The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-12-12
A PIE. for the High school.

The weakest and most neglected part oil
our. Educational System, Ia that stage be.
Therefore the greatest need OF the Education
Q! System Of South Carolina today, 10 the
high School. 81. ~
II this is true OF the State. It is preeminent.
~ true Of Abbeville aud Abbevllle County.
With all our bossted heritage Of an aristocra-
cy, and material prosperity, aud education.
tal growth. there is not High School In
Aboeville County; and yet scores upon scores
better than the Old aeId school Of i've or ak
months In the year. II does not take q
prophet to predict the future OF this lamiuta-
bla state OF Affairs. And 80 I repeat: The
greatea need Of our Educational System Is he
i. argue nrst, from the standpoint Of the
public schools. By far the majority Of them
are taught by one teacher. There are from
20 TO 90 pupils crowded TO one small room
"a condensation OF q dozen grades to be
taught by one teacher, and II this is the only
hope OF an education because no better
school IL within reach, there is but little as:
ins, ss. and the vast msjority Of our noble sons
and daughters are growing up In illiteracy
and doomed TO poverty. The near by High
Sbhool would serve, as an Incentive 70 look
We remain as we are-without the High
School; II there are few pupils In the pub
lic schools who have enough ambition to
pursue their studies beyond the point or
ana e. q
the msjority Of the children are left to them.
selves 20 Idle away their ttme,-simplV be-.
cause the teacher Is trying 70 do the advance
HSa S
through the country are taught by teachers
who never attended q High Sbhool, or any
other. higher than that which they are try
simpIy "playing at school," and In some in.
dances ouroountry schools are failure. The
Summer Schools" are we'll enough, as in.1
spirationsl factors, but they do moi supply
The High School; near enough and cheap
enough, is the only hope for the supply oil
good teachers for the public schools. College
graduates are ont OF the question as teachers
for these email rural schools. x 81
= II. argue In the second place for tie High
School from the standpoint OF the College. a
During the. strengency OF hard times the
colleges had 10 resort 70 all sorts OF methods
in order 70 nlt mp the required number Of
students necessary 70 meet the running ex
penses-it. was matter OF life and death
Every body who knocked at ther DOORS
whether prepared or not, had TO be admitted,
In order 70 maintain an extstance; and 20
colleges. were filled with many. boy and girls
who had no business in the world in col.
lege The result necessitated preparatory
classes to be taught by the regular college
professors, who gave much Of their umel
changing. The colleges are no longer depend
emit upon this ever enlarging number OF
poorly prepared students for their existence
No where else is the wonderful prosperity OF
the large number OF Students now overflow
ing nearly every college In he land
Therefore the colleges will soon pay but Ut
tie attention TO the Snb.freshnnan tls6seB,
department, for two reasons, first
because they are mo- longer dependent upon
their patronage for livelihood, and second be.
bause they have no time for this primary
work. @sJ-:.-F -; -, q r. ~
Thus we are now right up against the prob
lem OF the High School," We must have ii
Without It we will sink 70 ignorance, and
oblivion. With It. We Will swim to victory |
One OF the Professors at Clinton remarked
10 me not many days ago. that he was glad |
that Abbeville was soon to have High
School that he wished the Synod Of 8. O. bad |
l!x. instead OF one; M and ;ts1 that one Of their
freshmen work. that 1t was not only 6 |
hindranoe TO the best results OF the college, |
but was positive burden, and such q |
drudgsry that It left but little time for their
real college work. ''a
Time and energy are thus expeoed on the |
classes that ought TO be given to |
The regular College Glasses. The prepared |
Students are neglected, while the professor |
Ia trying TO bring up the deficient students |
May God speed the day when we'll equipped |
High Schools shall fulhl their missions. and |
thus unloose this mill.stone that is tied about |
The necks Of our college professors
According TO the United States report, |
there we're over 1000 students last year in the |
preparatory departments OF the colleges OF
south Carolina. -.
MY experience and observation have CON.
vipced me that there are very few boys and |
girls seeking admission into our colleges. |
who are really prepared for college. And / |
further know from experience that to 70 to |
college 1nprepored-with no foundation, is |
tbe most hazardous thing in a boys educa-
lion. II makes bis whole course q life long
drudgery, or. he soon becomes discouraged,
aives up the fight, and goes home TO resign |
himself TO q life OF ignorance
But this ts not all the argument for the |
High School. II TO establish feeders for COL |
leges were all our plea. we could appeal only |
10 the select few. It 10 indeed q grand and |
Inn portsnt work TO prepare students for COL |
ege, and II Is gratifying observation OF re-
,ent years. that the number OF college
students is constantly increasing, and vet il !
rename a fact that the vast msjcrity-the |
great controlling masses, never set loot on COL
Iege SOIL.
The great need OF the High School Ia to pre-
pare this GLASS for the common pursuits or
every day life and intelligent society. We |
need the High School within reach OF the |
masses, in order to put the stamp Of grace, |
and lift the rising generation 70 an tntelii-
gent conception OF the christian life.
The College 10 q grand institution, filling
It's mission In the world nobly well; but IL |
touches life only here and there. Now and |
then q boy or q girl is privtledged 10 enter It's
walls. But establish the High School within |
walking or riding distance, on an economical |
basis, and you put q good, practical, busine ess
education within reach Of every home
There are hundreds of youth in Soufh Caro-