The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-11-11
! FOR q, TAXPAYERS ONLY.
! S:tRroper:Ga


!. :Stgroper:Gander.)
On oaes occasion Aristotle was
asked. how much educated men were
superior 70 thoser uneducatedM "As
much said he, ''as the living are to
the dead" It issalso a saying OF his
that education was an ofnsntent .:.A
prosperity and a refuge in adyersity'
There is no need for us to even
mention any arguments in favor OF
the benefits Of education in this city 1t 81
m for Z. everybody HERE knows that, as our '''3
|ownsL Lowell has 50 aptly said, "lt Z was! s
In fiSi making education not only common.
!b all, but in some sense compulsory
On 8 all, that the. destiny Of the free
republics Of America was practically
settled" ...
Now we have educational advan-
taees in Abbeville superior in many
respects to those of some cities OF
the same size, but have we the best
we can afford. is there any parent
in Abbeville county who thinks tat
there is anything in the world too
good for their children? If so, Cod
pity them! But are our schools
good .enough.fo our, children22 Qant.
YOU think that with a. little luusening!
of purse strings that we could make
some vastly beneficial improvements
For instance, we wanttto hold the
best Of our present teachers and sub
stitute better ones for any who may
not in the course Of the session come
|up to the standard we think they
ought. ~.
If other towns, paying better sal
aries and needing teachers, see that
we have good teachers don't you
think that these teachers are going
to be flooded with offers Of better
positions? And can you blame them
for leaving our schools when social
conditions and conveniences, particu-
'larly in the board question are equal,
If not superior to those here, when
they are offered a wage which will
come nearer obtaining for them the
necessities of life?
We should have rising scale of
pay for our teachers, A first year
teacher, with little or no experience,
should be paid the minimum salary,
but that should be sufficient for the
teacher to live on. Then each year
they give satisfaction and remain
with US their salaries should be in
creased. until a certain maximum
limit is reached. Do you merchants
pay the clerk you have just employed
!Ithe same salary that you do a tried
and trustworthy employee who has
given you the best years of his life?
Why should not schools be run on a
business basis? In the store you are
entrusting your money to the clerk;
in the school you are entrusting your
children to the teacher. Which is
dearer to your heart? Who has the
greater responsibility?
The trustees are arranging to con-
vert the proceeds of the two mills
which have hitherto been applied on
the sinking fund but which are no
longer needed, to the current ex-
penses. of the schools and are going
ito ask you taxpayers to increase
your taxes two mills more, making
total of four mills increase in the
amount collected for carrying on the
work of educating your children in
the best manner. Are you going to
make it unanimous or are some of
you going to insist that your children
! be taught by inexperienced girls,
supervised by incompetent men? We
don't believe there are any such peo-
|ple in Abbeville.