The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-12-06


to wh'se hands it has been wisely conhded.
and there willing gly leave it.
ls!!ould be gratiied to present you win
an equally hatlering account OF the condI'
ton of our free Schools. Defective in the
frame work of their original Structure, they
have dragged on wretched existence.
it, indeed, they can be said TO exist at all,
down TO this day, a, an immense cost, with
out any apparent benefits. except IN The
towns and cities, where, from the denseness
Of the population, the funds appropriated Tor
Their support can he concentrated SO as 10
make its influence felt; year alter year the at
tenllon of the legislature has been called to
this subject by my prcdeccssors'n office; and
again and again legislative committees nave
been directed to examine INTO their condi
ton; and whilst all concede and cxPnse ihe
defective operation of the system, no mca.
sures have been taken towards It's improve
meHt. The will to do 1t is certainly mol
wanting. for it is a subject in which every
individual has an interest; and can only
account for the apparent apathy, ny snPp'scc
ing that no one knows or has The means of
knowing what is wanted to carry IN INTO
successful operation, within the means ap-.
propriated to that subject. The defects OF
The system were car seen, and having DE-
slowed some attention to it for many years
past, and with opportunities of information
accessible to few q mean personal kn"wl
edge of the localities and population OF every
portion Of the State,)I am utterly unable to
suggest any improvement likely to produce
results corresponding in any reasonably pro-
portion to The very large sum annually ex'
pended in their support. The local ooarns
of Commissioners cannot be relied on tor the
necessary Information, as they act without
concert or unfnrmity ofsystem: and sng-
gcsted to the Legislature at its last session
the proprety Of appointing suitable agent
whose duly it should be to visit every p"r-
ton of the Stale IN detail, charged especial
" with collecting all the information ne
could obtain from the local boards, and IN
lelIgent individuals; and 10 propose plan
suited To the occasion. Whatever plan may
he devised, am very confident that II VIII
bc found that there will be a great dehclcn'
cy Of competent instructors even in the PrI-
mary departments of an English educ 'tl"n
1t is possible that there will be found III eve
~ district, few young persons OF both sexes
who would, for the purpose of acquiring a
suitable education, Tree of expense, obIge
themselves, when qualified. to devote lew
years To the instruction of children, Tor a
reasonable compensation; and as star'lng
point in the improvement OF the system
would recommend that the boards OF com.
missioners of the several districts he required
by law to inquire for, and select from those
offering. a certain number who woui oe
willing to accept these terms, and 10 lace
them at suitable schools; tine expenses Oh
tuition aud subsistence to be provided tor
out Of the common Iree school fund before
1t is distributed amongst the districts, or IN
such other way as you may see ut TO pre-
scribe.
In connection with this subject. | take
great pleasure IN laying before you com,
muncalion lrom The Rev. DR.. Curtis ana
Son, Principals of the Female High School
at Limestone Springs. and OF Mr.. ): w.
Hudson, Principal oflhe Mount Zlon Acad'
emv, at WinnSbornugh, which contains Inc
liberal and palrIoilc proposition 10 RECEIVE
in furlherance Of any general plan that ma
be adopted to make the free schools useiu'
any number of pupils: rne of females, ana
The other Of males. not exceeding t"ei'e
each, free of any charge for instruction. l"
be educated Tor teachers. 1t IS gcneral'y
known, that these institutions rank amnnSS1
The most respectable in the State; and my
own observation enables me to state that the
government. disc pine, and success IN M
sruclion, will rank with any other "l INC
same description in The State; and would
recommend earnestly. that at least ,h's I'M.
liatorv step be prompt y taken towards lhe
Improvement of the free school syyste'n.-
Other schools, entitled To equal confidence
will doubtless he ambitious u follow lhls
laudablc example; and provision onght 10
be made for such contingency. ihV'le
Your attention more particularly to this com.
lnunicalion, rs containing some useful and
practira information on The subject OF nor
NAL schools.
The lradcl Academy a. Charleston, and
the Arsenal Academy here, will furnish ap
propriate means of normal instruction IN
many of the mos, useful departments "t SCI
encc, and the South Carolina College The
means of an tducation in the highest depart
men,s of science and literature.
In my frs, Message to the Legislature al
its la t annual session. | took occasion ''
bring to their notice the subject OF lncrna
improvements, and as no action was theI
had upon it, take the liberty of presenting
it to Won in The hope that ii will receive yon'
early attention. For my general views or
the subject refer ynu to that message; hu
at the expense of some repetition will
state some facts which, IN my Judgement
deserve especial consideration. All wine
are familiar with the upper portions "t the