The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-20
OUR coMMoN SCHOOLS.

/ Mr.. EDITOR: Feeling deep interest in
the cause of common school education in
the State, I crave the use of your columns
to offer few suggestions to our legislators
in Columbia.
1t is q notorious fact that the common
school system as administered for the last
few years under Radical rule was misera-
BILE failure, bene6tting nobody except the
thieves who handled the swag. And it is
admitted, believe, that the system will
have to be recognized and placed upon Q
solid and useful basis. Now, what is the
best plan to accomplish the end in view? 1
think that some plan like the following
might help to secure the object sought.
First. Divide all the townships into school
districts of an equal number of square miles,
(say FOUR and let the State build school
house and furnish it with suitable desks, the
school house to be built as near the centre
as possible, and heated by means of stove
placed in the centre of the building.
Second. Let there be elected by the quail
| fled electors of each township trustee, who
! shall be bonded officer, and have charge
of all school matters pertaining to the town
ship, and who shall receive a per diem and
| mileage to be fixed by law. In addition to
his duties as school trustee he should have
charge of all matters pertaining to the roads
and bridges in his township. He should
make an annual report on the schools to the
County School Commissioner, who shall be
his superior. He should make an annual
report to the County Commissioners on
matters connected with roads and bridges,
and account to them for all moneys expend-
ed for all purposes.
Third. The township trustee shall appoint
a school director for each school district. and
it shall be the duty of the director to call
meeting of the voters in his school district
on the first Saturday in October of each year
to elect teacher for the ensuing term and
the teacher elect shall enter into written
contract with the township trustee, from
whom he draws his pay. The school direc-
tor shall attend to keeping the house in re-
pair and furnishing fuel for the stove
Fourth. Let all towns and cities be consti-
tuted into one or more school districts, apart
from the county; and where there are high
schools let the school fund pay the tuition
in the common school branches as far as it
will 60.
Fifth. Let all public schools commence rs
soon as possible after the S, .ool meeting in
October, by which means great many poor
people will be enabled to send their children
to school in winter and have them at home
in the work season.
Sixth. Let the County Commissioners ap-
point school examiner, whose duty it shall
be to subject all persons applying for license
to teach to rigid written examination on
the common school branches He shall also
be required to spend one day with each
school in the County during the school
term. Appeals shall be from the decision
of the trustee to the County examiner and
may be carried from him to the State Super
intendent.
do not claim that this is perfect plan,
but do think it would be far better than
what we now have. And my idea is that
this shall apply to the colored people as
we'll as to the white. There shall be sepa-
rate schools, but one set of officers for the
whole. These ideas may be crude, but if
you see fit you may publish them as the
ideas of one who has had some years expe-
rence as TEACHER.