Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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in thi^ lowly sprint; season w e inij(ht sa> one of the hiyuest drawbacks to buddint; love is the blooming expense. It’s a curious thir.tf but it seems the harder > ou work the luckier \ ou become. VOLUME 20; NUMBER 8 NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1957 By The Way ~ by Jb onJ Sander3 UNDER-EDUCATION i would not he doing my job as a A few vears ago, ahnosl : any teacher.” college or university would admit ( My husl •and re he] led a t th( :■ idea a student on the basis of t i dip- of social i iromotion ton and w h i 1 e loma from an accredited South a few of his failing ■stu idents Carolina high school. This i s no ''passed’’ because he di dn’t have longer true, and the chang e in; tlie final say - <o about it, still admission requirements has been 21 ' of hi: s students fail ed d uring made necessary because a high ! the past ; real . Most of the 21' ; school diploma no longer ) neans, should ne\ •er have been in the a thing except that a student Slient eighth gra de to begin w ith; many at least, twelve years in school. At least four institutions of of them pot there by motion at one prude social pro of another. higher learning in South C arolma ■ j IK:lf j ( , nla ]| v< y uU ma y have notic- require entrance examinations of J c , ( j j n this paper a couple of weeks i . every student who applies for at mission. Most of the others do not take a high school diploma as do ing sufficient evidence that a student is capable of pursuing a college course. Unless the giades made by the students in high school show some measure of mental ability, students are re quired to take entrance examina tions. This is true at Newberry College where the emphasis is be ing placed more and more on se lecting the better students for ad mission, dropping the mediocre and poor ones. Those in charge of giving ent rance examinations at New bei i \ College, and elsewhere, I am sure, have learned that because a student has made a barely passing grade in high school, does not nec essarily mean he hasn’t the men tal, ability to go on to college. One college official told me “many high school students nowadays feel that anything they make over 70 (lowest passing grade) is just wasted time and effort; but when we test them, w’e find they aie capable of much better work if they will only apply themselves a little.” This bears out the statement made by Prof. Arthur Bestor of the University of Illinois in an article I mentioned last week in U. S. News and World Eeport of June 7th: “The surest way of turning a young man into a frustrated adult is to surround him in school with an artificial environment in which incompetence brings no penalties, in which trivial activi ties £re as highly regarded as ser ious ones, in w T hich the hard working and the lazy come off with the same rewards . . . The best students can rest on their oars, and the average ones will drift into the easy backwaters, knowing that they will be as high ly regarded if they march in the school band as if they learn a foreign language or master trigo nometry.” How true this is—and whether school trustees and officials rec ognize or admit it, they are aid ing and abetting this attitude when they pay a premium for teachers of “extra-curricula” ac tivities. In one school in this county last year, a supplement of $2300 was paid, over and above the regular salary and supple ment, for the coaching staff alone, because it was highly desirable to have a winning football team. This year, that supplement is be ing cut to some extent because the coach is not considered as capable as the previous one; but there is still a large slice of your tax money going to the coach of that and other schools in the county. Certainly I have no critcism of the physical education courses or the band as long as they are not held out to be the goal of highest attainment. I was remarking the other day that I felt the school children of today are indeed for tunate to be able to receive some degree of musical education. But, again to quote Dr. Bestor, “Schools today are undertaking a large number of activities that aren’t essential to education at all. The result is that these un essential activities are squeezing ou the basic subjects for a very large number of our students.” I had the pleasure of talking the other day to a teacher in our city school system who firmly de nounced “social Promotion” as it is being used in