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" Where There is No Vision"
Where There is No Vision" AN OPEN LETTER TO THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF CARMARTHENSHIRE. lBy S. O. DAVIES, B.A., Tumble.] My Dear Fellow-Workmen, Having taken much interest during the last few years in the Elementary Schools of Carmarthenshire, and espe- cially after reading a recent article on Elementary Education in Carmar- thenshire by Mr. E. R. R. Lewis, secretary of the County Association of the National Union of Teachers, I am constrained to address this Open Letter to you. My intention in writing you is to draw your attention to the deplorable conditions obtaining in our Elementary Schools, as revealed in the continued exposures made by the teachers, to awaken your conscious- ness to the fact that class teaching in Carmarthenshire is now in every sense a sweated occupation, to solicit your hearty support of the teachers who have made, and are making, such a splendid fight on behalf of an educa- tional ideal now so painfully debased by the Education Authority of the county; and, lastly, to bring home to you the fact that Elementary Educa- tion is our birthright, the heritage of the workers'children. Just pondei1 for one moment a few facts conss^'ng the state of Elemen- tary Education in this county, and while pondering, don't forget that such facts have reference to the only means of a, systematized education open to nxjt of our class:-(a) That out of 495 class teachers in this county, 419 are uncertificated; that is, four out of every five of your children' s teachers have no pretensions to being educated themselves. A very large number of these unqualified •teachers have not the education of a sharp boy of 12 years of age. Many of them have adopted the teaching pro- fession advanced in years, leaving the;r .dome-stic duties, presumably, to en- large the minds and mould the charac- ters of your children for a matter of 12s. 6d. per week. » The proper study of mankind is man," says the poet; yes, and the profoundest study of mankind is the child. Consider vs^fe-t a delicate piece of mechanism is (/ ■"liW-. Try and imagine the signifi- fcst!arid importance of the inter- att'iGii- of mind and body; how a physical defect in the child's body may" retard the growth of the mind, or how an abnormally active mind may undermine the health of the body; and all these could be detected, controlled, or, where necessary, removed, were the child placed in the care of an edu- cated teacher. Imagine what a tragedy it must be to place in. the hands of an illiterate teacher, whose service is valued at !2s. 6d. per wek, the most delicate and sensitive -f all things, a child, ,lTH ITS ETERNAL POSSIBILITIES- I physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual. And, mark you, there are 4 19 such teachers out of a total of A95 class teachers in this county. No wonder Carmarthen County is con- sidered to be about the worst staffed in England and Wales. But they are your schools, and you-you staunch Trade Unionists—who, in many cases, have secured your minimum wages, and a considerable amount of control over the conditions of your employ- ment, send your children, ostensibly to be educated by people most of whom really know nothing about education, but all of whom, with a few excep- tions, are sweated and exploited as you industrial workers were 30 or 40 years ago. (b) Consider further that there are actually 12 so-called head- masters or headmistresses in the county who are unqualified! The very heads of schools, presumably organising, supervising, and, of course, respon- sible for the education carried on in the school, not even possessing the certificate whereby they could lay some claim to being educated them- selves. 1 could go on multiplying the dis- abilities existing iin the Elementary Schools of this county. Have you heard that 14 schools in the county ihave lost grants on account of their dis- graceful conditions? That Glamorgan spends about 2h times more per child in its education than Carmarthenshire does? That owing to the lack of school requisites, three children are often obliged to read from one book? Surely an admirable way of spoiling the children's eyesight! That a large number of the teachers, who are trained partly at the expense of this county, migrate as soon as they are qualified -to other districts, where they are paid a living wage for their services? That there are many schools unhealthily overcrowded, where you have ten stan- dards packed into two rooms? Think of the child and teacher under such INHUMAN CONDITIONS! What enthusiasm do you expect to animate a teacher when such dis- couraging conditions exist? And would you be surprised to find every child, within an hour after entering such a school, listless, apathetic, and sleepy as the result of inhaling the atmosphere poisoned by so many breaths? You Trade Unionists may now feel like asking: Why do the teachers stq-,4 "II this? Why don't theYigo on strike I stated above that the teachers were carrying on a splendid fight in their efforts to improve Elemen- tary Education in this county. By the teachers I mean the certificated teachers, members of the National Union of Teachers. No unqualified teacher is accepted as a member of the Teachers' Union. They rightly maintain that no person can honestly be considered capable