The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-05-05
DO The Patrons Want 1t?

1t is understood in the city that all
teachers applying for positions in the
Laurcns schools for 1915-16 have been
informed that the hours from nine un-
til four will perhaps be adopted in
the fall, or at least that the trustees
reserve the right to adopt these hours
for the school, if they see fit.
The writer OF this card wishes to
make the point that the trustees
should not agree to this plan without
they have every assurance that a
large majority of the patrons OF the
school favor the seven hour session.
The schools are paid for by the tax
payers and every taxpayer and cv-
cry patron should have Il voice in this
matter. There is much to be said
against the longer hours and radical
changes Should not be made in the
school without they arc first we'll CON
Sidcred.
The first and greatest objection to
ms long session is that it will gradu-
ally prove injurious to the health of
the children, who are subjected to it.
1T does not contribute to the health
OF growing children to- be confined i'm
room with from forty to fifty other
children, each child hot bed for ev-
cry conceivable germ and, if the long
er hours are adopted, two hours which
7hlSht be spent in the open ali arc
lost The argument is brought that
me children arc better off at school
but the children of Laurens do not
come from the slums. They almost in
Variably come from comfortable
homes and ought to be better off there
| than anywhere else in the world The
seven hour session is meant for thc
chlldren OF the great cities, many Of
Whom do not even speak English, and
Tie warm school building and bowl or
soup served in the building for few
pennies is paradise 10 them but this
does not apply to a town like Laurcns.
where the actual pinch of poverty, as
iclt in crowded city districts is un-
known. If however, the children are
| to be at school all day it would be we'll
| for hot lunch Of chocolate, SOUP. etc.
TO DE proided for them and perhaps
the trustees will arrange for this. 9th
erwise, : ) poor little children will
cat 4 hu! led breakfast, lunch on
sandwiches, pickles, candy and the
like unwholesome food, and go home
In most cases to a cold supper for the
servants Of the present day are not
easily persuaded to prepare either hot
| supper or six o'clock dinner. What
effect will this manner Of living pro-
ducc upon growing children? Have the
trustees thought OF this? Have they
sought information on this point from
| the physicians of the city? OF course,
| ii they have determined TO have a nu
triciouS luncheon served in the build
ing, this objection vanishcs.
| The second objection is that the
teachers will very naturally take care
OF themselves, and if they can set as
| good salaries and less work in other
schools, as the opportunity offers, they
will go elsewhere. Some Of them are
residents OF Laurcns and will submit
to great deal before leaving but un-
| less salaries are increased with the
hours, it will be difficult to keep the
Slatf of teachers up to its present
high standard of efficiency.
Again how can a teacher give the
best OF herself to her pupils if she
has no time for rest? Everyone knows
who is at all informed, that a public
school teacher has a world of work to
do outside of her teaching hours
! There arc endless teachers meetings
10 prepare for and attend and count
! less papers to correct. In the Eastern
states, whore the public schools are
receiving the attention OF experts.
| teachers are urged to pass a physical
examination before taking up the
work. No matter how many hours
they may agree to teach they can
only give good service for reason
able length Of time They cannot give
a guarantee Of their powers of endur-
ancc and worn out, irritable, nervous
women are unfit to have charge of
children. The teachers in many in
stances teach between forty and fifty
IL the trustees have more money to
spend now OF ever, the vital need of
the school is or will be more teach
ers, not longer hours.
Another objection is the question
! n g io