our schools. She told of one student in her class wjio was socially promoted from the lower grade after his parents had insisted that their son should be passed. The following year, this teacher refused to pass him to the next grade, and as a result, she, too, incurred the wrath of his parents, who insisted that he be passed. Site admitted that, consid ering the prominence of the fam ily, pressure made it difficult to retain the child, but she did any way. “If I hadn’t,” she said, “I would feel that not only had I been unfair to this child, but to every student I have taught in the past as well as those I will teach in the future, and that I ago that he has resigned as a member of tin high school faculty. Contrary to rumor, his resignation was not occasioned by the failure of 21'' of his students nor by anything 1 have written in this column. P. K. Harmon, director of schools and other board mem bers expressed deep regret that he was leaving the school system, and Supt. Kncece told him “you have a job in the school system as long as I do.” Frasier would have resigned as a teacher long ago despite six years preparation for the job if 1 had been willing to leave Newberry. So there are some teachers who rebel against “the s ystem” and whether parents like the idea of their children failing' > or not, they should be happy th at there are such teachers in Om schools who make an effort not t o simply get rid of the child by passing him to another grade, but to try to make them use their minds in prepara tion for the future. Only you, the parents, will be able to make a high school dip loma mean what is should again. You can demand that the system be changed; that social promotions be abolished so that teachers might instruct the students in the proper subject matter to those capable of receiving it. Or, if so cial promotions are deemed neces sary, then the students should be classed according to ability and on completing 12 years of work, they might be given a certificate stating that they had attended school for a certain number of years. But please, let’s not con tinue to have our high school dip- Imas meaningless. Something could, and should be done to get them* back on a standard that will be recognized as meaning that a student truly has the capability of completing a 12 year school course without the benefit of social pro motion. Newberry Man Heads Savannah Jaycee Group The following article is from the Savannah newspaper of last week : John Lassiter l^ist night was elected president of the Savannah Junior Chamber of Commerce. He will succeed William S. Jones. The new r president was born in Newberry, S. C., w-here he was graduated from New'berry High School and Newberry College. He holds -an A. B. degree in music and secondary ♦education. The 31-year-old insurance rep resentative and part-time musi cian has been active in Jaycee projects for the past five years, during w-hich time he has held various chairmanships both at lo cal and state levels. He is present ly a vice president. Lassister is also well-known in local music circles and is director of the John Lasiter Sextet, a popu lar dance orchestra. Married to the former Martha LeBey, the new Jaycee head is the father of three children. He is a member of St. Paul’s Luth eran Church. + $2.00 PER YEAR Rev. D. Murray Shull, Jr., center, and his wife talked with Rev. I). M. Shull Sr., after Rev. and Mrs. Shull Jr. were commissioned as missionaries to Liberia, Africa, at services held Sunday night at Mayer Memorial Lutheran Church. Rev. Shull Sr., was liturgist for the service. Rev. J. A. Keisler Jr., D.D., evangelism director of the United Lutheran Church delivered the sermon. Also participat ing in the service were Dr. Karl W. Kinard, president of the Luth eran Synod of S. C. and Rev. John D. Ziegler, pastor of St. Peter’s Parish, Chapin. (Photo by Nichols.) Three Contests In City Primary On August 6th The August 6th city primary will feature competition in three races, with three newcomers entering the political field. The three-way mayor’s race will see Ernest Layton, councilman for six terms, David L. Laird, new comer, and the incumbent, Cecil E. Kinard vying to be named Mayor of Newberry. In Ward 5, Cecil Merchant, incumbent, will be CYCLE WRECK VICTIM DIES Sgt. Bobby L. Mahaffey, who was injured Saturday night, June 8 in a motocycle mishap near Ki- nards, died last Thursday about 4 p. m. at the Newberry County Memorial Hospital. He had not regained consciousness from the time of the accident