The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-04-03
/. COLUMBIA.
Wednesday Morning, April 3, 1857.
Education MT the South.

AhouchtAoh hL inc SOuths
1t appears that the trustees of the
Peabody fund for Southern educa-
ton, at their recent session in New
York, agreed to devote the fund so
generously donated chiefly to the
promotion of primary or common
school education in the South. The
Baltimore Sun, in noticing the mat
ter, says that they acted wisely, and
very iudiciously says that, while in
stitutions for the higher branches of
education, as colleges and universi-
ties, are always to be aimed at, and
in the end are indispensable, it is yet
of the first consequence that they do
not engage too large attention in
fashioning scheme of popular edu-
cation, which must first found itself
in the primary schools.
In the South, as the SIN says, and
as we have frequently said in the
PAonir, there has, perhaps, been
error in this respect. The conse-
quence is, that college graduates are
said to have been sometimes found
(which we know to be a fact) who
were unable to write grammatically
In the English language, and were
very indiferently acquainted with
orthography. A mere smattering of
the classicsis very poor substitute
for elementary education. Upon
thorough groundwork, it is on easy
task to build superstructure of
classic lore; but if attention is frst
paid to the branches properly per-
tanning to collegiate education, it is
very difficult work to go back to ele-
ments and principles.
The following extract from the
comments of the San expresses what
will be felt to be the truth in many
communities of the South:
Education in the South has here
tofore been confined, for the most
part, to the wealthier classes, whose
advantages enabled them to attain n
higher intellectual culture than was
usual at the North, where Information
is moro evenly distributed than in
any other country in the world. It
is well, therefore, that the large fund
which the liberality and patriotism
of Mr.. Peabody has furnished the
South should be appropriated mainly
for purposes of primary instruction,
and the preparation of teachers for
the great work to be ACCOMPLISHED
in all the Southern States. Perhaps
no more practical or judicious appli-
cation of the money could have been
suggested than that resolved upon by
the trustees. 1t is work of gre,it
delicacy and responsibility, however,
which they undertake, and it depends
much upon the circumstances with
which they may find themselves sur
rounded in the future. They should
find every sympathy and encourage
ment in the South itself in their Ia
bors, in order that all classes may be
effectively reached"
We hope the few trustees from the
Southern States will soc that the fund
is applied according to the judicious
views of the board What we want
isa general practical education among
our people, that may fit the youth of
the South for the more active duties
they have to discharge in all the de-
partments of business, trade, me-
chanics and manufacturing, under
the new orier of things in this Sec
tion. We want teachers, too, taught
among us, and Of as, who can fully
appreciate orr wants in educational
services; who will leave politics out
side of the school-room doors, and
try to instruct their pupils-be they
white or black-in those branches
which may qualify them for their re-
spective positions in society and fu-
turc pursuits in life.
INJUNCTION oN-IMPoRTANT.- Il he Bal
timorc SIN understands that applica-