The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Graded High Schools.

MI. Benz. IL. Stuart has written an
interesting article to the Abbcvillc
Press and Banner on schools, and we
have reproduced it. In several points
we heartily concur with Mr.. Stuart,
especially as to not tinkcring too
much with the school law as it now
stands. The people arc beginning to
understand it, and it would be wrong
TO make too many changes. We be-
hcve that elementary instruction
should be forever free. The State is
poor but individuals arc poorer, and
the children must be educated by the
State If the parents arc unable TO pay
tor them. AS to the plan of having
high schools in every county, we do
not consider it feasible at present.
At some future day there should be q
hlSh school i'll every county town,
with curriculum above that pre-
scribcd for common schools. At prcs-
cnt the fund is too small to divert any
portion OF it from the common
schools, while the common schools
nre not yet sufficiently well organized
TO become feeders Of such All institu-
tion. AS we have previously main-
tanned, the school system will not be
perfect until it has free common
schools i'll Icvcry ncighborhood,
free high schools in cvcryr county
town, and, to cap all, Il free university
such as California enjoys.
We arc utterly opposed to the plan
OF charging any tuition fees in the
lower grades. And even in higher
schools VIC would prefer the system
suggested by Mr.. Stuart for lower
schools, aid already in vogue in many
localities, of having the school abso-
mtcly free for several months and
absolutely pay school for the rest Of
the time. The State should deal in no
halfway measures.
-! as ~" understand it, Mr.. Stuart is
w." sn S,, in supposing that Mount
hn -, ''o''"oi l" conducted on tho plau
.:"ss"Sts: 1t is lot u school in
WHICH INC State nays half and no
parent the other half. This pluu WINS
contemplated at one time, but IT. rrl1
Mrongh, partly because of the doubt
OF It's constitutionality and partly be-
cause OF u preference for another
mothod. In Mount Zion School, the
entlrc curriculum prescribed by the
school law is taught free Of charge to
"li pupils OF tho district. Pupils from
other districts in the county arc re-
CURED to pay something, merely as q
countcrDaIancc to the local tax how
levied on this district, but this ar
rangcmemt has nothing to do with the
otatc appUruOnnCnJ. I,UVVu ulmi fi'o 81.
y0nd the common school curriculum
certain branches arc taught as at a
private school, and for these tuition is
demanded. There is no halfund-holr
arrangement at all. Tho theory is TO
have pay school with free school
as feeder. Up to u certain point
education costs nothing. After that
the pupil pays full Charge for the cx-
ira branches. This effects The the Dur
pose contemplated by Mr.. Stuart, but
III a different way. Two years of free
instruction and two years Of full pav
amount in tho end to the same thinr
as halt-and-half instruction for rour
years. Besides this, it enables tho
chlld who does not care for extra in
str1ction to get the elements ofkuowl
edge for nothing. No poor child is
turned Oft, and tho school is thus really
bcnefaction. Whether, in the pres
cnt condition of the country, Mr..
stu"rr's idea is satisfactory compro-
mise between q free high school and
no high school at all, We cannot say at
present, as mature dclbcration is
necessary. We shall consider it care
fully While we cannot concur in all
that Mr.. Bcnct or Mr.. Stuart recon-
mcnds, we arc glad to see that free
discussion is springing up, from which
good must inevitably result.