The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-10-09
COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
Some Things About m.sc:m Ti.a'
Parents Should Tscmcmber.

Some Things About r.,c:.. T,.a.
Parents Should Remembers.
One Of the greatest mistakes which
many boards OF school trustees make,
says the Communer, 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
or the benefit they have alright to de-
mand from the money spent for theil
instruction. The country school, in
too many instances, seems to be given
over TO the prentice hand'' OF young,
inexperienced boys and girls, who
should themselves. be going to school
and the money apportinoned for the
maintenance OF the school Is thus
worse than frittered away, because ul
the careless, unScholarly way in which
the school work Is carried on. Coup-
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 a few
cents for: each taxpayer will give a
sum that would hire teacher who
would not only be II blessing III the
school room, but Il power for untold
good among the young people Of The
neigheUrhood.
In selecting "a man to care for the
stock, regard is had to his fitness for
the work, and he Is usually under sur
vcillance; 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
d few dollars Il month less on his
wages, and these wise precautions
should be eXerciZed TO IL 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, CT
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
cnts know, except by hcarSay, Cir even
tlaD OF the amount or intellectual
growth the child is making, or if it is
progressing at all? How often do they
visit the schouls? What do the dircc-
tors know about the work of the
teacher they have given the people?
Whose business it it? Who makes it
their business?
farmer who would leave the care
OF the stock entirely to the hired man,
never going near it, himself, would
be considered Il very slack 'shand,"
but very few parents visit the schools
where their most precious belongings
ale learning more than book lore. DO
you ever think that your indifence
encourages any tendency the teacher
may have to Slight or neglect the
school duties? Where visitors ale
frequent, the teacher, us we'll as the
pupils are anxious to have things IN
shape to merit approval, and we may
not measure the good our presence
and oversight may do To both. Even
at the cost OF few additional dollar,
to yourself and others, you should in
slst on giving your children the bcne-
tit OF Il teacher whose broad
knowledge, scholarly training and
ambition to earn the wages given
him, would result greatly to their nd
vantage. Children, as a rule, care
very little to go to school, except for
the excitement Of the play ground,
and the ordinary cheap" teacher has
neither the mental ability, moral
capacity or scholarly attainmcnts
with which to awaken the interest, or
arouse the mind Of the little ones
placed in his or her charge.