Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-08-13
THE FREE SCHOOLS.

a short timr since, we received communl-
cation upon the subject of the common or
Free Schools. The writer thinks that the sys
IN now established by law, is jill imposition
upon the public This communication is mis-
laid. but according TO our recollection OF il, he
proposes the establishment of Academies IN
every FIVE miles square throughout the District
the employment of The most competent Teach
els, and To effect this purpose. he recommends
taxation Of the people. He thinks That the
children of every family. rich and poor should
alike enjoy the benefit of the public schools,
without charge 10 any All this sounds very
well. and if practicable, might COrk well.
In the present condition Of things. we think.
that il would not alto 5elher answer, al least for
Edsefcld District We must inform the
if he means the Commissioners of The Free
Schools should tax the people. that they have not
the power. This is alone. within the province
the Legislature. About S37 900 are uppropri.
ated annually, for tue support of the public
schools, and out Of this amount, $l,e0O per
year are reserved for Edgeiield District. With
this comparatively small sum. the Comm,s
sioDers must pay tor some hundreds OF pool
children, scattered in every nook and corner OF
the District. Tie Commissioners endeavor to
equaze the benefits all, rs much as possible
70 reach all, or nearly all, schools must be ell
couraged in every nfishborhood. II is very
evident, that under the present arrangement,
no one teacher can receive ample compensa.
ton for his services, however competent he
muy be. Fion the necessity of the case, per-
SONS indlffeIenlly qualified, must be employed
in many neighbnrIoods 1t is however the duty
of the Commissioners, to secure the services of
the most estimab,n and competent teachers thai
they can, under the circumstances They
should carefully sUperinleGd ihe schools under
their charge, as the law requires. No drunken
or dissolute person should be- allowed to teach.
The teachers should have Ct leust. tuerable
knowledge of readn5. writing and arithmetic.
1t is in vain to expect urhhigher qualifications
among instructors generally, under The present
system. We think, that the Legislature shonId
appropriate larger amount fot The instruction
of The poor, without seriously hardening the
people with taxation. A District OF the extent
aud scattered population of Etigefield, should
have larger amount Than Sl,8n0. which it
now receives. An appropriation Of 81 oU0.
or $4,000 W" think. would greatly promote
education ann ne the poor in our District
With this sunI, the Commissioners couId Sc
cure the services Of very competent teachers
in many sections, where now very indifferent
ones ale employed. Imperfect as the pres.
ent system is, il would work much better in our
opinion, if the amount appropriated for The
whole State, was somewhat increased, and the
gentlemen appointed as dispensers Of this fund,
shoud be required. under penalty. 10 attend
most strictly to their duties. We have no ne,o
or general system Of public instruction TO rec
ommend. Several plans have at different times
been proposed, but the old system with some
slight changes. still remains. In the general
scramble for money. we hope that the education
of the poor will not be lost sight of. 1t is much
to be desired. that onr Legislature should at an
early day. attend 10 this most important mat
ters, and either attempt some Improvement
upon the system now established, or adopt an
other and lar better one.