The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-01-07
THE COUNTY SCHOOLS,
Their Past and their Future--A Word
for tho School officials.

Ihe schools begin the Now Year in
somo respects undor better auspices
than ever before. Thoy havo had q
good beginning at least, and although
not nearly reaching the proficiency
they ought to have and will have in
nc future, thoy arc at least doing some
good. Every claim of last year has
been paid, while only a small dc fl
cheney i'll one or two districts exists
from former years. The law has been
improved, and officials arc ut last be-
ginning to perform tn cir duties under
it.. The fund is still much too small.
AS has before been shown, most other
States raise from ten to twenty dol
lars child every year, while South
Carolina raises little moro than q dol
lar. This cannot be helped at present,
tor tho State is poor; but the compari-
| son is made to show the people that
they should not be content to remain
where they are. Much moro money
must be expended yearly before the
goal can be reached.
1t is bnt simple jus ticc in this COLI
nection to say that the credit is chief
ly due the retiring commissioner, Mr..
Richardson, for the auspicious be-
ginning the system has made in Fair
filed. Mr.. Richardson came to this
county seven or eight years ago as n
missionary and teacher for the colorcd
people. Here he has quietly pursued
the line of his duty, never prostituting
hisprofcssion by making it stepping
stone to political prctcrment and kna-
very, thus illustrating the difference
between bona fde scttlcr and a cal-
pct-baggcr. In 1876, unsolicited on
hspart, he was elected school commits
sioner, and was one Of the very first
officials in the State to recognize the
decision of the Supreme Court dcclar-
ing Hampton governor, because he
saw i'll that alone rested the salvation
! OF tho State. His commission was
issued while Governor Hampton and
Colonel Scoffin were running tho
State. The schools were in q state of
chaos, and tho claims all III confusion.
| By dint Of earnest research and hard
labor he Strengthened out tho accounts
OF his office. IIc has devoted all his
energies to improving the schools.
| when money was needed for fitting
| up the Wlnnsboro School he advanced
it out ofhis own pocket, and he has
privately done many acts of kindness.
Although now no longer officially con-
nected withthc schools, Mr.. Richardson
IS rs much interested in them as ever.
we would not have written thus at
length, but when so many Northern
men como South only to foment strife
ana rcvcl in ill-gottcn gains, we feel
that where one has been al honorable
exception to the rule, it due himself
and the people of the South also, to
show that his worth is appreciated,
ana to prove false the assertion that
the South hates Northern man simply
because he comes from the North. She
welcomes every citizcninto her border.
Tho County Examiners still remain
in office, as they were appointed in
1873 for two years. They will CO.
operate with Commissioner BOYD in
cndeavoring to perfect tho system.
Their position is not an easy one, i'll
volving good deal Of work and much
responsibility, and bringing no pay.
When people arc disposed to find fault
with them because it is impossible to
please everybody, we hope they will
remember that the Examiners ssare
doing n good deal Of work for nothing,
and be patient with them.
DR.. Boyd, the newly elected commits
sioner, is graduate of the South
Carolina College, and has had expo
rionce in teaching. He is gentleman
fgcnial manners, and as soon rs he
gets fairly into harness will mako
things move along as smoothly as thoy
have begun to do. He will mako a
popular and efficient officer, and will
justify the hattering vote ho received
from the people.
Much depends upon tho trustees.
The best citizens Of the county have
boon selected for this position, and wo
feel assured thoy will carefully guard
the interests oft schools. We hope
that the fathers and mothers through
out the county, whom they SEQ the
schools opened for free tuition, will
make their children attend regularly,
and will, in evory way, cooperate to