The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-22
Schools.

ming anOther years Work under more fay
orable auspices than have ever attende
such openings before. Educational rally
held in every county Of the state have ha
the good effect Of string the people up t
a new interest in school affairs.
THE RURAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT Asso
CITATION.
Has accomplished more by much thai
most people thought it would. Nearl.
every school in the county has done some
thing in the past twelve months towart
improvement in one direction or another
In many places flowers, shrubbery etc.
have been planted in the school yards il
order to give them a more home-like anc
pleasing appearance. Again in man!
places the buildings have been improved
so that today, while conditions are fal
from ideal, still they are better than they
have eve been at any time In the past.
THE ABBEv1LLE HIGH SCHOOL.
Is the result OF activities along educa-
tional lines in Abbeville. While the build
ing is not yet completed that fact will In
way interfere with the High School
work. 1t will progress just the same. II
is proposed that the High School will pre-
pare boys and girls for entering the fresh
man class in any college In the state
This is what we want, this Is what we
will have. The High School will consist of
four grades, beginning with the eighth
and ending with the eleventh.
The eighth, ninth and tenth grades will
be removed from the graded school and
there will only be seven grades taught
there. Greek will be added to the High
School course. Those pupils leaving the
school and m~atriculating in college
for a Bachelor Of Arts degree have found
unprepared because some
Greek is here required In the freshman
class. The mathematical course will be
broadened and extended to meet all re-
quirements. improvements, however, are
not limited to the higher grades. Here
the teachers in the lower grades
have been teaching two separate and dis
tinct schools. This has been hard on the
and just as hard on the progress
Of the pupils in the lower grades. What
we mean is this: The lower grades have
been so crowded that it was found impos-
sible to accommodate all the children at one
time, consequently the grades had to be
divided, half Of each grade coming in the
morning and half in the evening. So that
those pupils received only about half the
instruction they should have received.
This has been remedied as the removal OF
the High School leaves room for doubling
up several of the lower grades.
TEACHERS SHOULD NOT LosRl SIGHT OF
THEIR DUTY.
To the school as q whole, most teachers
feel satisfied when they have discharged
their duty to the pupils in their own
but this position Is too marrow for
the teacher in the city schools. It Is his
or her duty to be ever on the alert for the
OF the school as a whole. Criti-
cisms that come to their ears should be
weighed and reported. Unjust criticisms
should be refuted.ls
In the matter OF promotions the teacher
has q most delicate duty to perform.
the pupil is below the mark but
30 near lit that the teacher frequently
a point and passes the pupil. In
stead Of doing a kindness to the inexperi
enced pupil in thus promoting him, the
teacher does a palpable wrong. The pa
rent is thus deceived. The incentive or
the part Of the pupil to more diligence Is
paralyzed. Making grades becomes al
''easy mark" and the purpose Of the
school thus;far frustrated.
Teachers should be very slow In form
ing opinions of their pupils That ''th'
proper study Of mankind Is man" Is {
good text for the the teacher to ruminate
on at the beginning Of school. The teach
or should know something Of the tempera
ment Of each pupil under. his care, other
wise he cannot do the best work. II
should be the ambition Of each teacher II
make these schools the best in the state
No school a be greater than the teache'
at its head. No chain Is stronger than its
weakest link, and, to a certain degree, NJ
graded school is stronger than It's weak
est grade,
THERE ARE LESSONS NOT IN TEXT BOOKS
to be taught and the teacher should rea
lie this at the outset. The teacher that
limits his duty in the school room to hear
ing Rotations utterly fails to reach the
mark expected OF the teacher. The LITTLE
society in miniature represented blythe pu
pills in the school room is to be governed
by the teacher, and in 1t will spring VI
questions to be settled just as in the isocie
ty at large, hence a wise head is necessa
ry.
PARENTS HAVE DUTIES.
AS we'll as teachers. They should watcl
their children closely. They should especl
ally see to it that the older pupils stud!
their lessons at home. There are no chill
dren to such degree %precocious that 1t |
not necessary for them to study, and wher
the parent see THAT the pupil Is idl'
at home it is time to act. The!
should investigate-go to the school-roon
if necessary, see how the pupil recites
talk the matter over with the teacher ant
set the pupil right.
ONE GREAT MISTAKE.
That parents make Is discussing the
frailties Of teachers with their children
People used to believe in the divine right
Of kings-that kings could not eer. Il
parents would get the most out OF schools