The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1911-06-21

We think that a great number of
our readers, residing in school dist!i Il
No. l, are aware of the movement
now on foot to better the school con-
ditions of this district. We are sorry
that so nany of you neglected to
hear the very forceful and convincing
address delivered in the court house
last Friday night by Prof. W. H. Hand,
the State High School Inspector.
Any one hearing that address could
not doubt that we need to do some
thing-and that now.
The main points at issues are two:
Cd That a new school building be
erected, and (2) that the number OF
teachers be increased. TO anyone
who is at all familiar with good school
architecture and good school hygiene,
no argument is necessary in favor of a
new building. Those who do not
know, should seek information us tt
what school building ought to be;
and then put in your help to secure
one, The present structure is entirely
out of date and wholly inadequate
The rooms are over-crowded now, and
if you expect the school to grow, you
can easily conclude just what cor
ditions will soon exist.
If your store room is too small, yoc
enlarge; if your barns are not big
enough, you build bigger and bette,
one; if your mill is out-of-date, OF
patched up, you erect new and great
er plant. But you say, that is my
own business, and do that because ]
think it will pay. Exactly. And so
is. a public school your own; and the
gain from well equipped school is 81
much greater than your dollars and
cents that they at once become incom-
parable. The fact is that good schoo,
is the best asset any community can
have, and no section can rise without
it. 49,.
The second proposition is that of in
creasing the number of teachers. And
you don't have to be a professional
school man to recognize that need
when you are told how many pupils
the teachers now have to b handle. Any
one with common judgment knows
that no teacher can handle eighty
pupils. Neither can she teach with
any result, sixty, fifty, or even forty.
Twenty to twenty-five is the maximum
if your teaching is to mean Eanyth Dg.
Think of that. Put yourself in the
teachers place, You wouldn't hold it
two weeks: yet you expect great re-
suits from your children under ,me OF
of the worst conditions.
Now what are you going to do about
it? Are you going to be satisfied with
the same old conditions in the same
old way, when our neighbors on both
sides are going forward? Can we af-
ford anything but the best for our
children-the future men and women
of the homes and business affairs? No;
and we aren't. Then what? If We
get a new building and additional
teacherg, will there be any cost? Yes.
A great deal? Yes, but not too much,
for we are going to do a great deal.
And did you ever gtt anything worth
while without paying for it? Or
haven't you heard that your dividends
are big according as your investments
big? Other towns and communities
have done even more than we expect
to do, and we can't afford to let things
run as they are.
We will not do It if we have the
proper interest III the matter. But
don't very about the cost. 1t will be
so light on each individual that after
everything is up and Oh and over, you
will wonder how it MAS all done.
Worry about y our chi.t:r, u-or about
your community life, il you haven't
children. Think long and steadily
over the fact that they aren't getting
what they deserve. Thil k that you
are about to let ycur child miss the
best opportunity be will ever have.
Think as a sane business man and get
in the movement. Do what your
country expects You to do; and you
will get results. Now is the time.