The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1878-09-11
GRADED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Success Of the Experiment at Winnsboro'--
The Problem Of Education Solved in
South Carolina

10 INo EQlLOTS o. tNe NetCS ana
Courier As the question Of graded
schools is being asitated in a number
of the towns in our State, and as ill.,
formation is sought as to the mode Of
inaugurating, conducting and sup
porting them, a few thoughts on the
subject may be Of interest to your
readers. Let me premise by saying
that this article is not intended for
those who are already familiar with
the system through the medium Of
the admirable institutions now in ope-
ration in Charleston, but for others
who have heretofore been accustomed
only to the old-fashioned, unclassiGed
schools. A graded school, in general
terms, is one in which all the pupils
in the same grade study the same les
son, and each pupil studies every
branch embraced in the curriculum Of
his grade: But in the popular accep-
tatiou at present in South Carolina it
seems to mean in addition school
supported partly by public funds and
partly by private means. The method
of classifying and conducting graded
school can be learned from works on
the subject, such as Wells on graded
schools, or by application to some of
the principals of the excellent schools
in Charleston. In this connection the
writer would return his acknowledge
ments TO H. P. Archer, Esq, of your
city, for valuable suggestions ON this
very subject.
AS to the plan Of organizing such a
school in any of the interior towns of
the State, few facts concerning one
that is already in good working order
may furnish some useful hints. In
January of the present year the peo
pie Of Winnsboro' determined to util-
ize the school fund coming to the dis
trict Of which the town is part. Up
to that time education was confined
chiefly to private schools, of which
there we're at least half a dozen, each
dragging out precarious existence,
while a considerable number Of chill
dren were not in attendance on any
school. The public school trustees
rented the buildings of the Mount
Zion Institute, containing one large
and two smaller class-rooms. A male
principal and two lady assistants were
employed. The school was thrown
open to pupils Of both sexes within
the scholastic age. The English
branches and arithmetic were taught
free Of charge 1t was stipulated that
pupils in the higher mathematics, an
cient and modern languages and the
sciences should pay monthly fee of
two dollars and half. Three grades,
reaching as nigh as the "Third
Reader" and embracing pupils Of
both sexes, were placed in one room.
The remainder of the school was di
vided into four grades. The boys in
these grades were seased.in the main
room, under the supervision of the
principal, while the lady assistant had
charge Of the girls in another room.
Separate Fairgrounds were arranged
for the sexes, and no trespassing was
permitted: Both sexes recited to-
gether, the classes being marched
from room to room under monitors.
(Where the rooms are contiguous the
monitors are not needed.) The school
opened in February, and all parties in
terested awaited the result, One
hundred and ffty-seVen pupils were
enrolled the first month, and this
number was maintained during the
session, the actual attendance averag
ing about one hundred and thirty.
Of these, between twenty and thirty
were instructed in the extra branches.
The experiment has thus far sue
ceeded admirably. The school, ow
ing to the excellence attainable
through increased numbers, has been
better than any of its predecessors for
years, and it has been found that the
presence of the two sexes in the same
class is most beneficial, each stimu-
lating the other to renewed exertion.
Parties living in the country are max
ing preparations to send their chill
dren to town, and the increase will be
still larger next year. It is confidently
hoped that in time Mount Zion In
stitute will again become a aourishiug
academic school, with the public school
as a permanent feeder. The resul.
will be beneficial, not only in an edu.
cational point of view, but also as re-
CARDS the material interests of the
town. Every puril retained at home