The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-01

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ter Of The, grraavest, Importance, to in.
quirc how this general diffusion of
knowledge amongst the people is to
be. promoted and continued with each
succeeding generation.,r. No nation
or Individual can remain stationary
either in their moral!or social condi.
tom; and unless the course Of each is
onward, ythe movement must be re.
'trograde.. AWe come now, briefly to
consider the 7 condition Of things in
this rsgard, within the limits its Of our
own State. ,il9aj .nnnre..ja;s s-qi,,g
ii Few persons are aware Of the ex-
tent. to which Ignorance prevails in
our State. But it is q lamentable
fact that there are probably more
persons who cannot read or write in
South Carolina, than in any other
State in the Union, in proportion to
the population. Our system Of edu.
cation is radically defective. The
Legislature have made repeated ef-
forts, to improve this system and pro-
mote the cause of education by the
establishment of free schools, which
afford opportunities for the attainment
of the rudiments of education to the
humblest classes Of the community.
But notwithstanding these efforts, our
free school system is so defective,
that it has failed almost entirely to
meet the purposes of its creation.-.
But much may be. done to improve it.
Why do our Legislators approach it
with so much reluctance !? Whenev-
er a move is made towards advancing
this matter, we immediately see our
wise law-givers turning their backs
upon the mover and bringing forward
some, more exciting topic ,y;a order to
distract attention from tfias$s b;,,,,S;,, sb;,,aS
Surely it. is a matter worthy SIS.
Gus deliberation. The purit
permanence of our institutions de.
pend entirely upon the = diffusion of
intelligence aud morality amongst
the people. SlIot box will new
er be abused, 50 long as the people
are sufficiently Informed to under
stand their rights and to Judge of the
effect of any particular course of leg
islation upon them.5isWithn these
facts in full view,, ourtlegislature has
heretofore permitted the free school
system that deformed and decrepit
issue Of their wisdom to drag out a
miserable existence, producing no
good effects and resulting only in an
Improbable expenditure of the public
money. Better kill this miserable
bantling at once, and starting from
the beginning, project an entirely
new system. Will our people oppose
such a measure because of it's ex.
pense I? We trust not. Better that
every dollar in the treasury should
be expended, if thereby every man
woman and child within our limits
could be taught to read and write.
The advantages Of education cannot
be estimated i'll dollars and cents, and
he would seek to measure them by
this standard, is himself ignorant and
therefore not qualified to legislate
upon the subject This subject is
susceptible Of great expansion, but
we leave it to bring to the notice Of
our readers another branch of the
question, in which they are immeti-
atcly interested, and which they have
it in their power, to some extent, to
control. We refer to, the primary
schools established in this district
The teachers of Union have organized
themselves into a society for the
purpose of promoting the cause of
education, and Of elevating the stand.
ard Of excellence amongst the teach.
ers themselves. This is an important
step and must, if properly encour-,
aged, produce great results. But
the teachers can do nothing unless
they are aided and sustainedby pub.
lie opinion, and properly supported
by our citizens. There is no CON-
pulsory process in this State by which
a parent can be repaired to educate
his children-we wish there was -
but if cur people will encourage these
movements, Of their teachers, by pa.
tronising their. schools, the, cause of
education must and will be materially
promoted And why should they
not? Your teachers ale mostly
composed ofyour own citizens-men
reared in your midst---familiar with
your habits and wants thoroughly
acquainted with the peculiarities Of
your popplation-and withal compe.
tent, in most instances, to impart the
elements of "a useful education They
should be asoperly supported and en-,
couraged. AS we before remarked,
there is no compulsory. process by |