The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-19
GRADED PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Success of the Experiment at Winnsboro-
The Problem Of Education Solved in
South Carolina.
Correspondence Nc,e, and Courier.
WINNsBoRo, August %, 1878.

WINNsBoRo, August %, 1878.
AS the question of graded schools is
being agitated in number of the towns
in our State, and as information is sought
as to the mode of inaugurating, conduct
ing and supporting them, 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 operation in Charles
ton, but for others who have heretofore
been accustomed only to the old-fash-
ioned, unclassifed schools. A graded
school, in general terms, is one in which
all the pupils in the same grade study
the same lesson, and each pupil studies
every branch embraced in the curriculum
of his grade. But in the popular accep-
tation at present in South Carolina, it
seems to mean in addition a school sup
ported partly by public funds and partly
by private means. The method of CLASH
flying 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 Acknowledgements to Fl. P. Archer,
Esq, of your city, for valuable sugges-
tions on this very subject.
As to the plan of organizing such
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 jan
uary of the present year, the people of
Winnsboro determined to utilize the
school fund coming to the district of
which the town is part. Up to that
time education was confined chiefly to
private schools, of which there were at
least half dozen, each dragging out
precarious existence, while considera-
BILE number of children were not in at
tendance 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 wero taught free of charge.
1t was stipulated that pupils in the higher
mathematics, ancient and modern lam
guages and the sciences should pay
monthly fee of two dollars and half.
Three grades, reaching as high as the
'Third Reader" and embracing pupils
of both sexes, were placed in one room.
The remainder Of the school was divided
into four grades. The boys in these
grades were seated in the main room,
under the supervision of the principal,
while the lady assistant had charge of
the girls in another room. Separate
play. grounds we're arranged for the sexes,
and no trespassiug was permitted. Both
sexes recited together, the classes being
marched from room to room under moni-
tors. Where the rooms are contiguous
the monitors are not needed. The
school opened in February, and all par
ties interested awaited the result. One
hundred and ffty-seven pupils were en-
rolled the first month, and this number
was maintained during the session, the
actual attendance averaging about one
hundred and thirty. Of these, between
twenty and thirty were instructed in the
extra branches. The experiment has,
thus far, succeeded admirably. The
school, owing to the excellence attaina-
BILE 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 stimulating
the other to renewed exertion. Parties
living in the country are making prepara-
tions to send their children to town, and
the increase will be still larger next year.
It is confidently hoped that in time
Mount Zion Institute will again become
Aourishing academic school, with the
public schools as permanent feeder.
The result will be beneficial, not only in
an educational point of view, but also as
regards the material interests of the
town. Every pupil retained at home
means saving of certain sum OF
money to be otherwise expended.
During the first five months the school
was supported from the public funds.
For the next session it will receive, three
hundred dollars from the Peabody fund,
and the citizens will subscribe two or
three hundred more, thus securing at q
private expenditure of few hundred
dollars, a years instruction of hundred
and fifty pupils whose tuition fees under
the old system would have amounted to
more than three thousand dollars These
graded schools solve the problem of edu-
cation in poverty stricken South Carolina.
Without them, thousands will grow up
in absolute ignorance.
The above is the result of the expert
ment in Winusboro. What Winnsboro
has done, other towns can do, if the peo-
pie are in earnest and if competent
teachers are employed.
For raising the necessary funds, three
sources exist. The amount supplied by
the school fund should be for school oi
a hundred and fifty pupils seven or eight
hundred dollars. Three hundred or four
hundred and fifty may be secured from
the Peabody fund. The balance can be
raised by extra tuition and by private
subscription. To maintain school oi
the above mentioned size at least eighteen
hundred dollars should be raised.
AS to the manner of obtaining aid from
the Peabody fund information can be
had on application to Superintendent II
S. Thompson. A few points connected
with it may, however, be mentioned here
The trustees of the fund will give three
hundred dollars to every public school o.
one hundred pupils maintained for ter
months with an average attendance o.
eighty-ive per cent, or four hundred ano
fifty dollars for a hundred and fifty pupil;
the same time with an average attend
ance of eighty-6ve per cent, provided IL
each case that the current funds from
other sources are double the amount asked
from the Peabody fund. Application
must be made at the beginning of th'
year on blanks furnished by the State
Superintendent of Education. The prom
ised amount will be paid at the end o
the year on proof that all the conditions
have been complied with.
g.. ,,orla -, oop clns;op conoarninf