The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-20
OUR SCHOOL,.
High Praise OF the Management
Rendering TO Caesar the Things
that are Caesar's-Mutual Work Of
Parent and Teacher.


Editor Press and Banner:
Allow me to thank you for your edl
torial commenting the management o
the Graded School under the direction
of Prof. Gillian. Your words Of mod
est praise were what any and every
patron of the school might have
spoken. One of Prof. Gilliam's little
first grade scholars was very sick al
my house when your article appeared,
and this accounts for my delay in
thanking you.
It Is q beautiful custom to scatter
flowers and praise over the dead, but
far more divine to speak an honest
word of commendation to the living,
especially to the faithful teacher who
does work for time and eternity.
Where does the teacher stand in re-
gard to our children? The Almighty
God our heavenly father comes first,
the parent second, the teacher third.
Does he not occupy a position which
should be hedged about almost by di-
vinity: If child grown to mature
years defies this sscred trinity of spir-
itual, loving. guiding counsel, into
whose hands does he fall? Into the
stern clutches of the law as represent
ed In the person of Magistrate and
Sheriff. Then how 1t becometh, yea,
and profiteth US to uphold the disci.
pline of the teacher and like Moses
friends hold up his hands that he may
have the strength to carry this impor-
tant issue to finish.
Having had seven children-five
sons and two daughters-to attend the
Graded School under its present prin-
cipal, I may speak as it were ex cathe-
dra. Yes, with the authority which
comes from certain acknowledgement
guess work, not imagination, but from
cool, matter-of-fact, business point OF
view. Two of these seven are teachers
of the best paid schools in this or ad-
Joining counties, their earning capaci-
Z ty being from seventy to eighty dollars
per month, in schools averaging ali
eight months term. The third enter
ed Freshman class in male college af-
ter having finished the eighth grade.
The progress of the other four Is all
that could be desired. One of these,
under Prof. Gilliam's brilliant and
unique plan of advancement, making
two grades in one year. "Render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesars "
Aud this saying reminds Us that this
remarkable feat is also due to the bril-
liant conscientious efforts of that peer
less teacher, Miss Kate Jackson Har-
ris, of the fifth grade and Alabama.
do not know that 1t Is at all wise to
speak 30 openly of our treasures oil
school teachers-some other bailiwick
will be making them tempting offers.
Mr.. Editor, you are always working
for the advancement of your Able
vile; IL you think best, suppress this
dangerous information.
Again, with reverence we write it
this sacred trinity which guards the
holy portals of childhood-Almighty
God, the parent, the teacher, constitute
sort Of priesthood to which many are
called. See to it, parents, that you put
not the sacred fire which God hath en-
trusted to us to unholy purposes.
"Touch not mine anointed" is an or
thodox command, and is so laid down
in the discipline of our churches.
Therefore when we do not by every
means In our power defend this conse.
Grated, yet to our visible eye, unor-
dained priesthood, we deny the faith.
In olden times Jerusalem, the city
which the Christ wept over, stoned
the prophets. Who were the proph-
cts? Tie teachers of The people. Do
, we not remember that awful punish
ment inflicted upon those parents
whose forty children mocked the aged
prophet? Their children were slain
and devoured by bears. Are we guilt
less in this enlightened age? Do we
stone the prophets? Aye, perhaps if
we had our justice the bears would de-
YOUR the parents instead of the chill
dren, who only cried, "Go up, thou
baldhead ~
It Is q sad fact that our newspapers,
our societies, our daily conversation
teaches to our children lot of senti-
mental sedition which Is, tiguratively
speaking, sowing the wind to reap the
whirlwind. We hear 80 much bitter.
ness about the civil war, that colossal
crime of the nineteenth century,
which left widows and orphans, desc
lation and ashes for our portion. All
this one-sided talk sinks deep into the
minds of tender, uniformed intellects,
and presently you hear the young
creatures say something bitter about
our government. Who among us is
endeavoring to stem the tide? Our
old soldiers? Our old soldier editors?
Some few golden hearted, too brave to
be embittered by defeat, set noble ex.
ample, but they are conspicuous by
their paucity. But our teachers are
certainly doing their duty along tha
line. They are working silently, yet
surely, to build New South, which
casting the dead past behind keeps
step with the chariot wheels of pro.
gress and radiant future of mental
and industrial development. We do
not wish to be disrespectful or icono-
elastic, but in ali seriousness the man
who by brain or money builds up the
industries of our country is worth to
the South ten thousand Jefferson Da-
vises. We are not inviting the proph-
ets' death, therefore we will not say all
that could be said along this line.
Yes, history repeats itself. Coming
down to the time Of the Roman EN-
perors, instead of rocking or stoning
8 man to death, they tried often to pro-
long life, yet inflict the keenest tor
ture. For instance, young convert
to Christianity was discovered and up
on his refusing to sacrifice to the gods
of the Emperor, he was degraded from
his rank in the imperial army and sen.
fenced to death, with the proviso that
at any time he might recant. The
young martyr was bound, nude. to a
tree, and a legion Of dark Lybian arch
ers were detailed to slowly shoot their
arrows into the quivering flesh, yet
none were allowed to touch a vital
spot. The emperor and his court be.
hold tho hrouo onooto alp from tho no