset, that I
have always been a friend of the
school, having worked for it in every le-
gitimate way before it was established,
and have always stood by it since,
when any voting was to be done or
taxes paid but bad never been in the
school building when the school was
in session, or when the teachers and
pupils were there, and have only been
there barely once at any other time,
and that was when was invited by
several friends to 60 round with them
on tour of inspection.
After receiving the invitation above
referred to, and thinking the matter
over, I decided to be on hand on Tues
day. went and am glad 1 did, and
every other citizen in the town who
will do likewise, will be pleased with
what he sees and hears if he will 60
to the school when the teachers and
pupils are at work whether or not he
has son or daughter, grandson or
granddaughter, nephew or neice, or
other relatives receiving its benefits,
provided, of course, he has heart
that goes out to his fellows and does
not measure everything by dollars and
cents, and realize that there is future
ahead of us as we'll as past behind
us.
shall not attempt to make an elab-
crate and minute report Of everything
that was said and done. Suffice it to
say that the entertainment consisted of
songs, recitations and dialogues appro-
pirate to the Christmas season, by the
pupils in the grades presided over by
Misses Florrie Allison, Maggie Gist
and Jennie Hart. The manner in
which each pupil carried out its part,
was conclusive evidence that the
teachers are competent, faithful and
efficient, and are doing a work that
will be felt in this community long
after the friends and enemies (O of the
school who took sides for and against
it at the time of its establishment, have
Joined the silent majority.
There is no doubt of the fact that
this is an age of Improvement, end it
is equally true that as much, or more,
progress has been made in the school
books and methods of teaching during
the past twenty years, than in any
other. I heard and saw things on
Tuesday that would have been con-
sidered marvellous less than twenty
years ago. Boys and girls, less than
eight years old, recited pieces and en-
gagged in dialogues with a calmness
and composure that would have mark
ed them as precocious in the days
when Webster's blue back spelling
book, Pixies arithmetic and Smiths
grammar were the favorite text books
for all pupils from 10 10.
The teachers stated that in prepar-
ing for the entertainment, not one
minute had been lost from the regular
work of the school, and that all prep
arations had been made during the
past two weeks, during the recess hour,
and after school had closed in the
afternoon.
In conclusion, I desire to return
thanks, for the entertainment, to the
teachers and pupils, and to say to the
former, that while the outside world
does not fully realize or appreciate the
importance of the work, still they
have great responsibility on them,
and the Yorkville of the future will,
in a large measure, be what they
make it.
must say something about the dis
cipline of the school as it impressed
me. 1t seems to be perfect. "The
worst boys in town" are, of course,
pupils in the school; but defy a
stranger to pick them out while in
school. If the parents of the town
could see their boys and girls as these
teachers do, and control them as they
do, they would grow to be better men
and women than the signs indicate at
present from their neighbours stand
point. The whole trouble, however,
is due to the fact that We can See the
faults in other peoples children but
not in our own. The teachers in the
graded school see them all as they are,
and govern themselves accordingly.