Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-21
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF, CHARLESTON.

mittee on Education, ou certain resolutions
Of enquiry, concerning the Teachers in the
Public Schools in Charleston
The Committee on Education, to whom
was referred certain resolutions of enquiry,
concerning the teachers in the public
'chools.in Charleston beg leave to report:
That they have made enquiry as directed,
and from the information within their reach,
ind that there are uow in operation in
Charleatop, six Common Schools, and oDe
Normal and High School for girls, in all
OF which there are about seventy seven
teachers, of whom nine arc from the North,
and the remaining sixty eight from Charles
ton. These nine teachers have situations
as follows: Two are principals of the male
and female departments Of the St. Philips.
street school; two are principals of the
same department in the Friend-street
schools; one is female principal Of the pri-
mary department in the Morris-street
school; one is male pri: cipal in the Nor
NAL school, and three arc teachers in the
same school.
It appears. therefore, that in the Com
mon Schools, there are five Northern
teachers out of seventy three, and that
these five hold the places Of principals,
while all their assistants are from our midst
As the system of education inaugurated at
Charleston was new in its details and man
agement, it seems to have been necessity
that those who were to conduct it. should
be familiar with it. Accordingly, the prin-
cipals who were to,be tho conductors were
imported. These schools are under. the
Of a very intelligent, jealous
and patriotic Board Of Commissioners, ap.
pointed by. the Legislature, aud your Com
mittee believe that the:entire management
of these schools, which are now IN the full
tide of successful experiment, may be safe.
ly left to that Board. They cannot however
in their opinion, the Board of Commission
ers have evinced. their good. sense and spa-
triotism, equally by employing from abroad
the proper heads, andsputting under, their
training all the,a assistants at home. In this
way they hare been enabled to SECURE all
the advantages for the present, with the
prospect of final independence in the fu.,
ture. ).
The Normal School was established with
the two-fold object of promoting the same
end, namely: The training: Of. teachers, and
and also Of furnishing theEhighest grade of
education to young ladies. These objects
required teachers who had knowledge Of
the modes Of conducting Normal Schools,
and again limited the choice Of the Board.
Your Committee sre4infoimed that they
sought in vain FOR teachers. with proper
qualifications, at the South : that enquiries
were presented at Richmond and Mobile.
and that even now, they find difficulty. in
filing one of thevacanoies which remain.
The Chairman of:the, Board .is, now at Co
lumbia, examining the qualifications of
some candidates. The four teachers. now
in this School were selected at the North
before the opening Of the School, and, we
are informed have been faithfully engaged
in ,it9eversince: Your Committee are in5
formed that the: Boafd would, Under exist-
ing circumstances, greatly prefer teacbers,
who had Been educated arnahgst ,,ps; bpt
.ass ssaeh conid not be, had, the Committee
thipksthey reasoned correctly when they
concluded that the best plen which they:
could adopt, was TO secureS the services of
those who could most certainly trainap; the
best teachers and the best scholars. 1n
their3selection they have been successful, Is
fhe Commission appointed by the last
Legislature testify: ~
Aa, to any danger to be spprehended
from their teaching, the Committee ;nnani--
'nously think it is purely imaginary. Ip
the: Normal School, there are about one
hupdfadf ana thirty yoapg ladies Of fifteen.
years. of,ags ,and oser-the Intelligent and
highspirisaa sslspgbtets Of our own citizens.
They arstssgatin classes of not ,less thar
hihy. Itia Obvious that nothing exception;
.natsonld ssae.foauceaby any; tskebsrs;, or
without gimmsd date exposure. Besidss, the
books:ars selected BY the Boatd, andsthe
jscboel is si5ted daily ~. some ppe s6feibs
namB 9f ibs Colhmi,see, = .wbos hays
charge af iss This Z tcenmit,ee :eonsisls
iiof .usb gsntlehaen as Mr. sMemRjager. the
: Chairman fof the. Board, :and Judge
iMagrath, ". j. Bennett apde g. u. sfns5,
and some of thep are 30 ffs4hsntly atstbe
aeko6ls lstkat.ar ths pupils know chem, and
+xoulds caasaipt ttbSa vi.hsapyshiF sl,iA,
'fmess ,sspesisag AS ssspe pfsthsm have
;;aspght tsrs aad Id ton. q schSo: n
Tksso ahally sts formed tAss