Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-20

their ignorance as 1t were, but that they will 60
to work, to make their District, the paradise
that Abbeville is, where health, peace and
colnpetcnce'' has intelligence added to it. Let
each one cooperate cordially with his neighbor-
hood and my word for it, that our District will
soon be dotted with far-famed Academies.
Every father is an important and responsible
part of every community, and if he would be
happy, or intelligent, within himself and within
his family, he must worship his individuality less
and his household Gods the more-localize his
best affections within his own neighborhood, and
adorn his own vine and fig tree. 1t is of such
men that the best State is formed.
Sectarianism il another stumbling block in the
way Of our Schools. 1t is not unfrequcntly the
entering wedge, that splits community and
doubles the expense of bad education, or pre-
vents any education at all. 1t is true. that the
general principals Of religion and morality, con-
tanned in the Bible and Buffers Analogy, or
Leiber's Ethics and Paley's Moral Philosophy,
should be taught in every Academy, as far us
practicable, but the moment that Sectarian doc
trines and tenets are introduced, that instant is
an apple of dscord presented which divides and
crippcs, where all should be harmony, unanimi-
ty and cooperation.
Sectarianism fosters ignorance, increases the
expense of education, and feeds the children
upon blind bigotted prejudice, which they should
be taught to hate. Were it not sensitive ground,
it would be my delight to make vigorous at
tack upon this stauncl foe of education at the
South, but sufficient has been said, to warn our
farmers against allowing it to intcrmeddle with
school affairs, where it has no business. De-
nomnatonal schools may flourish in cities and
villages, but they never can thrive as general
system in the country, where nearly all of our
people live thinly settled. An Academy here,
needs the support Of each and every man in its
vicinity to sustain it. Therefore neither pride,
nor Scctaranism should any longer divide us,
but let US all exclaim in the language Of the
vencrablcs CnEvEs, be united, be united.'
Divide and conquer was the maxim of old Rome,
and together we stand, divided we fall, may be
said by the friends Of every school in the coun-
try.
The abominablc practice of employing ncom-
potent teachers, at lean salaries and degrading
all school masters below the estimation in which
they should be held, is another strong working
influence against education at the South. AS
general rule, the value Of every thing is in pro-
portion to its cost and competent teacher, one
worth having, who has acquired knowledge, ha:
the faculties of communication and governmen
will, must and ought, to be well paid and es
tcemcd, or he will quit the business. If thu
patrons refuse their confidence and respect Il
the teacher, the pupils will also, and the trustee
should side with him, in nine cases out Of ten
against the scholars, 10 quell their mutinou
pride and impatenec Of wholesome restrain,
1t has been said with some justice, that tn
children in the middle and upper Districts 9
-enroiiHu -ssorrrrffIeir parents: 60 t
school where they please, and do as they please
Or in other words, that there is little or II,
family government.
Our educated young men should quit crowd
ing the already overstocked professions, and
adopt The equally honorable calling Of teaching
the young idea how to shoot. hope, that,
shall not ask in vain, for an ADLER pen than mine
to address them letter on the subject appealing
alike to their interest, good sense and patriotism
TO make the name Of an Edgcfeld schoOl-In,s-
ter respectable. The Advertiser is taking the
lead Of the up-country papers, and why should
not the District at large boast an intelligence
worthy Of its Village sheet.
Abbcville, an adjoining District has overcome
all the difficulties Of thin population, agricultural
pride, illiberal Scctarianism, incompetent teach
crs, and every other impeachment Besides the
honor Of the thing, and the blessings to herself.
many Of her citizens are becoming rich, by the
stream Of capital that is flowing in from other
Districts, for tuition, board, clothing, sc. And
where did this move in the cause of education
first begin in that noble District2 it commenced
with her farmers, and with them it must conf
mence here, or it will never begin at ALL Edge
field District has about 10000 inhabitants in it,
and Of these about 1000 live in the great cities
Of Edgclicld, Hamburg, Granitcvillc and Vau-
cusc, of which the two latter are exclusively
manufacturing towns. Now, | ask the $4,000
country inhabitants of Edgeteld District, how
much longer will they rely on Edgcfeld and
Hamburg for education, when they are So split
up with political, professional, commercial'and
social jcalouscs, that they cannot half educate
themselves.
The Ridge, Mount Enon, Plumb Branch,
Horns Creek, and other neighborhoods in Edge
field District might soon become the rivals of
Greenwood and Cokcsbcrry, if our sturdy old
farmers woald address themselves to the task
Let each Beat Company, or ncighborhood that
is identified in some other way, assemble in
spirit of liberality and try what can be DONE
But above all things they shorld be most careful
in selecting proper and permanent locality for
the school and then erecting suitable build
ing. When these two things are well done an
Academy will take care Of itself. There is thep
genius about the place, guardian angel which
hOvcrs over il and makes it