of teaching un- less that person at least has passed his certificate." This, says the Teachers' Union, is the minimum amount of knowledge a school teacher should possess. This rule should win the hearty approval of all interested in the children's education, and we must thank the National Union of Teachers for their attempt to safeguard our chil- dren, and to guarantee them teachers who shall know something of the meaning of education. But though this is morally the strength of the teachers' organisation, it is also in another sense its weakness. You miners know that the constitution of our Union, and the nature of our industry, are conducive to the growth of an organisation that can easily be proof against the blackleg and the non-Unionist. It is not so among the teachers, especially when they work under such a reactionary body of men as the Carmarthenshire Educaton Committee. I told you above that out of 495 class teachers in this county, 419 are unqualified, i.e., 419 are not, and cannot be, members of the National Union of Teachers. This, you now see, is the weakness of the teachers' organisation, and the fatuous strength of the Education Com- mittee. The Teachers' Union is weakened by the Education Commit- tee when it floods the profession with its 419 dressmakers, domestic servants, &c., admirable women, by the way, but emphatically not the people to pre- pare your children for the grim and dangerous battle of life. Let this fur- ther fact sink into your minds, and don't forget it IF YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN. I The Education Committee of Carmar- thenshire has not yet treated your chil- dren s education seriously, and cer- tainly riot enthusiastically. To the Committee, education is a most un- pleasant commodity to administer. A healthy system of Elementary Educa- tion would, of course, cost money, rates would increase, and the only factor consistently considered by the Committee is the one of rates. Some time ago I described them as police- men of rates and taxes," and I have had no reason so far to alter my opinion. Don't forget that these people take absolutely no pride at all in Carmarthenshire. The only pride they ever feel is that in their own measured selves. They are utterly im- pervious to every instructive ideal, and will continue to strut to and from Edu- cation Committees, fully conscious of their own importance, until, as far as in them lies, they have reduced the county intellectually to a state of benightedness unequalled in the king- dom. And this by a Committee whose notepaper sports such a laudable motto as Rhyddid Gwerin, Ffyniant Gwlad and in the county of Griffith Jones, Llanddowror; Vicar Pritchard, David Davies, D.D., Pro- fessor William Morgan, Evan Davies, M.A., LL.D., Dan Isaac Davies, B.Sc., Gwilym Marles, Sir Lewis Morris, &c., &c. Heavens! the spirit of progress, of light, has fallen on dark days in Carmarthenshire! Where there is no vision, the people perish," has been THE PROPHET'S WARNING I along the ages. Surely you, the workers, require no further proof of the fact that no vision inspires the Carmar- thenshire Education Commttee to noble and lofty aims. The conditions of your children' s schools, and the callous treatment meted out to their teachers, are the expression of a spirit that dis- heartens the visionary and destroys all idealism. When I think of the energy, enthusiasm and faith of the above- mentioned pioneers of Carmarthenshire, of the splendid efforts made in other parts of the kingdom to guarantee to the children, through the Elementary Schools, a foundation for the construct- ing of their moral and intellectual fabric in their struggle along life' s journey, when I watch the heroic fight that a few teachers (sorre of them most intimate friends of mine) are waging in order to make Education a living, inspiring ideal in our Elemen- tary Schools, I am impressed with the conviction that our Education Com- mittee is hopelessly out of touch with modern life and its ideals, that it belongs to an age long preceding the days of Griffith Jones and those who had caught his spirit; that its faculties are in a state of suspended animation, an anachronism, out of centre with the spirit of the 19th and 20th cen- turies. Such is the Committee that you, workmen, have appointed to ad- minister Education to your children! Why, the true Educationist is an idealist, a visionary; one who not only has faith in life s i,Illimitable possibm- tes, but who also believes that the grandest service on earth is work done in facilitating life's upward urge to- wards the Good. The true Educa- tionist is the Prophet! Arouse, then, yoursel ves, you industrial workers Don't you know that it is knowledge, ideals, visions, that will remove the drabness from your lives, eliiminate your present drudgery? Would you have labour become a pleasure to you? Then realise that the source of true pleasure is in the spirit, and that it will shed its warm life-giving light through an enlightened mind. Make it clear, unmistakably clear, to the Car- marthenshire Education Committee that to you life is more than meat," your body more than raiment. In betraying your confidence, this Com- mittee has made your life more diffi- cult, and increased the perils that will threaten your children in the future, who are being deprived of the pro- tective influence of knowledge.
