The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-01-31
Z EduC4tlOn.

in another article, suggests some
thoughts upon education. 100000 will
probably DO given to Superintendent
Jlllson this year for school purposes.
What will he do with it? We trust it
will be productive of more good than
the sums hitherto appropriated in that
way. The question OF education is one
of vital interest to the State at large
Our most pressing want at present is a
good and cheap system of schools. Not
only do the colored people need it, but
our white children imperatively demand
it. Hundreds of them are now all
around us, growing rapidly, and yet
making no progress in mind, which is
the true standard OF the man. The
parents of many of them, educated them
selves, groan under their inability to be-
stow this boon upon their children. We
are all familiar with the shifts made in
families, the frugality and the seeming
parsimony displayed without murmur
in their domestic economy. in order to
meet the expenses incurred in educating
their sons and daughters. Even these
e1pedients fail il many oases. owing to
the necessarily high charges of private
schools.
In beneficiary system of schools
only is there any prospect OF q change
for the better. Children arc the pro-
perty OF the State, and the State must
not allow them to remain in ignorance.
The Northern States are fully awake to
the Importance Of this truth, and in
every one we find system similar to the
one inaugurated here. In them. tho
child, on reaching the age of five or six
years, is placed in a primary school.
After a thorough drill in the elements,
he is advanced with hie grade into q
grammar school. Hero he remains for
several years, until, having passed
through the course prescribed for this
department, he stands on examination.
If he exhibits satisfactory attainments,
he is promoted with the same grade to
the high school. In this he is fitted
either to pursue his studies in some COL
lege, or else to enter Immediately into
the pursuits of life. This is the true
plan of education-the burdens falling
mporceptibly, the advantages equally
on oil.
The scheme, although nearly perfect
in theory, in practice is bad, even i'm
perfect, in those States in which it has
longest been established. In this State
! the management, or rather utter want of
management, is lamen table, owing to the
fact that education and politics are
united. The party in power represent
ing the ignorance of the State has foist-
ed into these responsible positions men,
for the most part, utterly incapable of
performing the duties required OF them.
and these officers have appointed teach-
ers who are more ignorant than the chill
dren they pretend to instruct. For one
good teacher they have obtained, they
have employed q dozen unfit, mentally
or morally. to be- preceptors of youth.
We ask the colored people if this be not
so? The masses know as little to-dny ns
they did four years ago, and even oolored
teachers have been swindled OF their
earnings by the party they put in power
| to improve their race. To this race
would we say, lay aside your prejudices
in this matter at least; unite with the
whites i'll choosing mon of learning and
integrity to be your County School Com
missioners, who will employ competent
instructors and organize good schools.
Do not ondeavor to force social equality
upon us, but let each race work sepa-
rately; and. in two years, change will
be exporienced- germ of the future
prosperity and greatness Of South Caro-
lima.
In their report to Congress, Grants
fsx,,IS o. ~