The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-10-07
COTiCRY SCHOOLS.
Some Things About Them That
Parents Should Remember.

One Of the greatest mistakes which
many boards OF school trustees make,
says the Conmoner, is to hire teach
ers with reference merely to the
amount Of salary stipulated for. A
cheap teacher is generally an in.
experienced one, to say the least, and
country children are thereby robbed
OF the benefit they have right to de-
mand from the money spent for thell
instruction. The country school, in
too many instances, seems to be given
over 10 the prentice hand" Of young,
inexperienced boys and girls; who
should themselves be going TO school
and tine money apportinoned for the
maintenance OF the school is thus
worse than frittered away, because OF
the careless, unScholarly way 10 which
the school work is carried ou. Coun-
try children, like city children, should
have the advantage of good teachers,
but we are sorry to say that in many
Instances, the school is given to the
one who will take it for the least
money, regardless of fitness for the
place, when the additional tax of few
cents for each taxpayer will give a
sum that would hire teacher who
would not only be a blessing in the
school room, but power for untold
good among the young people Of the
neighoorhood.
In selecting man to care for the
stock, regard is had to his fitness for
the work, and be is usually under sur
veillance: neglect or treatment tend
ing TO induce deterioration in value,
of the animals under his care, is at
once resented by the owner. The wise
farmer considers it poor economy to
leta good hand go because one OF
inferior qualifications Can be had for
a few dollars a month less on his
wages, and these wise precautions
should be eXerciZed to much greater
extent where our children are con-
cerned. How many parents know
what is taking place in the school
room, or even on the grounds, or
whether or not the teacher is even:
qualified to give oversight to the
moral department Of the children in
his or her charge? What do the par
ents know, except by hearsay, Gt even
that Of the amount OF intellectual
growth the child is making, or if it is
progressing at all? How often do they
visit the schools? What do the direc-
tors know about the work Of the
teacher they have given the people?
Whose business it it, Who makes it
their business?
A farmer vino would leave the care
of the stock entirely to the hired man,
never going near it, bimself. would
be considered a very slack hand, :"
but very few parents visit the schools
where their most precious belongings
are learning more than book lore. Do
you ever think that your inditfence
encourages any tendency the teacher
may have TO Slight or neglect the
school duties? Where visitors als
frequent, the teacher, as we'll as the
pupils are anxious to have things 10
shape to merit approval, and we may
not measure the good our presence
and oversight may do to both. Even
at the cost OF a few additional dollars
to yourself and others, you should in
sist on giving your children the bene-
lit Of teacher whose broad
knowledge. scholarly training and
ambition to earn the wages given
him, would result greatly to their ad
vantage. Children. as a rule, care
very little to 50 to school, except for
the excitement of the play ground.
and the ordinary cheap teacher has
neither the mental ability, moral
capacity or scholarly attainments
with which to awaken the interest, or
arouse the mind Of the little ones
placed in his or her charge.