! Ammanford Police Court.I
Ammanford Police Court. Monday, February 5th.-Before Mr. H. Herbert, Brynmarlais; Mr. John Daviies, Ammanford; and Mr. D. Davies, Cilrhedyn. SHABBY TREATMENT. I Robert Jones, collier, Woodfield Row, Llandebie, was summoned by Sarah Jane Banfield, who lives with her parents at Brynhyfryd, Penygroes, in respect to her illegitimate child. Defendant did not appear, and the applicant was represented by MT. Ludford, Llanelly. Applicant stated she gave birth to a male child on the 14th December, the father of which was Robert Jones. He was a collier working at Caerbryn, and about 20 years of age. She be- came engaged to him last August, and he gave her an engagement ring. He came to the house and courted her quite openly, and it was under the pro- mise of marriage that he took advan- tage of her. The wedding day was fixed for 11th November, and she got all things necessary for the wed- ding except the costume. He said he couldn't marry her then. He used to come to the house after that, and was there on the day the child was born. Mr. Ludford said that on Saturday last the girl received a letter from the defendant, which was of a most scurrilous nature. Applicant stated there was no truth in the statements contained in the letter. She had never had another lover. She received the letter after she had refused to come to an agree- ment out of Court. The Chairman said that under the circumstances they woul d make an order of 4s, 6d. a week. Four shil- lings was the usual, but they thought defendant had treated the girl rather shabbily. The usual costs and advo- cate's fee were allowed. INDECENCY. I David Jones, Islwyn House, Gar- nant, was summoned for committing an indecent act in Bishop's Road, Gar- nant P.S. Richards stated the case, and defendant, who pleaded guilty, was fined IOs. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Thomas Phillips, 43, Margaret Street, Ammanford, and Edgar Morris, 37, Walter Road, were sum- moned for being drunk and disorderly in High Street, on the 27th ult. Both defendants pleaded guilty to being drunk, but not to disorderly con- duct. P. C. Edwards stated that at 8.45 p.m. he was in company with Inspec- tor Davies, whe; he saw the defen- dants in a drunken state, arm in arm together, and singing and shouting. When spoken to respecting their con- duct, they went towards home. The defendants each denied that the officer spoke to them. He was not within twenty yards of them. Inspector Davies gave corroborative evidence, and said the men were very noisy, or he would not have spoken to them. He noticed them going up HaU Street, and they came out by Christian Temple. Phillips, against whom there was a previous conviction, was fined 12s., and Morris 1 Os., the Chairman remark- ing he was sorry to see such young men in the Court, and he hoped this would be a lesson to them not to come again. NO LIGHTS. I William Jones, Maesgwymne, Llan- debie, and David Thomas, Caegarw Farm, Llandebie, were each fined 6s. 6d. for riding bicycles without front lights; Wm. Thomas Morgan, Gwylfa, Llandebie, and Edward Phillips, Dol- hardd, Llandebie, were each fined 7s. 6d. for riding bicycles without front lights and having no red rear lights. P.S. Morgans proved the case, and said the men worked at Caerbryn Col- liery, and were on B1 aenau road going to work between five and half-past five in the morning, on the 27th January. Wrn. Jones said he intended lighting his lamp on the top of the hill, and Wm. Thos. Morgan said he overslept himself and failed to find his rear lamp. THEFT OF WOOD AT GARNANT. Thomas Roblin, Prospect Place, Gamant, was charged with stealing a piece of timber, value 6d., the pro- perty of the North Amman Colliery Co., o* the 26th ult. Mr. Thos. Hy. Beanland, Bryn- gelly, Stepney Road, engineer at the colliery, said defendant had no right to take the timber away; he was in the employ of the company, and the timber was on the grounds. P.C. David John Thomas, Garnant, said that at 3.10 a.m. on the 15th ult. he saw defendant in Cwmamman Road, Garnant, carrying the timber produced under his arm. He stopped him and asked him where he got it from, and defendant replied: I took it off the Cawdor Colliery yard." Witness asked him if he had permis- sion, and he said: No; I was only taking it home for firewood." On the 22nd ult. witness charged him with stealing the second-hand match board, and defendant said he thought everything had finished; had he known he would not have taken it for 120; he hoped he would not be summoned. Defendant had only been in the dis- trict about six months. Defendant: I am sorry, your lord- ship; I took it for firewood. I was working that morning on the billy, and it was very cold. The wood was lying about the yard and trams running over it, and I took it to stir the fire up. I admit I did take it, your lordship. The magistrates ordered him to pay the costs, and be bound over in 15 under the First Offenders' Act for six months, the Chairman observing he must not come there again. Defendant: Never no more; I'll watch it.
