The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-02
NEWBERRY SCHOOLS.
A Patron Writes Protest About
Books and Kicks Generally.
Ncwbcrry Observer.

Editor Observer: Under any cir
cumstanccs it is disagrccablc 10 be 4
"kickcr.' l'ut it is the opinion of
The heads Of at least a huhdrcd fam.
lhcs in Ncwbcrry that the time has
come TO "kick.' That there has beer
"kicking,' and "kicling' in no I'M.
certain tones, has been evident tc
anyone that has como in contact with
any person within the past week that
has been one OF those who, in order
to try to give their children an edu-
cation, and in order to comply with
the rules Of the schools, had to "walR
mp to the captain s o(Ticc' and buy
books.
There arc many who "kick' sill
emily, or on the quiet; who sit and
wait for the other fellow to make the
move: and I have, though humble
citizen, decided for one to enter a
protest to some things that seem I'M
reasonable.
Some time back, in the not long
distant past, there appeared in your
valuable paper several communica-
lions desiring the information from
the delegation in the legislature as to
who was responsible for the defeat Of
certain bill concerning the city
schools There arc a great many pa
irons of the schools in Ncwbcrry who
would now like to have little infor-
nation along certain lines in regard
TO the schools. And this inquiry is
all in good spirit and kindly feeling,
with no i'll will to any one-only a
little injured pocket book-that's all.
We have heard Of all kinds of
trusts--big trusts and little trusts
and now good many people in New
berry would like TO know if there is
not such thing as "book trust,N
and IT the almost complete change of
books Tor the different grades each
year is not made in the interest of
this trust. Certain it is that they are
not made in the financial interest of
tho patrons of the school. and we
know that some of them ut least can
not be in the interest Of the pupils.
AS the years 60 by matters in this
regard seem to grow worse. and if it
continues in the future as it has in
me past tcw years poor people will
simply have to throw up their hands
and surrender, allowing their little
ones to 60 uncducatcl There aro peo-
pic in Newbcrry today whose chill
drcn arc remaining away from school
because they are not able to buy the
books to send them with--and this
under our free school system. Each
year almost a complete change in
StudlcS; SO that new set must be
honght-and this year "song book -
as added in.
And they used to exchange, take
Old books rs part pay for new ones
but. on no, that docSn' go now. You
must buy them out and out. TO fur
nlsh one child anywhere from the
first grade up with books costs any
where from $3.50 TO $1,000 Those
who have three and four to send have
t" haul out about $'20 or $25 for books
and next year the trustees, or some
body, will take a notion for another
change, and another new sci will fol-
low---and so on it goes, and the book
trust rcaps the harvest.
There arc many in Ncwbcrry who
thought that when tie Legislature
changed the law SO that the people,
the patrons Of the school. could elect
the trustees IT. would prove best for
the schools: bni il seems that we have
gone from the "Suhlimc 10 the ridi-
culonS. II has proved dear change
Tor some Of us.
Now, Il word TO the patrons Of the
school: Get together. Begin this fall
Put in Il set Of men for trustees who
have three or four children to cdu-
catc--mcn that are not independent
financially; men that know how to
appreciate the condition Of those who
arc not 50 well off in this world 5
goods; and then probably so many
complete and expensive changes will
not be made in books each year. Now
is the time to begin: ii will take
-four or five years to accomplish It
but it is up 10 thc patrons. Either dc
this or stop "kickinm' and encourage
ing others 10 "kick' and rorcvc,
hereafter hold your peace.