The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-12-05

The question of reform in the Free School
system has largely engaged the attention OF
the people during the past year. 1t has every
where been discussed, and the conviction is
generally established that radical changes are
necessary in our present plan Of public instruc.
.tinr.
III my last annual message, expressed the
opinion that it would be premature TO ADOPT, at
that time, any plan, that might he submitted tor
your approval, to reconstruct the system but
advised the appointment Of Minister OF Put.
lie Instruction, and subsequently Il Board to
act ip concert with him, hy whose nritrd la
bors plan complete and adequate can be dl-
oe>ird Tor your ultimate adoption. cannot
give the reasons for this recommendation in Il
nralncr stronger or more fnrcbe than ny uSlrg
the LAM rage of one whose abilit, all arknowl
edge:
! Gail, therefore, that would now press upon
you is. TO have public instruction erected into
Il department of the State Government. That
is the first and an indispensable step: aud, u,-
til that is done, there never can be plar AIDE.
qnatc. consistent, >ucressful.
; "What we first need Is n collection of The
facts from which the data Ola proper system
ma, hr drawn. We must know the number
ot children in the State, of the ages ut which
! children are usually sent to school. the kid
and drsrec "f education demanded, the rela
tive distances of the residence of parents, the
points A. which school houses nay br most
con, ruiiv erected, h" nnnb. o. 'ui!l'm@-
: required. The nunlber Of carhrr., aud n" saA
,i,< whi.i different Ioralilirs make nrr"r>a'y
. 10 competent support Facts Of Ihi> sort mn,t
constitute the groundwork. In pnss"ssinu o:
ihrsr we may t;eu ;rnrcel to compare dlf.
E'renl systems, adopting from among them
thar which seems to be best adapted to onr
own circumstances. or originating new one.
if all should prove unsatisfactory, AN. there
FORE that in my indg gment 'ht !.'g-laIure
should undertake a present, is t" acquire this
preliminary information including ,h" acru-
imitation If Elcrs the "nnrars"n of different
Cnnmon Srh0nl Svs:rn,- a,nf '''" i.":i ~
! plan suited tu - w.nI- o. var Nwu ,.'"r'lr
! ibis can r done - i':r '"'.""'m':' "' u
Minister of P,rl.:t las, ~ 'r. -. all It
regarded as ~ officer OF thu r"vr;nrnr:!. com
prnsa;c'l b, Il large salar, and who s'l'll give
himself unre<erv dly t" this great interest.
Let Kim hp required tn traverse the State. I"
inspect the condition cf every "ighb"rh""d.
anh from, personal observation and authentic
! testimony let him hccorn" acquaint Il with the
number the extent aud ri 'cT'n. tam"es oi t'l''
children. Let him he prepared t" -ny w''r'r
school houses can be mn>l rnl.rrn.'itr "'"''
| cd hc distances ut which they should ht rr
NOV. d from each other, the kind of teacher
needed in each neishborho,h anil rt him in
dicatr what sections Of the State arc unprc
.'arrd fo" schools in consequence ni the dISp'r
! SION of their inhabitants. Let him b" able tn
give some prnhablr estimate Of the expense
! incident to the surucSsrnl operation Of an ade
qnafe scheme In The next place. 1t >h"nid b
| his duty to master the existing systems. wh"th
or ia this country "r Europe. and /" lay hrfnrP
the LEGISLATURE >urcint account "f their tnu
! damcntal provisions. Lee! him propose tn"
! *.,he;ne which he thinks onuht to he adau'ed
; here and lt his report he referred to an able
AID learned commission. charged with The final
Preparation Of s6ch Il scheme as we may he
ready To enact hto q law"
The expense Of carrying into effect the fore.
going suggestions should he betrayed ont Of a
! reserved per centage upon the present Free
School appropriation; thus saving additional
drafts of money from the Treasury and INA.
king The Free School fund correct ultimately
the abuses and defects Of the present system.
| had the honor ut your last session to snh-
nit to Won statement of the condition "f hr
Blue Ridge Railroad enterprise. and also Ger
tain suggestions with regard to improvements
in the State Asylum for the insane. Upon
these two subjects my opinions then expressed,
remain unchanged bnt f,rhear to press them
upon your consideration for reasons which are
obvious to you, and which Tou will not fail to
appreciate.
Upon the subject of the Asylum herewith
submit for your pern<aI and careful considera
ton n, elaborate statement from the able ply
>ician of the institution, whose long experience
and Through Investigation of the Suhc cnti.
l,'- his opinions to thu highest respect and
ysr.,il II presents such Il variety of facts and
ar:,,Tri'lS, as cannot hr embraced even w"r"
Il; '!..-r&hic in the Iimird SPACE If IN an:'nal
message. cutreat Your cxar:iraii"n al them
IL auth ,ritv at some future !ay fr vn'ir a
tina u,nn this subject Ou" fact APPEARS to
me t, ir inh;$prtabI": that it w"nld hc r'ro.
rrnl, ;".lr"v or the i,Hrt # the State To eXpr"d
ANY Iilr;r .;n> upon The present pr'i'niSsS
and location, b"y"ni the usual ANIMAL apr"
riati.r. bnt reserve its means for Il future
r,si,m. when radical changes may h' regarded
rs Indispensable, for the greater comfort and
benefit of the unhappy orrrpants "f That cheer.
less a""Gc.
Upon the subject Of he Blue Elr Rail
road hrg. with the greatest d''lerria., ly''nr
attention t" -" i"gnir;',. i''s<i. s,,"rd t."
ENTERPRISE /. .!."r - ~ r:. IT Il! l:i''f>