The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-17
Public Schools.
ifEcoUee Courier,

W. G. Bcnct, Esq, delivered IN address be-
fore the .Abbcrillc Teachers Association at
Abbevillc, IN the LIST OF August, 1879, on our
public school system which has been pub
iished In full In the Charleston NcUs uHd Lnu-
fie,, and commented on fIvUlubly. We have
at intervals discussed this subject and con-
dcmned the system rs 1t now operates. Mr.
Benet presents the Objectionable features OF
tendency to regard results rather than meth
obs or instruction: in other words, to look In
education to the speedicst method OF gai:ling
information useful In active life, rather than
tho training and discipline Of the mind and
fitting it for sound wholesome reasoning on
any aud all subjects. This is nothing more
nor less than the unitarian idcu, which
dwarfs the intellect In limiting II to q single
practical end, excluding, of course, thc'class-
les and all those studies especially adapted TO
the development OF the reasoning powers. 2.
The lowering the standard OF information, X
necessary consequence OF such q course Of in
struction as Is found In the public schools.
They are intended for q general diffusion OF
knowledge, and In this respect the order Of
instruction must be lowered. 3. The loss OF
individuality, and 4th the medication of q
spirit OF communism. We think these strong
points, except the last, which appears to us a
needless fear. We hardly think there can
ever be any danger Of communism In the
South, or at least ut any conceivable period.
We're 1t otherwise. We think the diffusion OF
knowledge, though in tit-bits, would be q pre-
Among the advantages OF the system are
first, O more general diffusion of knowledge,
and second ~cheapness, the large number OF
pupils decreasing the expense per capita.
These two propositions are undoubtedly true,
but do they compensate for the large number
Of academies, which we had before the war,
where young men were trained for college,
such as those OF Kennedy at Shutdown,
Teverettat Williamson and Hudson at
Winnsboro. and others of q like kind? With
a free school fund sufficient TO pay the tuition
OF those unable to pay for themselves, these
academies offered all the advantages OF the
present free schools, with q system Of disci-
pline n instruction far better. The great
trouble OF the present system is hat 1nen who
pay their two mill tax are unwilling to con-
tribute anything farther owards education.
The present fund being insufficient to keep
open the schools for more than about three
months, instruction becomes partial and un-
satisfactory. Hence Mr.. Benet properly takes
the view that the school tax should be re;
duced and DO made a stimulus rather than
q supporting fund. Another disadvantage Of
the free school system is the little interest
parents take In the teachers they employ and
the little stimulus to send their children every
day. II they paid for the tuition of their
children directly, they would keep their chill
rem In regular attendance and see to the char
acter and qualification OF the teachers. The
system is, however, q constitutional reuuife-
ment and may develop annually into more
usefulness. At all events, 1t cannot be dis
ponsed with at present and wo all should
strive to make 1t as serviceable as possible for
the ends In view.