The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-06-21
WORD ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS.
Taxpayer Protests Against the BIund-
ers of the Board-Should Respond
TO Public Sentiment.

ovs. AS a well-wisher of our public
Rhools and one who voted for the
md issue in good faith, I wish to pro-
st against the many blunoers OF the
bresent board of trustees, and to peg
So +hem if they are to continue in Office
to be careful in future tnat oul
schools may not be wrecked by un-
wise legislation on their part Search
their past record and one will nno
seeming inability to deal with ques-
lions Of such magnitude as our
schools demand, and series OF
failures to meet with broad and IN
telligent grasp problems and cono1-
tions which they have had to hanole.
They are all good, clever, well-mean-
ing citizens, every one, but seem TO De
utterly unfit for the duties encumo-
cred upon a body to which has been
delegated the responsibilities OF trus-
teeship for schools of city the size
of Nevberry. And if the public SEN
tfment that is being pretty generally
felt and expressed should be RESPOND"
et1 to by the present membership OF
the board, every one would res1gn'
and let some others Of more dlscrlm-
7nation and tact and broadmindedness
be selected in their stead. For III
would he shame and calamity that
the future of our schools should be
hammered and endangered by lll-ad-
>Eised management.
The recent communication Of one,
if not other evidence were neeoeo'
shows that he does not appreciate the
situation intelligently; the election or
a young Ohio Yankee not yet out OF
college and with no experience what
ever in public school work and with a
h .aek ignorance of Southern conditions
Southern viewpoints
led upon the recommendation OF
who knew nothing Of him and MS
halifcations save from reputation,
Nd That too having attended schoor
kn to both races; the displacement
Mrs. Fair, a teacher Of long and
eessful experience, and of State
reputation, the creation OF
hiskh school building, when it IS
ly Ghere will be several vacant
msf in the Pope building. These re-
gnt Errors on the part of the board
hot To 90 any further back, show an
kaG lack of appreciation of their
Dsition and have tended to force the
E%public to mistrust their judgment, and
MD deep down in the hearts of the people
is the wish that they should get out
of the way.
Be it understood that this criticism
, of the unwise displacement of Mrs.
Fair does. not question the ability OF
. her successor, whoever she may be.
It is the frank and plain statement OF
an unvarnished fact And il the su-
perintendent-elect should remain at
the head of the school for genera
tion he could not outlive or overcome
the bitter and intense unpopularlty
caused by her displacement. For, it
is generally understood, whether
rightly or not, that he is responsible
in a large measure for her failure of
reelection. Hundreds of mothers who
speak with glowing pride and affec-
ton. of Mrs. Fair that she started
their little ones in their school career,
and the hundreds Of children who
took their first lessons from this
teacher of unsurpassed ability in this
particular sphere, will not become
reconciled for many years.
It is unfortunate that we should
have at the heads of our schools, su-
perintendent and principal OF the high
school, young men educated under en-
vironments distasteful to our people,
and from a social standpoint, so far as
the principal is concerned, positively
harmful to our school. For our
young women will likely shy Of any
young man coming forth from such
D surroundings, however fair and repu-
table and free from taint- he may be.
II there is one thing that can be said
to the everlasting honor and glory OF
our true Southern women it is that
they have an utter adherence and
loathing of anything and everything
that borders on social equality of the
h races. And our people will not stand
ER& unless I mistake their temper and
khese convictions are written in all
dness and frankness and with NAL
towards none but with the good Of