The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
GRADED HIGH SCHOOLS.
Tho Views of an Old Tecchcr--Ifis Plan for
Raising tho Means of Conducting Such,
SnI.

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Tho Views of an Old Tecchcr--Ifis Plan for
Raising tho Means of Conducting Such
Schools.
IFrom the Abbevllle Press ard Banner.)
The publication of Mr.. Bcnct's late
able address on State education i'm
pamphlet form. and its distribution by
the Abbcvllc Teachers Institute before
whom it was delivered, to every mem
Der of our Legislature, am pcrsuud-
cd, will do great good. 1t is an extra
needed, and take the liberty of call
for its republication in moro pcrma-
ncnt form. But / am not in favor Of
embodying all Of it's suggestions in q
new school-law, for l am opposed to
any change Of the law as it now stands
with respect to making elementary
education, as far as the State under
takes il, altogether free. 1t certainly
ought SO to remain altogether free for
ever. And when State funds arc in
sufficient to support an elementary
school for the entire year it ought to be
! kept open as Il perfectly free school so
long as it is SO supported, its patrons
then taking the burden Of its support
off the State, and keeping it open as a
pay school, under the same toachcr,
for the rest Of the year. 1t is, too, not
at all mpracticable by an arrange
mcmt made at the beginning of tho
year, for State funds to support the
same teacher four months ut one locali-
ty, and four months at another, as is
done in the sparscly populated districts
Of Sweden. When, however, we pass
up to the higher grades of instruction,
to what is properly dcnominatcd Sec
ondary education then tho policy of
"using State funds not as II pay-all but
as stimulus to education" seems al
most sclf-cvidcnt, and more particular
ly in the present financial and social
condition Of tho people Of South Caro-
lima. The demand of school fees equal
to at least onc-haif of tho expenses Of
such higher grades Of instruction is
not only altogether just, but absolutely
necessary to securing efficiency. The
State Constitution speaks Of "schools
supported in whole or i'll part by
the State" The school law, as it now
stands, gives no option and no cncour-
aGcmcnt to this latter and much-nccd-
by the State" If the Legislature
be brought to see this and to reflect
upon il, it would cndcavor to carry
out the clear meaning Of the Constitu-
ton, and would cease to obstruct what
facts to be presently mentioned plain
ly Indicate as the popular desire and
will. An amendment would be pass
: cd, this very winter, by which
as much as fifteen hundred dollars
would be set apart, out of the present
school fund in each county, and appro-
priatcd to aid in establishing at sllitu-
bic localities, Graded High Schools, on
the express condition that such schools
should be kept open for ten months Of
the year, and that as much money
should he collected, dollar for dollar,
} by tut ton fees paid by the bcnciicarics
or such schools rs is contributed to-
wards their support by the State.
Very soon efficient teachers, secured
and stimulated by better pay, would
greatly commend and render popular
the whole public school system, de-
mand would be created for still higher
college and university education and
additional local taxation for cducation-
al purposes, than which nothing could
bc moro hateful and unpopular at
localities, just, rcasonapru'a nm, 'VEpeNto
lent.
This policy Of using State aid CAS- q
stimulus and not as a pay-all' in sec
ontlary education, is not q new one.
IL is no mere experiment now for the
first time TO be tried. Besides having
many successful examples of European
practice and precedent for centuries in
its favor, it is actually now in opera
ton in tho organization Of every State
college and State university in Amcri-
ca, without II single exception. 1t is
the principle on which the City High
School Of Charleston, which hns done
s. much useful ard noble work
was founded, and now continues to cx-
ist, and III an awkward and incomplete
way, 50 clearly is there Il popular de-
mand for its Immediate adoption, it
has been acted on, almost contrary to
our present school law, in the towns of
York, Chester, Rock Hill, Winnsbo:o,
Blackvillc, Aiken and Abbcyillc.
who, then, can doubt that it even al
ready commands the almost unanimous
approval of the whole people of the
State? Nevertheless, the statesman
who first cmbodics it in legal form
will wrcatle crown of laurel round
his brow. For the advantages of such
an amendment OF the school law as has
been suggested, al amendment in aid
of, and supplementary TO, and in no
respect anta@onizing tho present free
school system exactly as it stands,
would be offered, on the same condi-
tons to all classes and colors Of our
citizens. without danger of abuse by
any, while stimulating the purcst am
bition and the best aspirations Of all.
Respectfully, yours,
BENZ. II. STUART.
How IIE CoNvlNcED Tr1EM.-Ex-
Gov. ). w. Tmockmorton certainly
understands all the arts Of an old Tex
an. In his speech defending Edward
Bomar, at GAINESVILLE, after having spo-
ken about an hour said:
"Gcntlcmcn ofthe jury, it is said by
the prosecution that because tho dcccas-
cd was in his shirtslccvcs when killed
he had no pistol"
q Here Mr.. Throokmorton pulled off
his coat and stood before the Jury in
his shirtslccvcs.
"You may say" continued Mr..
Throckmorton, "that I am not armed
because [ am in my shirtslceves.
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