The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-10-05
From the Southern Patriot
Our Free Schools

all-lmportant subject, for in some respects
their experience may bc found scrvccalIc
when theory cannot cnlightcn.
That the annual appropriations oe the
Legislature are sufficient for the education
of our poor children seems to bc generally
conceded. Why. then, it is asked. have.
we SO many uncducatcd persons amongst
us! What is the cause. and what must b.,
the remedy9 l rcpIy:
1t should be borne in mind that un,I
very recently the appropriations for Free
Schools were but one-haif of what thew now
arc, $4,000 annually, a sum wholly made.
qaate to the object in view, even under ,Io
,oest manage,nent,* ,nucl, less under the
abuses OF partiality and favorit;sm ih.t
characterized the proceedings of Commits.
m'sSl"ness some years ago. when they couI,l
dispense or return the public funds rs best
suited their par,iality or their interest ,nJ
ehous" inc dawn OF brighter ,lav has
commenced, until it is further advanced we
need not expect to reap all the advantages
"h'ch strict accountability on the part of
commissioners. and !, fair compensation to
competent teachers, is SO well calculated to
erect. That sucl, a day is tawnnr upon
US could furnish many cheering evidences.
but will satisfy myself with one: it +. the
substance OF Il statement made to me n few
days ago hy gentleman of Orange, who
came up to draw the quarterly amount due
the teachers Of his parish.
IA new era," said he. "is now visible in
our Free Schools; we strictly examine
every teacher that presents himself boil, rs
70 morals and capacity, and none are en-
Pioyed out those who maintain IN honora-
ole standing in both. The consequence IS
that drunkar'ls and ignoram,Scs nr. sven,
away rs with bosom, while the sober. the
competent and the industrious. are Ltt . ,n
these we give a fair con,ncusation for ,b,.;r
services ana pay them rp every quarter,
ana the result is truly gratifying; our chil.
orch improve aparr, and some of our vru,,o
men are qualifying themselves with these
teachers to become teachers in turn"
such Is the prospect that now gladlcns
our hearts, not only in Orange Parish, but
IN many other portions Of the State.
know very well the statement above
made will be received with great deal Of
hesltancy bv those who are wont to rcoarl
our Common School teachers as a parcel Of
oals and dulIards; but their conclusions are
nasty, and must give place to more ia
rorable opinion, upon mature reflection. II
IS not denied but that amongst the numcr-
Gus teachers Of our Common Schools there
may be found the ignorant and the sclfsuf.
ticient, and what profession or caIl;no ;s
without them The bar is lisIonorcd bv
the pett'togger; the medical profession is
dlsgraced 10y the quack; and the Christian
ministry itself is intruded upon by the hvp-
ocrlte and dissemblcr; but does it follow
from these lamentahle occurrences that the
learned professions in South Carolina arr.
below lncdiocrty, and almost sunk into
contempt? From an intimate arGuaint
ancc Of several years with schools and
sc!looimastcrs, the writer Of this article
LOOKS back with pride on many an sold field
echoe'Inaster" who could instruct those Of
higher pretenslons, and whom Il discerning
puollc has transferred TO onr academies.
our district Offices and our banking houses.
and he will venture the assertion tbo, some
OF the best writers, (mcthaniraIly spc,kiuol
TIC oeSt ar'thnIcticians and the hest book
keepers IN the State are to be Sound amongst
our school teachers. They may not have
all the starch and polish of the Northern
art'cie' but they have what is better. the
good staple and firm texture that will wear
well. ~"
10 make available the services Of this
valuable but underrated body of men. and
TO remedy the evils of our Free School svs.
tenn, would most hum5ly make the fol-
lowing suggestions:
r'rs'. That the Free School Fund be
aaPportoned NOT according to the DoDulu.
.'on and aoealth Of n district, but accore)ino
70 lis population and 1,oycrty.
Second. That the Free School com,n;s-
s'oners throughout the State examine tho
candidates for Free School teachers onJ e.r
Ploy only those that are found worthy.
1h:rd. That the said Commissioners nav
70 these teachers the same compensa,;ov H"y
that 'spaid them by private citizens. and tha,
they settle with them at the end Of eacL
quarter. - o"o'
Finally. That the Commissioners of
free Schools he hereafter exemp. from rooI
duty and patrol duty, as an Offset for their
Pno''c services as Commissioners; and fur
thermore, that they be liable to ~impeach-
ment for malpractice in Office, rs ali other
public officers are.
Let these few and simple rules be alopt.
ed and carried out, and in few years South
Carolina will be ranked amongst the most
intelligent States in the Union, as she is
now amongst the most patriotic.
Yours, truly, & TT.
Columbia, Sept. ls, 1855.