The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-10-11

The foregoing explains itself.
j
DEAR EDITOR:
l saw in your issue of Oct. 4th,
whore all books now in use in the
public schools will be unlawful
after the 18th of Nov. 1901, except
few. Now, Mr.. Editor, 7 walit
to know if all those books used
last year arc to bo entirely de-
barred from the schools. Last
year and this year children pur-
chased books, which We're expen-
sive, and studied thom for only a.
short ported, having to stop school
in order to help till tho soil and
make bread Tor the homo. Now
have those pupils--that is a largo
number Of them-finished-
even gone one-third of the way In
those books. What are those who
arc unable 20 buy tho new books
prescribed by the board to do?
They have the books used last and
this year, all ovor the State. They
huye not been far enough in those
books TO even master the first IS
pages Of each book; they were sick
some days, working others, and the
school session being very shcrt,
had not much time to devote TO
their books. Now these books are
to be laid aside, not to be used
again; they can not evon exchange
thom for the ones prescribed by
the board, thereby having SO many,
books to lay around the house cov-
cred with dust-uscless, and there S,
no possible means to turn theim,
INTO capital.
l am not talking to hear myself
talk; but | know from experience.
1 had charge Of small school this
last session, and when l took charge
Of that school, children brought t
every kind Of text book possible,
by every author Imaginable.
was told that ] had to get books
for my pupils then prescribed by
the board. SO / told each one to
get the books l wrote out Oh slips
of papcr-trying to. classify" and
givo to each pupi! the books re-
quired. But, alas it was. afutile
attempt. Some said they Would
stop if they could not study the
books which they brnught 2for: :th ey
were not able to buy new unes.> So
when loft there, school being ;:out;
the children had bought no new
books, but used the same ones that
had been handed down to them
from brothers and sisters, etc.,.
OF course few bought rev
books--some very expensive ones
too--and that school session lasted
only six weeks. Under tho new
"Act" Of the board, those w"hupaid
as high as ono and two dollars for
now books, for that short session,
will have to buy other new. o1ies
before tinishing-nay,' before ;set-
ting started in the ones. bought bor
that short sossi on. :;
The, board did not tako time to
consldcr this,!"r olse they thought t
that the children fl the: country
would be '"blo to purchase pow
Onea, after cotton advanced in price;
| know that the pupils will nqt ba
able TO go to the expense OF buflNg
n new outfit Of books rcxt session,
if the majority of the country r5u.
pills are like those that l had Gndar
my charge last session. What's to
be done? Tha new "Act' says
that Il teacher wont ivy able to co..
lect their salary, if they admlt in
their schools any other books not
prescribed by the board. Ii, 6hil.
dren attend school, and are an
able to purchase five or ten dollars
worth Of new books. thsh the
teacher is to close the doorhon
them. The children go honle ahd
stay, growing up in 'ignorante,. for
tho lack Of money to follo@ the
foolish acts Of the board. Some
may think this is absurd talking,
but know from experience. While
! had my school, several pupils
were told to get the necessary pa.
per, states, books, etc but were
unable to Bot tho ones I told them /;
the parcuta became angry and
stopped their children. Something
hns to be repnired, and that. apoi
Yours .ruly,
II. j.. Bumgnrnsr.