The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-25
AUR FREE SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS POORLY PAID-MALE va. FE.
MALE TEACHERS. 1'tfi'' q

81 . fs
TEACHERS POORLY PAID-MALE va. FEE.
MALE TEACHERS. 3''i" ~
Editor Orangeburg Democrat.:: r. i'''
in our efforts to improve the coni,i.
tion Of the public schools, the matter
"h!c!! deserve our most careful atttteenn,-- atttteenn,-
tion seems almost TO be totally ne
elected. I mean the kind of teachers
employed. Since its inauguration in
tlsis State, tho system of free com mon
schools has been failure, pure and
complete. The whole attention of
the Radicals was absorbed IN the col.
lecting and sauandering of the appro-
priatnd funds. Worthless teachers
were employed at large salaries. The
whole thing in thei hands was a
means to I'LL end, which end We all
know we'll. When the Democrats
came into power, they wished to ac-
complish great deal with very Ait-
tie money. This raised the we'll re-
membered howl about the rednctions
of salaries. Or course the salaries OF
teachers were with others reduced,
and think they have been reduced
to an extreme. In Elizabeth Town
ship, for instance, first grade certifi-
cate commands salary Of only S25
per month. The third grade, S18.
Is that enough difference between the
grades? Can Grst-class tcucher, in
the true sense of the term, lie hired for
that amount? answer, no. There
is an old saying that "where there is
poor pay there is poor preach" which
is quite applicable in this case. OF
course there are "schUol mnrms" who
may be hired for such salaries, but
are they competent? Does not the
very fact of u mans accepting such a
salary argue that he is not fit for any
thing else, and that he is trying to
make living st the public expense
to the detriment Of the children of a
community? Some teachers, TO whom
the people actually refuse to send
their children, are persistently en-
a,loyed simply because they arc Wi
dow ladies or cripples, or some how
or other deserve the charity Of the
community. O,hcr things beipg con
sidefed, this is all gall slough, but
when there are giaring WaH $ Of quail.
ification, this is altogetlfi:r wrong.
Moreover, as l think chafiLy one Of
the brightest of virtuessd he public
might provide for thely. another
way. But for heaven sake, don't let
present charity become the source Of
lasting detriment to rising genera
tions. The only: schools we have
had in our community since the war
worth the name were tnnght by men
who were secured ut 4 salary Of $50
per month. Nor can n man who is
really competent to teach (ani
never heard of d woman being guilty
OF such q thing) be employed for n
less sum now. sec that our School
Commissioner agrees with DR.. Cook
in that beginners silonld have the
very best teachers. Teachers who
know their business will bear me out
in the assertion that child who has
been thoroughly taught in the rudi-
ments anil has laid good foundation
upon which he may build the super
structure has passed the most critical
and the most impol liant point in his
education. Can other than the ve,.v
best teachers so teach even the rudi-
ment3 A school trustee told me that
a third grade teacher could teach all
the children in the community. But
l make bold the assertion that he
can neither teach them as we'll nor
advance them as much in the same
time rs the first grade tencher. Again,
if we never employed other than
third grade teachers, will we ever
have other than third grade schools
Supply always creates demand. Now,
let the trustees supply a .frst-class
teacher, which can be done only by
giving him n good salary, and there
will certainly be demand. Don't
understand me as finding fault with
the trustees. l fully understand and
appreciate their position. They wish
to run the schools as long as possible
on the amount allowed them. But
hold that it will pay TO close the