until his death. Sgt. Mahaffey was a native of Greer and was stationed with the army at Fort Jackson. The acci dent occurred about 11:00 p. m. on a curve in the road. The cycle, which showed no signs of having been struck by an automobile, and the young man’s body were discov ered by a passing motorist. Cdroner Summer stated that an inquest will be held June 21 at the county court house. CLARENCE DeHART opposed by newcomer James Ban nister. The vacancy left by Ernest Layton in Ward 4 is being sought by Clarence DeHart and A. P. (Pete) Parrott. Unopposed councilmen, when the deadline fell at noon on Saturday past, were Frank Armfield, Ward 1; C. A. Dufford Sr., Ward 2; S. D. (Bozo) Paysinger, Ward 3; and Dwight W. Jones, Ward 6. The chairman of the City Democratic Executive Committee, Sam Cook, calls the attention of voters to the fact that the election is city-wide. Voters in all wards may vote for candidates in every ward. The last date on which voters, who do not now hold registration certificates, may secure them to vote in the August 6th primary will be on Monday, July 1st. Those who have certificates issued not later than July 1, and who lose them, may receive duplicates the first Monday in August. New cer tificates issued in August, how ever, will not entitle a voter to cast a ballot in the August 6th primary. The registration board will be upstairs in the county court house the first Monday in July and the first Monday in August. J. T. Dennis, 96, Died Saturday James Thompson Dennis, 96, died Saturday afternoon at his residence, 932 Cornelia Street. He had been in ill health for a num ber of years and seriously ill for the last few days. Mr. Dennis w r as born, reared and spent his entire life in New r - berry and was the son of the late James Hawkins Dennis and- Sus- anne Young Dennis. Before his retirement he was a prominent merchant of Newberry. He was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and was active as long as his health permitted. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. His wife, Mrs. Mary Ella Longshore, preceded him to the grave a num ber of years ago. Mr. Dennis is survived by a son, J. A. Dennis, Clover; three daughters, Mrs. Myrtle D. Schum- pert, Miss Sudie Dennis, both of Newberry, and Mrs. S. B. Church- well, Leakesville, Miss.; two grandsons, Robert D. Schumpert, Newberry, and Joe Dennis, Clov er, and one granddaughter, Mrs. Claudia Hinson, Newberry. Funeral services were held Sun day at 4 p. m. from McSwain Fun eral Home with Rev. P. E. Mon roe and Dr. R. A. Goodman in charge. Burial w r as in Rosemont Cemetery. Active pallbearers w r ere T. E. Setzler, Gerald Paysinger, Cyril Hutchinson, Franklin Armfield, G. O. Shealy and Richard Neel. Assisting with the flowers were Miss Julia Kibler, Miss Lillian Kibler, Mrs. H. B. Wil son, Miss Margaret Paysinger, Mrs. Sue Hutchinson, Mrs. James Abrams, Mrs. C. H. Harden and Mrs. Agnes Armfield. College Adds Several New Members To Its Faculty President C. A. Kaufmann an nounced this week the following new faculty appointments for the session 1957-58: In the Department of Bible and Religious Education, the Rev. Luther Grady Cooper, M.A., B. D., S.T.M., Ph.D., has been called to the position of Associate Pro fessor of Bible a®d Religious Edu cation Doctor Cooper is a native of China Grove, N. C. He received his A.B. degree from Roanoke College, his M.A. degree from the University of South Carolina, his S.T.M. from Union Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. from Hartford Theological Seminary, Hartford, Conn. Do<?tor Cooper has done further graduate work at Columbia University, New York City; Marburg University, Mar burg, Germany; and North China Union Language School, Peiping, China. From 1928 until 1948 he was a Lutheran Missionary with the American Lutheran Mission in Shantung Province of North Chi na. In 1937-38 he taught for one year at the Andhra Christian Col lege in Guntur, Madras Presi dency, India, due to a delay in furlough caused by the unsettled conditions in China at that time. Doctor Cooper has filled pastor ates in The South Carolina Luth eran Synod since his return as a missionary in 1948: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Little Mountain, and Trinity Lutheran Church, El- loree. He has served on Synodical committees and has been active in community projects. He is married to the former Miriam Greever and they have three children: -Xathryn, a rising junior at Newberry College; John, a freshman at Newberry