The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-06-23
The Free Schools.

On Saturday, the Goth instant, tho
voters Of the respective school dis
tricts in Fairfield will meet to decide
the question of )evyiug a local tax
for schools. We trust that tho moot
ings will be fully attended, and that
in each district tax will be levied.
1t is scarcely necessary to urge upol
our readers tho necessity Of having
tho children of tho County we'll cdu.
Gated. Ignorance is the. fostor moth
er of crime, while education makes
the baser crimes impossible. 1t is
argued that not all criminals are
ignorant. but that many of the most
notorious evil doers are men of oul.
ture and refinement. While this
is true, it must be admitted that
cvery knave must have his fool, and
that the educated criminal rejoices
in the possession of ignorant, stupid,
or besotted neighbors upon whom he
can practice his nefarious schemes
The monstrous accumulation Of
orimos in the Southern States is due
to the ignorance of the masses who
blindly put thieves in to power and
have not sense sufficient to appreciate
their rascality. The surost receipt
for good government is to have an
enlightened and moral constituency,
one that will detect tho misdceds of
officials, and will also punish them.
Education so directly affects tho
government that it has long since been
mado a'publio charge. Tho ancient
Spartons, regarding the State as the
parent uf all children in it's borders,
took them in hand and educated
thom, and their example has boon
followed by almost all enlightened
nations. Tho States of the Union
have taken lively interest in oduoa
tion, and have thoir common schools
supported by public funds. These
common schools have been found SO
we'll adapted to the attainment of
the ends in view that thoy are
gradually aupersoding private in
stitutions of learning. Even in
South Carolina, whero tho system
has been so imperfect, it's advantages
are beginning to be realized. And
We predict that in FIVE years moro
flour government continues to i'm.
prove, free education will be oonsid-
ered one Of The most valuable insti.
tttions in tho State.
All that is needed to perfect the
school systom is q liberal supply of
money. Whom tho pay of teachers is
bettor assured than at present, high
er order of instructors will engage in
the work, and school officials will
perform their duty faithfully. Now
every energy is oramped, because
the most strenuous efforts of parties
connected with the schools to mako
them q success result in failures from
want Of money to pay teachers.
This difficulty can be avoided by
levying local tax for schools. And
We sincerely trust that our people
will take broad and liberal view
of the subject and will vote for
levy.
Certain parties object to tax for
schools because they themselves have
no children to educate. This is n
poor reason. In tho first place they
sh ould be- made to pay ponalty for
not contributing to tho prosperity of
the State. Two clements of prosperi-
ty are first. population, and sooond,
intelligence and individuals who
do not contribute to tho one, should be
made to aid tho other. Poor men
with large families are unable to send
their children to pay schools; and it
is but reasonable, that having done
their duty in inoroasing tho popu.
lation they should be aided in effect.
ing proportionate increase of intolli.
gence.
I, Bodridden property holders arc
taxed to keep up the public high.
!, ways, millionaires contribute to the
fund set apart for paupers, the
same are taxed for tho insane, the
honest are taxed to support the dis.
honest, and why should not schools
be supported by those who arc not
Immediately interested in them 2
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