The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-02-11
TAs Public Schools.


TAs Public Schools. :
we dropped in on our SAool Commissioners
tAis week to get an idea Of Re plan in con,em-
platiOn for the improvemcks Of the Public
Schools in Union County (. Ne came away well
satisfied that every thing wili6e done that can
be done The two leading ol!ects in contem-
piation eyJhs school officers an the building of
good sclaW houses in every ,oskwunity and an
iR1rsysment in the teachers & blin schools.
Aea meeting of the trusted most of the
school districts, somsi ime id 93ad(l it was dc.
termined to postpone the buildihs of hoases until
crops are laid by. In this resolution we think
there is much wisdom. 1t would be useless to
gointo the business of building at this time Of the
year the people are too busy thinking and pre-
pairing for the next CROP the days are too short
and too cold to do much, and the roads too bad
to haul timber. So we repeat that we think it
wisdom on the part of the trustees and the Com
missioner to put off this matter until crops are
laid by. The people will then have but little to
do and will readily lend helping hand The
public trustees must have help in this matter |;
the public fund is too small to do oil the build
ing necessary to be done, without generous aid
from the people. This we know will be cheer
fully given. We feel satisfied, from what we
learn from the Con- missioner, that, rs soon as
the trustees announce that they are ready to
build, the people will with one accord, announce
themselves ready to give the land, the timber
and their share of the work.
In view of the work thus contemplated it was
determined at the meeting above mentioned.
to have hut little schooi hisS Spring. The object
being to sa7e the money for 6diiding. 1t is true
that this will call forth complaints from some !;
but from our acquaintance with the men who
are moving in this matter, we feel satisfied that
nothing will be done without mature delibera-
lion and, furthermore, whatevcr they deter
mine to do, they will do. Solve say to all no
patient and let them have fair play and let
us encourage this good work in every way we
can.
Another very desirable and important object
In contemplation by all the School officers is ON
Improvement in the qualification of teachers
Every school in the County should have first
grade teacher. All thinking men will acree TO
this. The County Examining Board intend, if
possible, to bring about such 81 sstate Of affairs.
anu we think there is wisdom in the phn con-
templ"ted for accomplishing this purpose For
instance we learn from the Commissioner that
those to whom second grade certificates have
oeeh issued should be prepared to take first
grades at the general examination in July next,
and those to whom third grade certificates have
just been issued should be prepared To take
second grade certificates at the July examina-
ft0n on1 EraN 4.
ton in January, 1882. So that one year from
this time, if the plan works we'll, oil the teach
ers now in the County will hold first grade Ger.
tihcates. We see no reason why this should
not be so. If those who now hold second and
third grade certificates cannot. by next July,
and at farthest by next January, advance them
selves, by close application and study. so rs to
be prepared to take first grade. there is little
hope for their becoming successful teachers, and
it would be better not to waste the public money
on them.
We would call particular attention, in this
connection, to one fact aud that Is the great care
and dsil6eFation wnfc6 sosusfSbe user oy--rhe
trustees in locating the different school houses.
These men are certainly charged with o respon-
sible duty. In locating these houses they are
not acting for the year 1881, or The year 1882
or 1883, but for years and decades to come
They are establishing educational sites or GEN.
tres for children yet unborn. Sites should be
chosen only after much mature deliberation.-
No feelings of personal nature must influence
such deliberations. Nothing but desire for
the public good must enter there. All animos
ity must be be banished, that reason may
reign supreme. AS building will not commence
until some time in July, trustees should meet as
often as possible and never fail to discuss the
matter of choosing sites for the houses. Each
trustee should learn nil he can about the pecu
liar necessities Of each neighborhood and report
the same at the Board meetings, and thus by
degrees mature their plans by building time, and
when once maturel, stick to them