The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-08-07
. Fortthe anderson Intelsigencsr.
The School Law and Its Imperfeetions.

l. v
The School Law and Its Imperfections.
Mr.. EDITOR In the Trustees and Teachers
Convention held at Anderson on the 21st of
June, the Committee on Business for the Con-
yention stated that they would endeayor, by the
aid and suggestions ofothers concerned, to have
memorial prepared, touching upon the neces-
sary changes and amendments of the present
School Law, to submit to the General Assembly
through the Grand Jury of Anderson County,
who would likely attach thereto their approval,
and give additional force to the matter; and
the chairman Of the committee further stated
that any advice, suggestions, or propositions
made or recommended by any of the trustees OF
teachers, would be appreciated by the commit
tee; and as there was nothing said about which
particular portion or part Of the law needed
the amendments and changes, will say that
all the amendments or. changes contemplated
by the committee will not bring the present
School Law to perfection, because it is imper-
feet FROM the. foundation. And, by the by,
there.haYe been similar laws manufactured by
some Of our eo.called immaculate Legislators,
and in many caIes have resulted in i'll instead
of good. to our commonwealth, though some
of our members of the present Legislature have
done credit to themselves and their constitu-
'ens by impeding, in some respects, portion
of these worthless laws. s
Ifancy that il, the present school law were
remodeled entirely, and the structure placed
upon new system, it would, I believe, tend to
increase the educational cause four-fold. The
highest object OIL the committee should be to fix
matters SO as to retain all the monies appro-
priated for school purposes within the limits of
the County, so that the monies which are In
tended for school purposes will not be sub.
!jected to A., B. or G., as the general appropria:
tions have been heretofore. Teachers who have
discharged their duties faithfully in behalf Of
the State, haye'to lose or to be swindled out OF
two-ffths of their compensation. The matter
of considering the present School Law should
not only arrest the attention of the. committee,
which embraces handful of men, but ought to
occupy the consideration ofeyery trustee, teacher
and every good worker, who wishes to elevate
the State from almost an irrecoverable condi-
ton, which has been brought about by mass
Of ignorance; ignorance, too, which was man
ufactured by previous laws in the past. -
The matter under consideration is of general
interest TO the masses of South Carolina, be-
cause Just so long as the wicked or unculti-
waited mind rules, the people will mourn.
Therefore, it becomes every good-hearted man,
on. the part Of the white element, who realizes
the weight ofignorance in this State, to cherish
the view Of educating this solid mass Of igno-
rance. Until this shall have been doneby the
white element of this and similar States, igno-
rance will take the position of intelligence.
The question may be asked, what plan could
the government adopt to make it more feasible
in educating tile masses than at peesentY
Why, BY forming new basis Of free school
system, and adopt compulsory school law
similar to that of some of the European nations.
A compulsory school law in this State would
make the ol-house accessible to at. least
two-thirds Of oui. population, while, under the
present school system, there are about three
eiehths of the colored children Of this State, be-
tween six and sixteen years ofage in attendance
on the public schools. Let this compulsory
law compel all colored children between six
and sixteen yeanI Of age, where public schools
are accessible, t,s attend at least six months
during the scholastic term. It may be inquired,
why do make III an issue of color in discussing
the compulsory school law, as both the white
and colored elements .destinies are presided
over by the same. Chief Magistrate, and both Of
their lots are cast upon the same ship?
The writer would say, in justifying the above
ouery, that it is expected for the white element
to do in the future as they have done in the
past and that is TO educate their children with
out being made TO do it. The white element
of this country are well cultivated in mind, and
are all sufficient 10 fathom the interest of edu-
cation; they are aware that intelligence har-
monies the household, and have ayailed them
selves of every opportunity in the past in edu-
eating their chiltlren-have manifested in eve
ry age willing disposition to have their chill
dren instructed and prepared for the various
human events and emergencies which live
throughout all ages. Inasmuch as .tLey have
maniested.such great energy in every age ofthe
world to educate their rising generations, it
would not only be grand injusticei imposed upon
them in compelling all white children between
the ages of six and sixteen years to attend
the public schools at least six months during
the scholastic term, but would be equally as ab-
surd for the following reasons: LIST, More than
two-thirds of the white element of this State
prefer educating their own children from pri-
yate sources, and do it, rather than send them
to the public schools, for which they cannot be
blamed, because many of them are able to give
their children much better education than
the State is at.present; I'd, Under the compul-
sc tbor, x,,ouIl bouo IN