The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-02
MR.. WICKER REPLIES.
Answers the "Kick' of Patron
Says he Likes 2 ''Kicker
Wants More.

| Wants More.
Editor Observer: I notice in your
last edition a complaint from "Pat.
ron" against the trustees Of the
graded school and the way the school
is managed.
First, let me say that we are not
satisfied with the school ourselves,
and are trying to improve the school
and bring it up to the schools that
sPatrop" has mentioned in his COM
plant, namely, Columbia, Spartan
burg, Greenville, Sumter and others.
You will say, How are you trying to
do this? I answer: By adopting the
same books that these schools are US
ing, by putting new life, by devoting
our time, by giving you good teach
ers and by doing all that we know
how for the good of the school.
What is ''Patron' kicking about ?
About buying books for his children,
so that his child can have as good a
chance to learn as the children of
these other towns. I think 'EPatron'
is paying too much for his books, as
he says it takes from $3.50 to $1,000.
I will agree to furnish all the books
for his children for the first grade
for $1.00; so you see that ''Patron"
wants to kick, and really there is
nothing to kick at.
''Patron'' says that some time
back there was some one asking why
the school bill did not pass. I am the
one that did most of the inquiring,
and did not get an answer; and I
thought that I did not get the support
that T ought to have had from our
legislators by their keeping quiet
from our board-by their not taking
any action-and by the public by
not helping to get an answer. And
now 7 am ready to answer any ques-
ton that any patron will ask concern
ing the school.
Is there a book trust? I am sorry
that I cannot answer that question,
but will say that we are not in it, and
most surely the change in books was
not made to help them, but to help
your children. We have made some
changes this year, for the first time
in years, trying to bring our school
up. IF "Patron" will tell this board
who it is that hasn't the books, and
wants them, I will guarantee that the
board will give these books out of
their pockets-even this song book
that 'Patron'' ought to have stu
died, so he could sing, instead of
kicking.
"Patron" has a great deal to say
as to what the legislature did in
changing the Law as to the method Of
electing the trustees for the graded
school, and now is the time for to
begin kicking. Who is "Patron"? I
want to know, whether he, she or it.
I love to know who I am talking to,
so I can take off my hat if it is a lady.
Don't think 7 am not your friend be-
cause you kick. I love a kicker-l
am one-but let US kick when we
have something to kick about; and
kick for the good Of the school, not
about buying books. I want more
kickers, for when yod kick you are
thinking about the school, and that
is what we want. I want to get the
people to work, get them mad, and
you may look for something. So I
say kick, kick.
Now, if "Patron" had stopped
here, and not have tried to give the
trustees any advice as to submitting
the question for an additional tax
for the school, I would have loved
him, or her: but here is where he
shows himself up. He is not wanting
any Improvements in the school work,
even to buying books for his boy. l
will make this assertion that 'Pat-
ROM has not been to the graded
school, and does not know what he is
talking about. We want this tax. and
we want YOU to talk about it and
write about it, and kick, until we
get the one mile tax. We are not ash
AIMED to tell you what We want, and
not ashamed to put our names to
what we write; so you Will know who
we are and what we are. So You see
I, for one, do not have to take your