The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-08-24
From The South Caro.irian.
Popular HIIrscaaionn.

been marked with sound policy. As our
next legislature will be fresh from the
people, aud the representatives pre-
sumcd to know the wants of their con
stltucnts in their respective sections of
the State, we trust that the whole sub
jcct Of popular education will be thor
onghIy investigated, and a reform in
our present system be vigorously and
encrSetically commenced. 1t is not
likely that our lawmakers will have
much politics, State or Federal, to talk
over during the approaching session. so
that ample time will be afforded for
those measures which will tend to
bencflt the people, and place South
Carolina in her legitimate position in
this age of progress.
In glancing over the new Consti,u.
ton OF Louisiana, Just adopted by the
Convention of that State, VIC find the
following clauses regarding "public
education"
cart. 1855. There shall be elected
superintendent of public education.
who shall hold his Office for the term
OF two years. His duties shall be
prescribed by law, and llc shall receive
such compensation as the Legislature
may direct; provided that the General
Assembly shall have power by vote
OF the majority of members elected to
both houses, to abolish the said office
OF superintendent of public education,
whenever in their opinion said office
shall be no l'ngcr necessary.
cart. 1876. The General Assembly
shall establish free public schools
throughout the State, and shall provide
for their support by general taxation
on property or otherwise and all
moneys SO raised or provided shall be
distributed to each parish in proper
ton TO the number of FREQ white chill
drcn between such ages as shall be
fixed by the General Assembly.
cart. 1877. The proceeds ofall lands
heretofore granted by the United
States to this State for the use or sup.
port of schools, and of all lands which
may hereafter be granted or bcuucath-
cd for any other purpose. which here
after may be disposed of by the State,
and the proceeds of the estates of de-
ceased persons to which the State may
become entitled by law, shall be held
by the State us Il loan, and shall bc
and remain a perpetual fund on which
the State shall pay annual interest of
six per cent; which interest, together
Ith fhn nj q f1,., !
posted with this State by the United
States, under the act of Congress. ap-
proved June 23, 1886, and all the rents
Of the unsold lands, shall be appropri-
atcd to the support of such school, and
this appropriation shall remain inviola-
blc.''
These provisions in our humble
opinion, are we'll calculated to pro.
mote popular education. The very
first step which our Legislature should
take is the appointment Of the Officer
superintendent Of the public cduca-
aforementioned above. Until such
an appointments, wiscl made, of fcoursc,
we fear the system, no matter how
patched and amended, will never he
effective i'll its operations. This officer
would feel his responsibility, would
dcrolvc upon him to Il minute invcSti-
CATION OF every point likely to be pro-
ductiyc Of good, his first report, if
he be Il competent man, and has the
subject ut heart, will demonstrate that
our free school system, as heretofore
carried ON, was Il proltlcss cNpcudi-
turc Of the public funds.
The distribution OF The school fund.
according to the present system, is
complained of. Above, it will be seen
that Louisiana distributes her fund in
proportion to the number of free
white children in each district. Tlli,
is equitable. but We should think that
the Insertion of "poor or destitute
before " Tree white children" -" would
better serve the object Of the cxpcn-
diturc. Let the fund be distributed
according to the Necessity Of the re-
spcctivc districts, and not in proper
ton to taxation or representation
That is, if llorry, Williamsburg,
Grccnvillc, or amy other district, re-
quirc more funds To support their pub
lie schools than the Parishes Of Ste
Philips and ST. Alichacl's, let those dis
trIcts have it. The object is to educate
the future citizens Of the State, and if
1T costs fifty dollars II year to educate Il
child in the slarscly populated sections
OF our State, and only twenty dollars
in Charleston, the fund should be so
applied that III equal number in both
localities should be educated without
reference to the cost. There is still
another reason for this basis Of distri
button The children of the country
districts arc more likely TO become
and remain citizens of the State, than
those children who would receive the
benefits in Charleston.
We trust that the people will i'm
press upon their representatives the
great importance Of giving life and
cilicacy to our common school system,
50 that the money expended may be of
some service to the State. 1t is their