College in September; and Roberta, who is in high school. Also, in the Department of Bible and Religious Education, The Rev. Ralph William Hoffmeyer has been called to the position of Assistant Professor of Bible, and Religious Education. The Rever end Mr. Hoffmeyer is a native of Port Huron, Michigan. He at tended the University of Michi gan for several semesters and then transferred to Wittenberg College where he received his A. B. degree in 1947. From the Luth- (Continned on page 4) LIGHTNING FATAL TO LOCAL MAN Lighting killed one highway construction worker and jolted three others while they were work ing on a Highway 150 bypass near Winston-Salem, N. C., Monday. Otis Caldwell, 20, of Newberry, was dead on arrival at a hospital. His cousin, George B. Caldwell, 19, and Hasker Gray, 19, and Wilie H. Goodwin, 23, all of New berry, were treated at’ the hospital for shock and released. Gray said the three men were walking just ahead of him with tools in their hands when the lightning struck. He said he felt a shock as the trio were knocked to the ground in front of him. “Then all of them but Otis got up,” he said. Gray said they came here early Monday to work on a construction job on the highway for P. C. Spotts Construction Co. v , of New berry. Nine In Car In Wreck Friday A car containing eight passen gers besides the driver collided with a truck Friday night near Pomaria, injuring the two drivers and six other persons, according to a report made by Patrolman W. J. Martin. The 1940 Chevrolet automobile was driven by Levi S. Koon, age 32 of Route 3, Prosperity. Passen gers were Houseal Crumpton, 26, and seven of Koon’s children, five of whom were injured. The truct driver, Joseph Gordon, colored, re ceived leg injuries. He was alone at the time of the accident. Patrolman Martin stated that Koon was injured in the hip, treated at the local hospital then transferred to the Veterans Ad ministration hospital in Columbia. Crumpton was also injured, - as were the following Koon children: Sara Mae, 9; Marie, 18 months; Carl, 8; Henry, 12; and Jeff, 4. The two other Koon children in the car were not injured. Mr. Martin was told that Koon had been having trouble with the lights on his car and that the lights were not on at the time of the accident. He stated that the group had been fishing on the backwatersof Lake Murray and were returning home. The time of the accident was about 11:00 p.m. Solicitor Asked To Withhold Assault Case From Grand Jury C. F. Wertz Be Buried Here C. F. Wertz, 78, a former resi dent of Newberry w T ho had lived in Newton, N. C. for 15 year^ died suddenly at his home Tues day afternoon. He had been in failing health for the past several years. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. W. F. Burnett of Greenville, Mrs. A. C. Sullivan of Due West and Mrs. J. A. Owings of Nor folk, Va.; three sisters. Mrs. R. M. Dacus of Greenville, Mrs. F. L. Eyer of Montreat, N. C., and Mrs. J. L. Morehead of Gaff ney; and seven grandchildren. Chapel services were held Wed nesday at the Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home in Newton. The body arrived at Whitaker Funeral Home early this morning (Thurs day) and will remain there until 11:00 a. m. at which time grave side services will be conducted at Rosemont cemetery by Rev. C. 0. Lamoreux. Local active pqllbearers include R. D. Schumpert, Gerald Paysing er, Herman Langford, J. W. Ear- hardt and T. E. Epting. Easter Seal Campaign Goes Over The Top Announcement that the fund-rais ing campaign of the Newberry County Crippled Children’s Society has passed the quota was made at the last quarterly meeting of the year for the society at the home of Mrs. R. L. Baker on June 12. Mrs. J. E. Wisertan was associate hostess. There were 15 members present. The quota for the 1957 drive was set at $2650. Total contribu tions amounted to $2666.72, ac cording to the treasurer, Mrs. C. M. Smith, who gave the following breakdown: appeal letters, $1,- 611.40; coin containers, $63.47; Lily Parade, $203.18; school col lection, $681.61; Coffee Day, $97.01; miscellaneous, $10.05. Mrs. Emmett Nichols was elect ed chairman for the coming year, succeeding Mrs. J. D. French, who becomes vice-chairman. Other of ficers include Mrs. Holland Sligh, recording secretary; Mrs. R. L. Baker, corresponding secretary; Ms. C. M. Smith, treasurer; Mrs. T. L. Parks, publicity chairman. Mrs. F. Scott Elliott was appoint ed chairman of the scrapbook which she has compiled The new officers will take over at the Sep