CROSS HANDS AND DISTRICT SOLDIERS'…
CROSS HANDS AND DISTRICT SOLDIERS' COMFORTS FUND. To the Editor, Amman Valley Chronicle. Sir ,-Allow me space in your local paper to set forth my sincere thanks to the Cross Hands members for the re- ception they gave me on my leave, after twelve months' experience at the Front. They will have the satisfaction to know that they have made one Tommy comfortable with the same. I am sure to treasure the gifts as long as they will last. I am now having a well-earned rest, but for how long I do not know. Hoping that all the members may- be long spared to carry on this noble work till peace will be declared.—I remain, on behalf of Cross Hands soldiers, Gunner J. REES, R.A. Command Depot. I
SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE. I
SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE. I To the Editor, Amman Valley Chronicle. I bir,— Who is it that has the ear of the powers that be, and how is it obtained? Many an ordinary individual who may have the misfortune to make a slip, and as a result be haled before the magistrates, feels his position keenly; but there is no escape for him —he must go through it." As you very recently observed, What is sauce for the goose is not always sauce for the gander." Some days ago, a very circumstantial rumour spread that there had been a raid upon certain pre- mises in Ammanford—not a public- house this time-and that highly re- spectable individuals had been found thereon. It was even hinted that one of these holds high position in a pro- minent place of worship, so that evidently public appearances are not always a criterion to private life. Sud- denly the story fizzled out, and I read in your Issue last week, There was no police court last Monday." Why? —Yours. &c.. Amman f or d ENQUIRER. I Ammanford, February 5th, 1917.
- - - -___ .SCARCITY OF WATER…
SCARCITY OF WATER IN PENYGROES DISTRICT. To the Editor, Amman Valley Chroncle. Sir,—You would be doing a kind- ness to the inhabitants of Penygroes and surroundings by granting a short space to draw public attention to the above matter. During the last three weeks or more-since the commence- ment of the present frost—the water system has almost completely failed, and more than three-fourths of the houses have had no water through their private connections. Whole districts such as Gorsddu have remained for the above period without a drop. The householders have been going about houses searching for water, carrying it long distances from taps in lower parts, and resorting to melting snow and ice in order o procure the barest minimum for urgent use. The discomfort, in- convenience and labour ensuing, espe- cially in a large family of colliers, cannot easily be imagined by those enjoying a plentiful supply. Much of the shortage is undoubtedly caused by frost in the private taps and service pipes, but the people of Penygroes are convinced that most of thejr suffering is caused by their neighbours and fellow-parishioners in the lower dis- tricts leaving their taps open, and thus reducing the pressure, so that the water cannot reach the higher situations. Re- ports and complaints are continually received of persons wilfully allowing their own taps to run, and others using means to keep the roadside taps con- stantly ooen. It is well known that we sell water to Gorslas and Cefnejtnyn districts, and receive a good sum annually in payment, which helps to lessen our rates; but during the last month no water has been reaching those districts, and much financial loss is caused to Llandebie parish. The sel- fish, inconsiderate and dishonest action of people who wilfully abuse the supply cause much suffering to their neighbours, who have to pay like themselves, and also the loss of much money which has to be made up bv the ratepayers. The chief purpose of this note is to implore upon everybody to use the water very sparingly, and ensure that none is wasted anv^^f" W. W.
