The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-09-06

9th. That 1t highly desirable tina
tho Legislature should establish i,
suitable buildings to be erected b,
the State at each county s'at, wei
graded Public High School, unde
three competent teachers, whose sala
rles should be paid, in part, out o.
the State Treasury. in part by {
special loan levied upon the town cor
poration, and in part, if necessary. BY
moderate tuition fee of ten or TWEEN
ty dollars charged, as in Prussia, upor
the pupils of the school. n.
7th That it would add greatly to The
efficiency Of the above recommended
State Public High Schools for the
University Of South Carolina to offer
for competition to the first pupil in
each Of them every year scholarship
in the University and that by this
course, in a few years, tho University
itself will soon be restored to its for
mer prosperity and influence.
Mr.. Stuart, in explaining and H.
Iustratihg the above seven points,
said, that he was not disooura red by
There not being great many present
or he would rather talk to one earnest
man than to five hundred into who's
ear his words might sink as n pleas.
ant song, md then die, like an echo,
away. Whether his plan WAS good
one or not, it was high timo to reflect
upon the matter and make an effort
at something like system and order
in our schools, for he was persuaded
that any plan, even the worst posi-
Bile, was far better than tho no plan
whatever which now too often pre-
vailed in the schools Of tho State.
That it was impossible for a Teacher
to do equal justice to primary and
secondary classes in tho same school
that he had tried it faithfully and
found that thu one class of pupils in.
variably usurped the time Of the
other class. How was it possible to
teach from A, b, G, up to the Ju-
nior course of n college, aa IS often
attempted to be done in some of our
schools. That primary, secondary
and collegiate instruction were in
their nature distinct, and ought to
be kept severally apart, if the highest
excellence in each was aimed at.
But now the entrance of pupil who
wished to study some special College
study, and this often happens during
the year, caused squeezing up to.
gether of the whole programme of the
school, 80 as to got fifteen or twenty
minutes rovm for the special benefit
of the new comer's hobby or his par.
ents desire. The organization OF
the school was thus caprioiously
changed from term to term, and even,
in some cases from mouth to month.
The teacher was ever pressed or
rather tortured to do what he never
should have undertaken ut the start,
and is sadly discouraged n. the little
fruit of all his toll. After further
remarks illustrated by specific ex-
ampIes Of the evil he was striking
ut, drawn from his own memory
and experience, Mr.. Stuart then call
ed attention to his 9th point recon.
mending graded public high schools
at the county seats, aud said, that the
State was the only power that could
act with efficiency in bringing about
directly, or by reason of competition
between private and public schools,
the much desired reform that
he advocated, the only authority that
could impose method and system,
try them fairly and let them vindi.
cate themselves by results. He urg.
ed the Importance of High Schools as
link in system of State education go
earnestly, that when he sat down, Mr..
Archer forgetting the very first point
MIR. Stuart had made, felt called
upon 60 reply.
Mr.. Archer said, that l,c had been de.
lighted in listening to the speech just
made and especially with all that had
been urged in favor of classification.
He represented the public schools of
Charleston on this floor, and the lead.
ing feature of those schools was elias.
siication. But his friend, Mr.. Stuart
hou uuilG uUuS0 COtlmouClnR AT
tho top and oome downwards. High
Schools and the higher instruction
and the classics seemed to be bis
friends hobby. He was persuaded
that a proper system of State educa-
tion must begin at the bottom with
the primary school. This too wat
the opinion Of Mr.. Memminger. II
the teachers Of the State would come
down to Charleston next spring, he
was certain that no could show theu
something in the way Of organization
that would both please and INSTRUCT
them.
While Mr.. Archer had been speak
Jug Mr.. Bennett then said thai
his friend Mr.. Stuart, had como ovel
and whispered in his ear, "let US hea
, from Scotland" He rose to comply
The system Of instruction there wa
based upon tho thorough teaching o
Latin, and that every thing wap SEQ
ondarv tn H. Tho feschor wns osniat