tember meeting. Mrs. French and other chapter members expressed their apprecia tion to those who contributed and those who worked to help put the campaign over, especially to the newspapers and radio station for publicity in cooperation with Mrs. Elliott, publicity chairman. Mrs. French, who has ably serv ed the chapter as chairman during the past two years, was given a rising vote of thanks. At the conclusion of the meet ing, the hostesses served delicious refreshments. MRS. PHIBBS RETURNS HOME FROM HOSPITAL Mrs. J. H. Phibbs, who under went major surgery in the New berry Memorial Hospital about two weeks ago, has returned to her home on the Whitmire High way, and is reported to be recup erating nicely. Taxes No Good Says Grand Jury The Newberry County Grand Jury Monday declared $4,615.95 in delinquent taxes owed the county as nulla bona (not good). The grand jury authorized J. Ray Dawkins, county treasurer, to accept the list of tax executions returned to him by the tax collec tor as nulla bona. The taxes were for the years 1947 through 1955. The authorization was made in a communication attached to the grand jury’s presentment to Judge Steve C. Griffith, presiding over the June term of General Sessions Court which was begun and con cluded Monday of this week. Another attachment headed “rec ommendation” referred a request for $600 for the purpose of help ing defray expenses oik the solici tor’s office to the county delega tion “for- their discretion and pos sible action.” Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Campbell and sons of Spartanburg, spent Sunday in the home of Mr. Camp bell’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Campbell on Nance Street. The Court of General Sessions convened in Newberry Monday morning and adjourned Monday afternoon after a number of guilty pleas were heard by Resident Judge Steve C. Griffith, who pre sided over the one-day session. Missing from among the bills of indictment handed to the Grand Jury by the solicitor, William T. Jones, was that of The State ver sus Olin Willingham, John Wil lingham and Earl Willingham on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. The warrant in this case was sent to the Solicitor last w r eek along with other war rants by Magistrate Ben Dawk ins. When contacted to ask the reas on the case was not presented to the Grand Jury, Solicitor Jones made the following statement: “I received reliable information that attorneys for the prosecut ing witness and the defendants requested that the presentment not be made to the Grand Jury at this term of court.” His source of information was not revealed. The prosecuting witness, David Bowers, returned from National Guard summer training camp at Fort Stewart, Ga., and was in court ready to testify Monday morning. He was accompanied by his attorney, Walter T. Lake. Mr. Lake could not be reached for comment on Solicitor Jones' state ment; however, he stated earlier that although he is Mr. Bowers’ attorney, he has nothing to do with the criminal case since prose cution is the duty of the State through the solicitor. He stated, however, that as far as he is aware, the case will be brought before the Grand Jury at the next term of court in September. The possibility that preliminary hearing might have been request ed, thus delaying the presentment of the case to the G/and Jury, was ruled out today when Magistrate Ben Dawkins stated that he had not received a request to hold a preliminary hearing in this mat ter. The stiffest single sentence handed down by Judge Griffith Monday was three years for Hun ter Brown Williams, who pleaded guilty to housebreaking and lar ceny. Also, his probation on a previous sentence was revoked giving him an additional 18 months to serve at thfe expiration of the sentence handed down this week. Willie Maybin pleaded guilty to two peeping tom charges and was sentenced to 18 months on each count to run consecutively, giving him a total of three years to serve. Randolph Gore and Mack Pitts, who pleaded guilty to two counts of housebreaking to steal and five counts of housebreaking and lar ceny were sentenced to the Indus trial School for Boys until reach ing the age of 21, or until sooner released by proper authorities. This sentence is to run concur rently with sentence on two counts to which the boys pleaded guilty in Laurens last week. Other guilty pleas accepted by Solicitor William T. Jones and sentences handed down by the court included: Bobby Dean, assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying