The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-10-17
A Card from superintendent Watkins,

The Laurens Graded School has
opened with the largest attendance
that it has ever had. The teachers are
competent, faithful and earnest in
their work. The pupils are bright
and as a rule studious and well be.
haved. These things being true, why
should not the school do as good work
as the best schools in the State, or at
least as the average school? We think
that it does. SO far as we know, nc
pupil has finished the Ninth Grade and
failed to enter the Freshman Glass OF
any College. The fact is nearly every
College in the State will receive into
the Freshman class without exam1na-
tioas pupils who have finished the
Ninth Grade. No pupils who have
finished our Ninth Grade and entered
College have failed to stand high in
their classes, most Of them standing at
or ncar the head Of their class.
II pupils who finish the Ninth Grade
can enter the Freshman class in Col
lege, why a not those who finish the
Tenth Grade enter the Sophomore
Class?
The 10th Grade is a review Grade
and ouI little work is done in the 10th
Grade in Of what has been
done in the 18th, Sth and 9th Grades. 1t
has been a question with the Trustees
n the Superintendent whether this
review course or an advanced course
would be better. but as most pupils
who attend College go from the 9th
Grade we run the review course to
more thoroughly prepare for the du-
ties of life pupils who cannot 90 to
College. Besides those finish the 10th
Grade work are better prepared for
College, because of this review. AS
stated above we believe the work in
the Laurens Graded Schools will COM
other Graded Schools of the State, but
we believe with proper cooperation
between patrons and teachers better
work can be done.
There are cevcral reasons why the
schools are not accomplishing the best
possible results.
The first that | will mention and per-
haps the first in Importance is the de-
sire on the part of parents to have
their children advanced too rapidly
The teachers desire the pupils to ad-
II rapidly and the Superintendent
desires it. When the parent comes
with an earnest request that the child
be put forward and promises faithfully
too often yield and allow children to
undertake work for which they are
not prepared. What is the result? The
child falls behind, becomes discour-
aged, loses interest, Is ~inattentivc,
gets into mischief and the work of the
whole Grade is retarded.
In the next place some who are pre-
pared for the work at the beginning of
the session spend their afternoons in
idleness, are absent from school or in
some way get behind their classes and
are 0 o as much hindrance to their
classes as those who have been pro.
noted u%nprepared. A servant that
would lose a day or two every week
and spend a good portion Of his time
strolling about the streets would be re.
garded as utterly incompetent, bat
some fathers and mothers seem to think
that their children can miss days from
school, III about the streets in the at.
%ternoons and still do school work. Let me
say with all earnestness that going to
school is a business, an important bust.
ness, the chief and almost only bust:
ness of most children. | know that
children need recreation; | know they
have q right to their frolic and fun and
l would not put one unnecessary re.
straint upon them, but If they are ever
to become true men and women much
restraint and guidance is necessary.
j. 3. WATKINS.