Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-07-06
FORMER oCoNEEAN WANTS TO
See Better Roads In South - COM
partson Educational Methods.

Trenton, N. j., June 28, 1921.
TO the Editor Of The Keowee Courier
and its Many Readers:
1t has been some time since l have
talked through the columns of the
dear old keowee Courier, which |
am always glad and proud to read.
| would like to say few things in
regard to the condition of the roads
and public schools. There is quite
difference between the methods EN-
rloyed by the various schools in the
Southern and Eastern parts of these
our United States OF America.
Children here are taught sight
reading. Pupils having finished the
first grade are able to read a large
number Of words, but are unable to
say the alphabet in its order. Par
ents are requested not to teach the
old-fashioned A-B-C. Education Is
compulsory. When a child is absent
from school an officer calls at the
home of the parents to ascertain the
reason for the child's absence. No
child is permitted at home on a reg
ular school day unless there is good
and sufficient reason for its absence
from school. Therefore, parents can
not keep their child home ito tenI
the baby" to chop fire-woOd or TO
work in the field. One o: the finest
things about the schools here is the
absence Of violent punishment, ii
being State law that no supcrin-
tCndcnt, principal or teacher may
punish a pupil with violence, which
in most cases is purely an expression
OF anger OH the part OF the teacher.
Any punishment that is needed must
be administered at home. or the par
cnts will be handled through the
courts and sentenced to fine, Or in
the absence Of payment of same, 10
parents are kept constantly in touch
with the child's school life.
Having been taught in Oconee
county, and knowing how freely the
teachers punish the children, and
having seen the method employed
here, l can safely say the children
are taught great deal more by
kindness than by harshness. To my
mind there has never been a point
gained by cruel treatment, even to
the animals. l know | will be dis
cussed for this suggestion, but hope
the time will come when South Car
olina will follow in the footsteps OF
some Of her sister States and abol.
iSh the hickory switch from the
schools. No parent or teacher eau
have the respect that God gave them
for a child after having displayed
their temper by whipping a child
AS to the roads: The first ques-
ton is this: How much closer to the
market is the average farmer to-day
than he was ten years ago? 1t seems
to me the roads are very little better
now than they were ten years ago,
as | remember them. went over 4
great many Of them in May of this
year. In fact, | was over most Of the
county roads. 1t is terrible to think
that in this progressive age it takes
team from one to two days 10 make
a trip to town, the trip covering only
from II to 20 miles each way. Also,
there are times when it is almost
impossible during the winter to get
q team over the roads at all. I have
in mind the Stump-House Mountain
road in particular. 1t is no wonder
the farmers would rather sit at home
than attempt to force their animals
over such roads. I shudder to think
how one would feel TO be in need
| Of doctor in great haste, and to re-
alize that they could get to the doc
tor in time to save their loved ones
life the doctor would probably be
forced to decline to go on account
Of the time it would take to get over
tho roads.
think steps should be taken to
raise money to fix the roads--not
with earth, but with stone, asphalt
and especially the main
! roads; for instance, from Walhalla,
the county seat, to KnoX's Bridge, TO
Clemson College, to Salem and to