The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-15
TO the Patrons OF Public Schools.
From the Easley Progress.

From the Essley Progress.
Dear Friends: Will you read this
article as a letter from personal friend
and note carefully whether or no there
is anythingethat will apply to you per
sonally, and if there is, note that point
in particular and see whether we are
correct in our conclusions or not and II
you find that we are correct. then will
you not make an earnest effort to Grad
icate that one thing and thereby make
our schools more successful?
First. Do we take the interest in
the education of the hearts and minds
of our children that we should? Do
we see to it that our children are in
school every day possible or do we
just send them when it is the most
convenient and there is nothing that
we can think of for them to be work.
ing at, at home? Do we send them to
school that they may be better equip
ped to fight the battles of life, that
they must undoubtedly soon have to
fight, or do we send them to get rid OF
them? I have heard mothers say,
81 do wish school would begin; my
children just worry the very life out
of me-" and usually when I hear such
such remark I ask, "If your child
rem have been brought up in such a
manner that their department will
worry their own mothers and fathers
30, what do you think they will do for
the teacher that has perhaps twenty
times as many to look after as you"'
Do you inquire daily as to what is 60
ing on and take exceptions to every
thing that is done and express your
selves very plain and positively, perhaps
sending the teacher an open note that
the child could read and show to every
pupil he comes in contact with on the
road to school, telling them that these
are my PAS opinions of that thing that
is trying to teach over here; or per-
haps what is still worse send lot of
verbal messages, such as, "Don't let
my Charlie sit with Mr.. BIS
Sammie;" Don't have my Lucy to
commit the tables to memory, I never
had to and 1 have always made liv.
ing" Don't have Johnnie writin them
thar fool assays and comperzitins I
never fooled away my time at such
whin was gittin my eddication and
I can express mysef good as I wan ter?"
All such things not only rob your own
child of it's rights and advantages, but
at the same time rob your neighbors'
children also, and many school is
broken down, or at least badly crippled
by such doings.
Secondly. Do you see to it that
your child has a textbook for each
branch you expect him to study. or do
you expect him to sit with Mr.. Rs
child and study in his book ; and if
that is the case how do you expect
him to do any work along that branch
at night? You would not think of un-
dertaking to raise crop depending
upon your neighbours horse, plow, har-
row, and other implements yet you
follow the same plan in not providing
textbooks for your children.
Thirdly. Do you imagine that your
uncle, aunt, brother, sister, nephew or
neice, or some other member of your
immediate family is the only person
competent to take charge of your
school, and because the board do not
see fit to employ that particular person,
do you draw back and refuse to send
your children, thereby robbing them
of the only right that is granted them
by the government they are expected
! to love and obey?
Fourthly. Do your make you arrange
ments to send your children the first
day of school, or do you wait couple
of weeks for the school to get in good
running order and then start them ?
Did you ever work for some one az a
4 n hov nh nf or
six horse team and let your employer
take out one or two of your trained
horses and substitute new and untrain-
ed ones in their place? If 30, you can
form something like an idea of what
the teacher has to contend with when
he or she Is enrolling new pupils every
morning for perhaps full month, or
as is often times the case enrolling
some one every few days all through
the term. If you will stand by placid
lake or pond and cast pebble into it
and watch the numberless ripples and
waves that it will make on the before
smooth surface, you will see very
good illustration of what patrons who
are careless in regard to starting their
children do for the workings Of their
school. We used to teach In Aiken
county, commencing in October, and
several would say that it was too early,
they could not get ready to send at
first. We would finish the three
months and 20 to Edgefield county
and open the first of January and that
was too early again for some. 80 we
have been put hard to it to find time
when all could send in at the begin
ming.
In conclusion, let me say that if the
above mentioned are habits of patrons
in Pickens county ( which I hope is
not the case }, instead of being an ad-
vantage to the progress of the schools,
Just in proportion as you indulge in
these things, just that far you are q
break and hindrance to its develop
ment and success.
Allow me to ask you to do the fol-
lowing, and you will be surprised at
the rapid strides the schools of our
county will make.
See that your children attend the
first day and every day if posi-
BILE.
Do not send them to get rid of them
at home, but inspire high ideas.
Refrain from all disparaging remarks
in their presence.
Do not send messages by them to the
teacher, but see him in person.
See that each child is supplied with
the nroner books and eQuipments.