The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-10-17
EDUCATIONAL REFORM.
THE DEFECTS OF OUR SYSTEM OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A Free ColleSe.-No. 5.

A Free College.-No. 5.
Should these papers become tedious, their
chief object will have been utterly defeated;
for they are written to arouse attention, and
to set wiser heads at work upon the problem
of originating q system Of State education of
our own, suited to our circumstances, and not
beyond our Immediate pecuniary resources.
Yet the temptation to discuss the status of the
States highest Institution Is 80 very great,
that one more paper devoted to this part of
the subject may not tire the indulgent reader.
A university, supported by efficient high
schools and academies below 1t, as in Virginia,
is an excellent institution. A university
sufficiently endowed, and which, in the range
of the studies embraced within Its instruction,
Is a university In fact and not simply In
name, is something to take pride in. But
the pretentious little concerns scattered
over the South, amongst which the Uni
versity of South Carolina must be con.
tent to be properly ranked, called "Universi-
| ties" upon the principle of lucuS q non
| luce1,do, are not institutions that liberal
and truth-lovipg observer can bring himself to
commend or admire. Tie course of study,
largely elective. does not cover the ground
occupied by such schools, in England. as Eton
and Rugby; or In Germany, BY their Gymna-
sia, or even by their "Real Schools" intended
| 10 give that 'praclical" education after which
America has run crazy. More even than this,
the frst-class high schools OF Virginia. at this
very moment, impart an education that COM
mends Itself to falr.minded critic as superior
| to what can be gotten In Columbia at our
highes. institutions as at present organized
and conducted. If something Is not done this
coming winter to produce change, every in
telllgent teacher, proud of his calling, will
look, as Mount Zion School, Wins.
boro', now deliberately looks, to Fir-
ginia for guidance and encouragement
in the great work Of education.
Every intelligent and conscientious teacher
will exercise his influence against, aud spit
contempt upon the State Institution, as o nest
of unscrupulous sinecures, and, If not uni
versily of learning, at least the focus OF uni
vcrsal pretension, Incidence and ineff1clency.
And what State institution can prosper that
does not command the respect aud the conf
dence of the teachers OF the high schools and
academies within its Immediate neighbor-
hood This Is plain talking, but it is the truth.
1t is not expected to be pleasant to everybody
The truth never Is, but ever acts as ia sword"
the symbol of strife, but, too, the symbol of
Justice. 1t Is time that those sincerely desi-
rous of educational progress should take
the sword of truth and hew out way to
Justice. Their indignation burns at the present
humlliatlng attitude of alma Mater.
But vague defamation, and even eloquent
invectlve, were the writer capable Of 1t, are
not what the occasion demands. Still another
practical suggestion, therefore, before probing
rottenness elsewhere. If the ten thousand dol
lars now wasted In supper. of medical and
legal department, by no means needed at pres
ent, (witness the grand and sublime result OF
four Young DOCTORS for Instance, for the year
| 1870, and reflect upon the cost. IN present
| money and future mortality were divided into
Two parts, and FIVE thousand dollars given to
the colored people for high school, all they
| at present need, or to Clailn University, the
other five thousand dollars could be retained
| in the treasury, and sixty or seventy free
| scholarships could be distributed, over and be-
yond the thirty-two now given to the counties,
to the private high schools and academies,
| upon application throughout the State, to be
given as prizes for competition among their
pur u.s. And when such pupils knock at the
door of the college, by all that is pure and ele-
waiting in literature, reject them, if not prepared
10 enter. Thus and thus only, will the State
Institution BRING UP the high schools of the
State. Thus will 1t reward efficient, aud dis
grace lazy and incompetent teachers, and send
bows who will not study to the workshop or to
the plough handles, where such boys properly
belong. Let there be no pandering for pa
tronage, but let it be on honor once more to
enter the sacred enclosures OF Alma Mater.
Who that has been within her hallowed walls
can wish her other than peace and prosperity?
And vet, If the present authorities cannot re.
| move the dark suspicious that cloud her fair
fame and future prospects, nothing would
more please our more Intelligent people, OF
both classes, than to withdraw the money nov
| expended In perpetuatlng ner ueSraualiou.
To the trustees OF the college, If this warn
ing be needed, and popular board mot, OF
course, politically popular, but educationally
earnest and efficient, and socially acceptable,)
be appointed, must be left those necessary
changes In the arrangement of the cur
riculum, and reelection Of professors that
are universally recognized throughout the
STATE. This delicate matter Is properly
tte business and the duty of the trus-
tees of the college, and it would be invldlous
should it be entered upon by one who does not
dream that he will ever be called upon to act
in so honorable and so responsible a position
as that of trustee of South Carolina's highest
institution of learning. FAIRFIELD.