Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-13
The Public School System of Florida.

WEST FLORIDA, September 5, 1ss1.-Editor
Morning NesoS: Mr.. S S. Moore contributed a
thoughtful article on this subject for your
issue of August 27th. share his zeal for edu-
cation, but we may not be entirely agreed as
to the benefits Of the public school system
as it erists an Florida; for seriously question
whether the cause of general education is not
rather hamperel than promoted by it. have
more than once heard the opinion expressed
that parents who could and formerly
did "strain a point" in order to edu-
cate their children. now that the State has
taken the matter in hand, have intermitted
their personal exertions, and content them
selves with the three months school, which
the State provides. Certainly it marks a re-
PROGRESSION, if the system results in substitut-
ing three months school for a longer term.
But secondly, this short school term is not the
only objection that has been raised to our
common schools. 1t has been objected, also,
that it has brought to the front horde of Ill
qualified teachers. Nor does 1t seem strange
that it should. The Cffice OF an educator is an
important one, which calls for special Qualif-
cations. He must not only be master of the
branches he proposes to teach; he
must also have the faculty of impdrting
his knowledge, and he should be able
acquired the necessary qualifications by a
course of special training involving expense
and Time ana palnSJaklng, are not satisfied to
be emplo ed in their chosen vocation for three
months only, and for the small remuneration
which the school fund provides. Consequently
the schools are often taught by persons of
meagre qualifications and with little expe-
rience. Now, even if education were made
compulsory, it is but little that the average
child will learn in three months. 1t will be an
exceptional child if ne does not in the nine sue
ceeding months forget much of what he had
learned, and be Obliged TO begin back of lUheTe
ne left or This, even under good teachers. IL
his three months at school shall be under the
tuition Of an Indifferent teacher the case will
be still worse
What is the remedy. 1 answer: Increase
the school fund. If it involves increased taxa
ton. lay on the taxes 1t is not clear to nv
mind that some Of the appropriations to rail
roads would not have been better expended in
behalf of education Let not the people grudge
a small additional tax. il necessary, to educate
the children 1t may be that more will be
saved in the way OF diminishing costly vice.
and in other ways than the outlay.
But il the people and Legislature will not
consent to an increased appropriation for edu-
cation, what then? In answer, | suggest
whether it would not be better to discontinue
the public schools for the present and invest
the fund until it can maintain schools-nine or
at least six months in the year. This NAV
avoid the waste of means and tffort in re-
teaching each year what the pupils had for
gotten in the nine months interval. This sug-
gestion is only made in the contingency that
the school fund cannot be increased. The
remedy first proposed seems preferable to me.
If the State is to have a school fund let il be
increased. Q.