The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-17
QUE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

.ldtC 1NNAhhSN e-S--t SeAs JO~AAA< SAaNAb thN
House of Representatives has, by vote
of 88 to %, passed the joint resolution to
amend the constitution of the State SC
as to require minimum tax of two mills
for educational purposes, which resolu-
ton will become a law. Hence, we most
respectfully suggest that as the constitu-
tional amendment gives III o sare, relia-
BILE and permanent basis upon which to
rear substantial superstructure, that We
at once abandon the present anomalous
and inefficient plan of conducting our
public schools, adopting in its place
something similar to the following:
First. Let us commence operations
upon this new edifice by the Legislature
enacting law TO divide the Counties of
the State into School Districte of as
nearly equal size rs may be found prac-
ticablc-say five miles square. Then,
upon tho assumption that Anderson
County be 80 miles square, we would
have 36 School Districts. And then,
upon the suppcsition that the number of
colored children in the County be equal
to ono-third of the white, and we would
have two schools in every third District,
making in all 48 schools in the County.
Second. Then let the Legislature pass
an act declaring the so-called public
schools Of the State Of South Carolina &c
be in fact what they purport to be in
name-"Free Common Schools" open to
all without money and without price !"
without the anomalous, .incongruous ad-
mixture of private and public funds to
run free common schools; without any
written agreement between patron and
teacher in which it is agreed to pay The
teacher an excess of rate above Uncle
Sans rate, etc, eic.
Third. Let the Legislature abolish the
per diem system of paying teachers by
enacting q Law that all fret grade teach
ers shall be paid salary-say $50 per
month-no other grade be employed,
unless it should be found that sufficient
number of first grade teachers cannot be
had for assistants; then let the second
grade come in upon salary of $50 per
month.
Fourth. We would have the teachers,
both principal and assistant, chosen each
year by the popular vote Of the Districts; |;
those elections to be held annually the
last Saturday in the year, and all the
schools opened the fEst Monday IA Jau-
uary. The selection for teacb,rs to be
made from those holding first grade GER
tifcates signed by the County Board of
Examiners.
But perhaps an objection may be
raised here that competent teachers can
not be had at $50 per month. To this
we answer that wo feel very certain that
q sufficient number of competent Eng
lish teachers can be employed to teach
all the public schools Of the State at $50
per north; and good sense and economy
would seem to dictate that we should
pay 10 more .han this, if competent
teachers are willing to teach. We our
self will pledge that we will teach any
of ITncle Sans schools Mt the above
salary, and put in frat grade assistant
for 500 per month. This would amount
to $50 per month for one school. Hence,
for teaching 48 schools one month would
be $4,000. Now, assuming that the tax
of two mills gives to the County OF An
derson $4,000, this, with the poll tax,
which is about S., 600 world make sl3,-
600. This sum, at $50 per month for
each school, will run 48 schools about 53
months during each year.
Hence, we perceive we would have &c
schools Gin iull blast" during Ct months
each year, with two instructors to each
school at that.
But an objection may be urged tha
should principal and assistant each have
under his charge 80 scholars, that thi'
would only be about ono-hha'sff the mum
Der OF children in the County between
the.ages Of six aud sixteen. To this W.
would reply, that rom past experience a
teacher in the public schools of ou
County, we are prepared to state tha
the average attendance has never beel
but little moro than one-thhd the numbe
of children between the above named
ages! ~. ,t{ S
Perhaps another objector comes fer
ward and lays: "Five miles square woul'
be entirely too large for I'll practical pur
poses, because those children living il
any one of the corners of your squar
would have too far to travel 10 get +
your school, We would very respect
fully reply, that those children ;wh'
should happen to live in any OF the COZ
:e::ss oo oos ti:.ee ti:.ee District .rnnld not he=e an
further to go than many under the pres
ent arrangement do goths distance be
ing q small fraction over 81 miles. =.
We hayes frequently heard an objeS
tioh brought to bear against this pla
upon the ground that our State Is 70
thiDly populated to afford eholign chi
a.es. =, sS.1S :. eel s4.sl.in the aTeh
every five miles. But when we come
test it with the facts and figures in tn
case, we perceive at once how pueri
this argument is; that it becomes diss
pated into Use thinest air." Do we NJ
see in many instances three or fol
schools within the boundary of fl,
miles3 And, mark you, this is the gre
trouble; this is the principal Gauge. WI
the pabiic schools have dons. so lit
good. -Four or five schools wnerei the
should be but one, ranging in number
scholars from ten TO fifteen, continnir
in 0ftaratin,, fra,,, fem IN thirty (favl