The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-14
THE WHITE TEACHERS.
Something Told About Those Who
are in Attendance Upon the Abbe-
Vile County Summer school for
White Teachers.

Ifanyone desires to see a gathering of bright
pretty, attractive, young ladies', none OF them
out OF their twenties, and many of them still
in their teens. with an elderly matron be-
sprinkled here and there amongst them,
which but added dignity thereto, he has but
to HE himself away some morning 10 the
public school building and spend q couple of
hours there in attendance upon the Abbe-
Vile County Summer School for white teach
ers conducted with the utmost proficiency by
Prot. Ferdinand Gillian, Principal Of the
public school of this city, and most ably az.
sisted by Mics Thurston. who has for some
years past held high position in the public
schools Of Columbia. S. c., but will the COM
ing session teach in private college at At
lanta, Ga.
The only thing to mar the beauty of the
assemblage OF Abbeville County's school
"marms" Is the presence In their midst of
two scared looking men and Two sheeplsh
looking youths. These four gentlemen, a, are are
them. They seem TO be smart and Intellect
ual. But they did strike me as lookin ex.
ceedingly out OF place among this beuy OF
how would four plumeess. tail.plucked roost-
ers look at hen party.
If there are any bachelo In Aobeville who
have any desire TO embark upon the sea OF
matrimony, do not know OF anyone they
could get who would make them q better
shipmate than one OF these bright charming
school teachers. No one could make a better
wife or more fond mother than one OF these
periepce In the care OF and training OF chill.
dren and have also, more than likely, had
their temperaments Is and dispositions sweeten-
ed, (though may have been perfectly sweet
patience in their dealings with the young. /
make the above statement, you understand,
not from having had any practical expert
ence, being an old bachlor myself, but mere.
ly from theoretical observation.
I noticed that the female teachers out
mum bered the male twelve to one, and 1t
should so be. A woman Is much better fitted
to teach the young idea "how to shoot" and
TO train and instruct children than is a man.
And even under the many little trials and
difficulties that so frequently occur in q
schoolroom, a woman has the tact to straight
en- them out much better than a man. For
instance: II one OF the young girl scholars
should happen to have f1t OF hysterical
weeping (Which frequently, occurs) what
would the poor man teacher do bat put on q
look of abject despair and fold his hands in
helpless misery. But the woman teacher
would draw this young girl to her breast and
with few affectionate careses and well
chosen words comfortingly spoken. would
soon restore tranquility and in a few mo-
ments would have the nervous, overwrought
child perfectly calm. And again the little
boy, coming In from the play yard, crying
head, would get from the man teacher ::
.'That's all right Johnny, 1t will soon stop
hurting. Don't be cry baby" This, instead
Of making Johnny stop, would make him cry
all Ine worse. BuG inc lauy LeACueT WOuIQ
likely take Johnny on her lap, tenderly
touch the injured member and say: ~ am
so sorry you are hurt, Johnny, but you will
be little man now, 1 know, and not cry
the tears will dry from Johnny's eyes and
the sorrow fee from his heart like the dew
hasteleth away before the rays of the morn.
Ing sun.
For children OF both sexes before their
teens say give me woman teacher, and
think every parent In Abbeville County will
agree with me and say: "Thats my Idea
exactly" 1t is very we'll for girl TO have
lady teachers till grown. but boy, after he
enters his teens, should have man TO teach
and control him.
The subjects taught at the Abbeville County
by, Miss Thurston, and Composition and
School management by Prof. Gillian.
Thorough instruction 1s given to the "teach-
er-scholars" In all four OF these branches by
the most excellent principal and his assist
ant The instruction being largely in the
way of lectures with but few oral answers
from the "teacher-scholare," they taking
have learned at this Summer School will be
found out at the examination which begins.
believe, on the l4th inst.
The citizens OF AObeville County may well
congratulate themselves upon having such a
fine set OF public school teachers as those
who are now attending the Abbeville County
Summer School, and may safely entrust their
children TO their care with the assurance that
they will be well taught and we'll taken care
Of during the coming term.
May the Lord bless every school teacher In
this county and may they each one be chill
dren OF His, and not only teach the young
scholars. they may have In their charge,
secular knowledge, but also by their walk,
their conduct in the school room, and their
life show in practical way 10 those whom
they have in charge that there is truth and
reality In the gospel OF Jesus Christ which
they profess. w. H. M.
Abbeville, S. c., Aug. 8, 1901.