The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-04-08
c 0 NJ N j MICA THO N s.
. For the ledger.
The Free-School System of So. Ca.
NUMBER l.

an institution has been universally acknowl-
edged /; and many fruitless efforts have been
made to render it more acceptable and use
full. So strong has this necessity been felt.
that the present system continues still to en-
ist, and to receive the support Of the State
when, at the same time, it is generally ad-
mitted to be deficient, and radically so.
II is not surprising that the State has been
so tenacious of an institution, which is ad-
mitted on all hands to be defective, when its
purposes are fully contemplated, and its il.
fuences individually, socially and politically,
duly considered Individually and socially
considered, however, it effects man in his indi-
vidual and social character. But it is in n
political pont'of view, that it Justly becomes
Il matter of governmental concern and of
paramount importance.
Education is the life blood of democratic
rule. 1t invigorates and strengthens the bo-
dy polite, and gives to it vitality. 1t is one
OF the main pillars of Republicanism. and
worthy to receive the fostering care of State,
1t is the duty of the State to provide for the
eaucatlon OF The people, as much so as for
any otner Purpose,as much so as to provide for
the Judiciary, or any other department of the
government; and that State is blind to her
true interest, which does not make suitable
provision for its encouragement and sun.
port To talk of a people gorernu,r
themselves without the requisite knowl-
edge which education alone can give, is
absurd. You might as well expect 70
mount wild horse without reins and look
for him not to pursue the instinct of his no-
tArc.
Much might be said upon the kind of cd
ucatlon which the State should eucourooe
but in passing on to the main subject, n sin
gle remark will be made in this connection.
and that is, that every true plan Of Education
should be based upon morality and virtue,
These disarm the power of Intelligence sim
ply they are checks upon human conduct
they are ballast to human character. An
Intelligent man without these PRINCIPLES is
dangerous. He can and will do mischief
whenever he has an opportunity,andi it is his
interest to do. So
The Free School system of South Caro-
lima, although it has not fulfilled its high DUR
poses, although it has failed to meet the en-
pectations of its sanguine friends; vet it
must be admitted that it has done much
good. 1t has enabled many poor children to
learn to read and write, who would have re-
mained ignorant ofcven these first princi,,,,,a,,
witheutit. To that extent, then, the Free
School system has done good, and is of it.
self, sufficient reason for the appropriation.
Wherein, then, is the present Free School
system defective? and what is the remedy
To understand this fully, it will be neces-
sary to consider the plan in its organization.
and its practical operation.
The Free School System, originally, was |
intended to embrace a plan of Free Schools |
under the management of BoaIds of Commits /
sioners.
It was the duty of the several boards of
Commissioners to lay off each Parish and |
District into School divisions, to employ |
teachers, supervise the schools and to give |
certificates or checks upon the Treasury in
children were allowed to enter and TO be |
But in consequence of the in /
sufficiency of the fund-the extent of the |
District, and other considerations, the COM |
were authorized to assist schools
And tins plan has been pursued by most of
the Districts in the State. Such has been
the plan pursued in the District of Iancas-
ter with which the writer is informed. A
statement of which is here given. There
are five commissioners appointed for the
District by the Legislature. They meet quar-
terly at the Court House to transact business.
The District is divided into FIVE School di-
visions, and each division assigned to COM
and it is his duty, to take charge
of the schools in his division, and to super
wise the same, and TO make himself acauain-
ted with the circumstances of the beneficial
ry applicants. = ........,-e
The necessity for schools originates them
and the patrons contract with the teachers.
All INDECENT children in the neighborhood,
who are sent are taken into the school and
the teacher, If he desires aid from the Free
chool Fund, reports his school together with
The names Of such children and their parents
to the board. The board then takes the
school under its supervision and appoints
trustees together with the commissioner of
that particular division in which the school
exists, to superintend the same The ac
counts for the INDECENT scholars embracing
only the actual time the children have gone to
school, sworn to by the teacher, and certified
by the trustees as to the pecuniary ability of
such children, are presented to the board on
the fourth Monday in October, which is the
end Of the Free School year; and at this
time all the accounts of the several schools
are considered, and passed upon. The num-
her and names of all the ;,,sj;,,.Yt ,k;,du,, :;