The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-13
fSr the Anderson iatslzsgenoer.
T,lo Free Common School System.

For the anderson Entetkgeneer.
T,lo Free Common School System.
MR. EDITOR: As has been already remarked
in previous communication upon this subject,
ne regard the Section in the amended School
Act, authorizing the people of each School
District to levy tag for the support OF schools,
as one move in the right direction towards es-
tablishing for South Carolina an efficient sys'
tenn of Free Common Schools. Hence, we
would, in our closing article, Ivory respectfully,
and with great Difference to wiser heads and
better informed minds, cali the attention Of all
teachers friendly and advocates of popular ed.
ucation to this subject, suggesting, at the same
time, that the Legislature be petidoned at iss'
next session to amend the School Act In the
following manner:
Let the school law be 30 amended as to atl-
thorize and bind each County in the State to
levy and collect an ANIMAL tax sufficient to
send to school during each scholastic year one
third of all the children in each County be-
tween the ages of six and sixteen years; that
the School Trustees Of their respective School
Districts be made bonded officers, and that
they be legally authorized to assess and, collect
$500 for each child, according to the enumera-
tion which will take place between this time
and the meeting of the Legislature; that the
County School Commissioner be ez o6scio the
County Treasurer of the school fund 30 raised,
and that he be made a bonded officer; that this
annual school tax be always proportioned &C.
cording to the last enumeration of the chill
dren, and that it be collected during the months
of December and January of each year, and
that the poll-tax be collected at the same time
and in the same way; that the School Trustees
be allowed out of the school fund thus collect
ed a certain per centage sufficient to remu-
nerate them for their time and expenses upon
all monies collected :, that the school year
commence on the Hrst Of January, and end the
last Friday in December; that the school year
consist, as as present. Of nine months, and
these be taught whenever the Trustees may
think it will be most convenient for the patrons
of each school under their supervision; and
that the claims of all Teachers be reported
monthly to the County School Commissioner,
who shall, as soon as approved, pay OH said
claims out of the school fund.
The number of children in the County OF
Anderson between the ages of six and sixteen
years, was three years ago, when the last emu
meration was taken, six thousand two hundred
and eighty-two. The census, when taken next
faH will. no doubt, approximate seven thou
sand. To pay the tuition of one-third of this
number were they all to attend FIRST grade
schools would require eighteen thousand dol
lars when used in conjunction with the capita.
tiora tar of the County. To raise this sum will
require fraction over three mills upon the dol
lar of the taxable property of the County.
We would further suggest that the County
School Commissioner and the School Trustees
of each school district be legally authorized to
employ an assistant teacher TOR any and all
schools numbering over fifty pupils; and that
each assistant be paid per day, according to his
or her grade, for all the scholars over fifty.
Now, sir, in conclusion, we would remark
that if the Legislature will give us system of
Free Common Schools according to the above
model, there will then be no obstacle in the
way to prevent rapid dissemination of educa-
ton among the masses. This would call forth
talented, intelligent energetic, perseyering and
educated men and women as teachers, who
would soon make the business of teaching the
Young idea how to shoot" an honorable and
desirable profession, because, forsooth, it would
be lucrative
And permit us to etill further remark, that
we need not embrace the delusive phantom
need not entertain the false expectation of se-
curing a full, competent and efficient corps of
teachers who will exchange their services for
mere pittance! Let us, therefore, raise Buff
cient sum, and always have it ready on hand
to pay teachers as fast as they render their SER
vices, and our word for it, we will never expe-
rience any trouble in securing competent teach
ers to teach in either white or colored schools.
May the great and kind Disposer Of all hu.
man events, through the proper and legitimate
agencies, hasten the happy end much desired
period when literary knowledge shall multiply
and be increased in terfold ratio; when
throughout che State, from the seaboard to the
mountains, from the Savannah River to the
line of the Old North Stale, school shall be in
hearing of school When neighbor will not
inquire of .neighbor, nor white man of colored
man, care your children at schoolf" btit when
every ones children will be trimming the
lamp of knowledge, from the millionaire in his
superb palace, to the poor colored man in his
smoky cabin; and may all the people in the
old Palmetto State, of every state and condi-
ton, of every race and color, unite in one loud,
heartfelt and emphatic Amen
W. 81.
70scnville, s. c.
A TOUCH SToRY.-The Pine Grove CORES
pondent of the Rochester Democrat, says that
he attended church in the little place one