concealed weapon, one year. Johnnie Sumers, larceny, six months. Algie Griffin, Jr., drunk driv ing, $3,000 or four years, suspend ed on good behavior after service of 12 months. Walter Morgan, assault and bat tery of an aggravated nature, three months. Freddie Glasgow, pointing a firearm, six months, suspended and placed on probation for one year. Forest Cecil Shealy and Bennie Lee Swygert, operating motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, each one year or $1,000, suspended on service of three months or payment of $250 and placed on probation for two years. Bennie Gallman and Wallace Jackson, indicted jointly on com mitting an affray, Jackson, six months, and Gallman, four months,, balance suepended during good behavior on service of 30 days or payment of $100. George Anderson, violation of liquor law, $100 or 30 days. Morris Davis, non support, one year or $1000, suspended and plac ed on probation on condition he pay $10 per week to support de pendents. James Kinard. non support, six months or $1,000, suspended and placed on probation as long as he pays $8 per week to dependents. Gordon Bostic, disposing of property under lien, three months or $200. Lester L. Harrison, escaping public works, three months con currently with sentence being served. George Arrowood, non support, one year or $1,000, suspended and placed on probation and pay $25 per week to dependents. Kelly Goff Jr., and James Duf- fie pleaded nolo contendere to a charge of attempting to break into a motor vehicle and the court or dered the case transferred to the contingent docket. Cases continued to the next term of court included: Ernest Moore, and Ernest Southhard, housebreaking and larceny; Wil lard Knight and Wilford Hill, housebreaking and larceny and receiving stolen goods; J. C. White, R. B. Steele and Donald Steele, assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying conceal ed weapon; James Hunnicutt, in voluntary manslaughter and reck less homicide, two counts;0. Bow ers, assault and battery with in tent to kill and carrying conceal ed weapon, two counts. Also, Ruby Bowers and Willie Bowers,* operating a public nuis ance; Billy Joe Jones, house breaking and laVceny and re ceiving stolen goods; Walter Go- ree, violation liquor law; James Dillard, murder; Raymond Steele, assault and battery with intent to kill; John W. Thomas, violation liquor law; Richard Matthews, Gordon Whitlock and Bobby Alex ander, burglary and larceny; James Marion Waters, non. sup port; Forest Caldwell, assault and battery with intent to kill and carrying concealed weapon; Mala-, chi Morene and Christine Hender son , Mathis, conspiring to suicide. Also, Pete Bostic and Gordon Bostic, resisting an officer and assault and battery with intent to kill; Raymond Steele, housebreak ing with intent to steal; Betty Jo Chaffin, bigamy, and the follow ing for operating motor vehicle while under the influence of in toxicants: Carl O. Smith, Elbert Burton, Joe Oscar Rowe (two counts), Jim Hancock, T. J. Caldwell, Wil liam Sizemore, John W. Edwards, and Otto George. The case against J. P. Brown, charged with non support was placed on the contingent docket. Solicitor Jones nol prossed the following cases: (Continued on page 5) BIRTHDAY GREETINGS June 22: Mrs. Jewel W. Hentz, William Partridge, Faye Sum mer, Roy C. Doolittle, Mrs. Berry Livingston, Rion C. Price, Tena Price Nichols, Terry Don ald Dominick, Mrs. W. H. Cald well, Patty Regnery. June 23: Mrs. H. H. Ruff, Mrs. O. J. Jackson, Mrs. O. O. Ful mer, Billy Long, Mrs. John Earl Smith, Ralph Waldrop, Mrs. John P. Livingston, Floyd Bou knight, YGenia Crossland, H. Alvin Franklin. June 24: Susan Lipscomb, Mildred Glymph, Mrs. William R. Buford, Clarence Kinard Jr., Skipper Hunter, Jimmy Touch- berry, H. Ostell Ballew. June 25: Oswald Copeland, Elizabeth G. Norris, Jimmy Counts, Bobby Jollay, W. T. Vanderford, Mrs. Henry L. Wright, June Abby, Sara Clark, Elva Lou Waites. June 26: A. E. Hazel, Robert Luther Shealy, Mrs. Frank Stevens Jr., Mrs. Ralph P. Ba ker, Bruice Lipscomb. June 27: Elsie Long, Mrs. Euston Richardson, June Wal ton, Judith A. Jones, Johnny Shealy. June 28: Mrs. Douglas Horns by Jr., Olin Layton, Mrs. T. Roy Summer, Sr., Lonnie Gil liam, Mrs. R. M. Lominack, Mrs. C. C. Hutto, Kenneth Ross Harmon, Frances Derrick, Tom my Ann Werta, Mrs. H. D. Hol lingsworth, Harriett Ann Senn, Eddie Blackwell, Paula Fuller, H. B. Ray field, Joe F. Beden- baugh. Jack Hawkins, Doris Dufford Eargl^, Katherine D. Senn.