Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-09-26
FREE SCHOOLS;


bers of the Legislature should well conside
before going. to Columbia. We know that hi
Excellcncy Governor Adams is collecting infor
nation in regard to our free schools, and viii
make some Recommendation in his annual mes
sage, with view of improving the existing sys
tenn. We will suy more on this subject here
: after.-Southern Patriot.
FlAr Rock, Aug IA.
BY DEAR SIR: I have given much considera
tion'to the subject Of improving public educa
ton in our State, in connection with the fret
schools, and it seems to me that if some of III
in'tle Legislature, representing different sec
lions, could digest some plan, public opinion is
ready to carry it out. It seems TO me that the
fundamental error Of most of the schemes here
tofore proposed, has been in attempting to:
much at once; and we should avoid this by luy
ing foundations and then raising the superstruc
ture. If, instead Of attempting to educate al
once every part Of every district, We were to
commence with the most popuIous part OF each
and there establish good srhools, We would
gradually extend the field of Improvement from
these centres. We would thus raise up teach.
ers for each neighborho.d, who could be en-
ploved In the more sparse and destitute neigh.
borhoods. Suppose, for instance, there were
good schools at Greenville and SPartaDburg, ut
which every child within an area of three miles
could be taught Such schools would not only
puye centres of light in each of these districts
but would enable each of these villages to fur.
nish teachers for the whole, part of the year
to every part Of the district, ut cheaper rates.
and with more certainty than when teachers
were drawn from distance. The benefits OF
such schools would become so apparent, that
| every portion of the district which could com.
bine for the same purpose would coon follow
the example.
In order to enable the schools 10 succeed,
think they should be common schools, taking in
rich and poor upon one common basis. wouh.
make them so good that the rich would prefer
them to any other school. That this can be
done, has been fully demonstrated at the North.
particularly in tho city of New York. The
plan would sugges, would be, that each village,
including the'country withinsa sufficient range
TO attend school, be permitted to tax The inhabi-
,ants, to certain extent annually, 10 build
school houses and to pay for the support OF
teachers; that the State furnish, say one.thrd
of any sum so taxed for school houses, and so
much per scholar in proportion to the amount
taxed on the village; that there be elected, in
every such precinct, e board, to have charged Of
the schools and carry out the scheme, and that
every child in the precinct be free to enter the
school under regulations to be- adopted; that, as
the State is to take part in the matter, the
Legislature elect a board Of education, who
shalt prescribe the forms of the buildings to be
erected. and make general regulations for the
Schools and appoint Secretary to 60 round
and see that these regulations are complied with
and furnish proper information for each local
board.
In connection with all this, would require
the board of education to establish, ut Charles
ton OF. Columbia, Normal School, for the edu-
tiun Of teachers, so as ensure supply for the
schools, and put this school under the charge OF
the State, as under the Prussian system, each
teacher educated to be subject to strict exami-
nation, md 10 be bound to serve for so many
years in the district schools after their education
has been completed.
| Please consider this outline and write me
your views, and whether you think any such
scheme would be desirable or practicable.
Very truly, yours, C. G. MEMMlNGER.
Col. B. F. PERRY, Grsenville, S. c.
AIs'T Cor NoTHISG.-We were visiting at a
house the other evening, where there was a
number of young children. Ono of them had
the measles. one the whooping-cough, and ano.
ther was afflicted with young poatry.pox. They
were all receiving the greatest sympathy and
attention, while one little girl about FIVE years
old, sat in lhe corner crying bitterly. We asked
her what was the matter? She replied, bursting
out into a heart.breaking gush of tears:-
"Every one of the other children's got the
measles and whooping.cough, and amt go'
nolhing-hoo hoo! hoo!"
For such misfortune there was no sympa
thy.--American Courier.
PARsox D. an orthodox clergyman
loved a good joke occasionally; so did Parsor
C-,a a Baptist The latter being near thu
the house of the former one dny, when shove
of rain came up, called on Parson D. for the loar
of al umbrella.
81 thought" said Parson D., that you Bap
lists liked water"
$50 we do," said the Baptist brother, " but
do this to avoid sprinkling."
"WMrAH," "What, sir!" SCOT any greer
peas, ava" "Yes, sir; have some g. "Yaas
bring me three" Anything else, sir? "Yaas
a slice or two of a strawberry, cut thin" "Cer
tainly, sir; anything more 2" "Moore' saw
what do you take me for! adem hog, aw!
Exit waiter with q clean towel and silver plal
ted salver.
liza man will reap "whatsoever he soUeth
what harvest of coats and breeches the tailo
will have one of these days.
Az indignation meeting of the passengers
the Gloucester branch Of tho Eastern Railroa
hoe bao, hold nt Rpverlev Mosa In remonstrat