Our Poultry Column.
Our Poultry Column. I PRACTICAL POINTERS. With so much frosty weather about it is necessary that the breeding stock should be well cared for and enough food supplied, though not such a lot to cause internal fat. Fowls must not be allowed to get cold, for then they soon mope about and look wretched. If you feed heavily and give them nothing to do, there is this fear, that they will stand about the run and be- come quite chilled, and then they won't lay. Give a warm feed in the morning, and at the same time chilled water to drink, so that the water is not icy cold to counteract the effect of the warm meal. Then again, if birds are to lay, they must have a continual supply of water, hence when feeding at night see they have fresh water, because with these frosts it soon be- comes too hard to drink. All the dry shelters should be littered down with straw, chaff or dried leaves, so that the birds can always find some sort of amusement scratching to keep them warm. If a bird is cold it will not lay, hence fowls must be kept busy. Then collect the s two or three times each day, so as to prevent frost- bite; for if once an egg becomes frosted, it will be useless for sitting. I find there are many various ways of keeping the eggs after they are laid, and under some treatment I am not sur- prised that the eggs won't hatch. You must remember that an egg is covered with a porous shell, and if the germs are clogged, then the germ cannot breathe, which it will do as soon as it becomes forward enough to take the form of a chick. Packing eggs in meal and bran is a bad thing, and should never be done under any con- ditions. The argument that it is diry and will a.11 dust off is not good enough, because if it gets the least damp, then it adheres to the shell and must stop up the pores. Sawdust is used by many packers, but this is not always safe. If they must be put in something, use finely cut straw chaff. This is the best thing for storing them on while keeping at home; but where they are to be kept in any quantity make some racks for them, so that the air can get all round. This is easily done by getting a few stout boards, then bore holes large enough to admit the thin end of the egg, and fix these up like a chest of drawers. Eggs will keep better for any purpose like this than packed in anything, because the air keeps them fresh and sweet. It is essential that the rack should be fixed away from the frost, yet not into too great a heat. Usually you can find a room next to the incubator house, which will be free from frost, or make room in a convenient spot round the office or in the house, because you will want the racks handy for selling from, or when setting yourself. Those who are hatching now should be careful about the place of sitting hens, and then never overcrowd her. When hatching is all done by machine, and several are running to- gether in one room, the heat will be good enough to keep the temperature right, but if you have a big room and only one machine, the heat will go down and probably the frost get in, which is bad -for the' working ofthe incubator. It is necessary to keep the heat of the room as near as possible round about 55 degrees, then the machine should remain steady and keep a regular heat all the way through. But when using hens, set in a sheltered place, or in an old warm barn, where they can be quiet and not disturbed. Never crowd the hen, and, though she may be big enough to take fifteen eggs in normal weather, do not use more than eleven now, and with all small hens only nine. The hen has to turn her eggs round for her- self, and in turn she brings them all to the outside of the nest, where, if the frost is severe, they may get chilled; then it is all up with them hatching. You had better keep the numbers low and hatch the lot, than to try to bring off a crowd and have them all frozen. The young chickens will need atten- tion, whether in the foster mother or out with the hen. One thing make certain about, and that is to keep them dry both inside and out; then the cold is not so bad. Where possible put the coops in an old shed, and then let the chicks have their freedom, and the foster mother can be put in a similar place, for then you will not have so much trouble with the heat at night. When the mother is outside, if in a bleak spot there will be some trouble in keeping the lamp alight, and, during the frost, a greater trouble in making up the heat. Nail an old bag round the outside till the weather is more genial.
