The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-20
Pnhlic High School Needed.

We hear that the proposition to give the
Presbyteriaus 10000 with which to build a
denominational high school at Abbeviile has
been abandoned. II we are right a. 10 our In
formation, the people are TO be congratulated
From the view point OF this editor there
never was a more unwlse propositi N. 1t
seems to be foolish for a community TO hu'ld
a UNCONVENTIONAL high school at a time when
the town itself needs a high school ior
all the people, to be under Cur
own control and supervision, and whose
benefits may be shared alike by people OF
every denomination, or possibly OF no de-
nomination at all.
The graded school, at this time Ia croWded
to It's capacity, and the need today Is for more
room. The condition that now confronls
this people demands that the city, or us peo-
ole, shall build additional school room.
Then, If we are 10 need OF more school
room, why not build q high school for the
town, take one or two grades from the graded
school, put them In a new school, and then
raise the standard OF the high school one,
two, or three grades as may be deemed best.
This course won i relieve the congestion at
the graded school, and be OF inestimaole
benefit 10 the people OF this city. In that
high school boys and gill s could be prepared
for he College classes al u nominal cost.
To send a boy or q girl OF TO college, when
considering all the items n preparation,
Roing and coming, the cost OF board and
tuition fees mounts generally from S2O 10
$500 q year. The cost OF sending boys and
girls TO q high school al our doors would not
pe apprecinble. And everybody known mat
when educational facilities are available al
our doors that many young people receive
educational benefits that would Otherwise
from necessity, BIZ denied to them.
Il Is true that all men should marry wives
who are competent to bring up thelr
daughters, and 1t is also true, that there are
more or less reasons why a young girl should
be at home with her mother. For many rea
sons our mothers should naturally prefer 10
keep their daughters at home until they
reach, or approach. the years CT woman
hood.
Bearing facts and reasons In mind, which
need not here be specifically referred TO-
there IL an urgent need for a high scnooi al
AbbeVille for both boys aud girls. II mere
Is a good school at home. no young boy or
young girl need be sent away from the IN
ceasingly tender care OF mother and father.
II 10 q serious matter 10 send a chilo OF ELMER
sex away from home. The associations, the
restraints, and the beneficial ipnuences al
d, stapt schools are all OF unknown quantities
ss TO power In possibly reshaplng the charac
ter and the habits OF the caiId OF tender
years.
For this reason a fearful responsibili-
~ and a great risk 10 incurred when motner
and fsther send Innocent and pure young
girls To take chances Of sompanionsbip, and
of Influences. away from home, with the
certainty Of the deprivation OF q mothers
guiding presence and tender care. Z
In our lender solicitude, and in our pride
OF pretty young daughters. ia 1t not possible
that they may be too often exposed to in
~1uences or companions that the mothers. II
their oh lid rem were at home, would not ar
proven
The education OF our girls Ia OF the frat and
last Importance, and they should be shielded
even an we shield the apple Of our eye. They
should 90 to the beat schools for their educa-
ton, training and culture, but we leave 1t for
others TO say if a girl OF too tender years
should be sent from the mothers care.
Let us brild q high school In AbbeVllle'
where all our boys and all our girls may re-
ceive a good education-a school In which
they may be prepared to enter a college class
t hat Ia higher than the lowest. Let IA huild
a school house hat 10 worthy Of Abhevi'le.
We may be able to get help from Carnegie
or Rock efeller. and we zee nothing amiss In
making an effort. We learn that Carnegie
gave I O,0OO TO build a dormitory at Due Vest.
Then. may he not be willing 10 give $40 600 or
$4,000 10 build a school or q library at Able
Vile? The time has come when we must
build more ROOM, or else bar some OF our
children from the graded school.
Let visionaries mi drea mers build school
for favored denominations. but lei sensible
men build schools for themselves.