The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-07-18
For the Times.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
y
Mt JOY, July Z, 1876


Mr.. EDlToR Please allow us small space
in Your columns TO lay before the public tho
condition of the public Schools among the col
ored people of this County.
ln lS'2 this County was employing large
number OF teachers for the education of the col
ored children ;this continued about three years,
since then the,sbulnber has been considerably
Tess FOR few causes, some of which are txue
others we cannot vouch for: - I-ess<
i. Teachers had to devote all their time in
teaching and never received their pay Mt the
proper iime-this is one of the worst evils wc
have to contend with now-ahd the larger num-
ber OF them had to dispose of, their claims
NJ reduced rates, so they could not afford to Ia.
Dor for small On amount
z. Some OF the white teachers, employed TO
teach the colored children, were but a little be,
ter quaIihed than the colored teachers, and thc
Trustees and the Commissioner would saw thew
could not do any better, as the greater number
OF colored teachers who made application were
not competent.
8 The schools are opened Mt such seasons OF
the year That the teachers who are ,eally compe-
tent are OIL ut schools and the children are en-
gagged on the farms.
4. The commissioner and trustees do not give
the coored schools proper attention. Now. ir
RELATION TO this subject, we would say that the
small amount paid and the neglect of pa wing off
the school accounts, have been the causes OF MANY
gooa teachers not coming into our County and
.eaChing. They have great anxiety TO como
to Union, and when they make enouiries CON
corning schools those who know.cannot saw any,
,hing to encourage them. I'VE have a large num-
DER OF young men and women who are now able,
"nu many more are becoming able, to give our
children just such instruction as thew shoulu
nave ana they arc always anxious to come
Spartanhurg is blessed with n large number of
these young men and women. Last year there
we're fourteen colored teachers who had been
Taught during the Winter and Spring ut Biddlc
University, Charlotte. and Scotia Seminary !,
NJ who taught Schc OILS in Spartanburg Coun-
~ besides others from other Colleges anu Semi
haries' and alla,Uf them on first and second
graoes. Now, when Union becomes so she will
open her schools, pay her teachers at the proper
lime, and give the right attention to her schools,
sue, too, can boast of such u blessing Then
the trustees would have no need TO employ suCl,
white teachers as make applications for colored
schools.
It's certain we cannot now get white teachers
VINO VIII take the interest in teaching hat colored
teachers will. Ten years ago we could, but that
ome has passed, for those who are interested in
our welfare arc beginning to think that we
ought to have teachers among ourselves, and
we have them, and rs soon rs Union County
makes the proper arrangement, they can be had.
III the schools would open about June or July, :,
| and the teachers could receive their nav y,
proper time, we would have no trouble in get .
ing competent colored teachers for at that
time they are out of school ard can be employ ed
10 teach all the colorcl schools in our County.
NOW, about the attention. We know Of a
school that has been in session seven years.
The first two years we had one trustee who
would visit our schools but since. then we have
not had single visit If the trustees who nre
now appointed will not visit, our schools, why
not appoint one colored trustee in each school
district, TO see after the colored schools? Tho
commissioners have never visited n coored
m 10 pny Ill In
Shall we have better attention and better ,eocb
ers II is for the managers of the schools to
say ny 'heir actions. C. w. F..
.'''' c. II. J..