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Carmarthenshire and theI War…
Carmarthenshire and the War Loan. AMMANFORD'S EXAMPLE. A proposal to subscribe to the War Loan was made by Aid. W. N. Jones at the quarterly meeting of the Carmarthenshire County Council, he remarking that he thought they were all sufficiently patriotic to come to the conclusion that it was their duty as the representative body in the county to do all they possibly could to bring the war to an end. It was money they must get for munitions, war and food. Their brothers, sons, and friends were fighting abroad, and the sooner they got them back the better. He had thought of suggesting 150,000, as he found they had £ 43,604 deposited with the National Provincial Bank at Carmarthen. The Clerk, however, told him they generally kept in hand £6,000 for one purpose and £8,000 for another. If they took that out it would leave 130,000. He proposed they invest 128,500, wh,ich would give them 130,000 worth of War Loan. They would borrow it at 5 per cent., and it would pay them 5J. Mr. Nathan Griffiths seconded. Mr. Dudley Drummond said if they could borrow money at 5 per cent. and get 5i, it would be a good thing for the county. Aid. W. N. Jones said Amman- ford had Invested 1,5,000, besides il,000 before. Mr. Dudley Drummond: Is the county not prepared to do more than £ 28,000, if Ammanford can do £ 5,000? Mr. Tom Jones thought they might see their way to borrow £ 100,000. The money must be got. Sir James Hills- Johnes moved 150,000 be invested. Mr. T. Jones said if they could borrow £ 100,000, it would be to their advantage, and he did not see why they could not do so. Individuals were stretching points, and it was most essential the Government should have the money. Mr. David Evans, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said he was will- ing for the Council to borrow as much as they could, but he did not want the county to be crippled m its own finance. They were not allowed an overdraft on their current account. The Clerk: No; the Local Govern- ment Act limit is one-tenth of the rate- able value, and unless there is some statutory authority which enables us to borrow more, of course you are pro- hibited from doing so. A communication from the Local Government Board stated that no special powers had been conferred on County Councils or other Local Authorities for investment in the War Loan. The Department had, how- ever, informed a number of authorities that they would offer no objection, so far as they were concerned, to their investing in the loan such part of their balance as is not likely to be required in the near future for meeting their expenditure, nor to their making an arrangement with their bankers to en- able them to invest in the loan any advanced moneys such as payments to the sinking fund in the ensuing finan- cial year, which they would in the ordinary course have available in the period. The Clerk added that the letter did not apply to them, as they had no sinking fund. The County Councils' Association said the same thing, and in face of that he could not advise them to borrow. Mr. Ben Evans proposed an amend- ment that the County Council should not invest any money in the War Loan. They had no bigger balances than they required to work their accounts, and if they reduced these below that they would have no power to raise them. To invest a big sum in the War Loan was the height of foolishness. Next year their county rate would be 2d. or 3d. more in the i, and to go and take a loan of this sort, even if they could get it, at the present time would be tying a mill- stone round the neck of the county. Mr. Mervyn Peel thought it was pretty clear they had only authority to invest to the extent of their working balance. He thought it was a good thing to set an example, and if they had 128,000 to spare, let them invest that at all events. Mr. Ben Evans said they might cripple the resources of the Council, but a great many people had raised money to put in the War Loan. They could always realise it by selling the Stock, if ever they found it necessary to get it, and they would in the meantime be getting more interest on the money in the War Loan than by having it in credit at the banks. Dr. Williams seconded the proposi- tion, provided Aid. Jones limited it to £ 30,000. He could not understand why the Government, instead of giving people advice to borrow from the banks, did not go to the banks direct for what they wanted, and save interest. They could fight the Germans better with money at 5 per cent. than at 51 per cent. Aid. W. N. Jones agreed to a pro- position that if they found they had power to borrow they would invest 150,000, and if not, then 130,000. This was carried.
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