Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-24
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF
FLORIDA.
Hts Practical WOrking-Indifference
Our Greatest Drawback-Needfu
Amendment TO the school Law
County Superfntendents.

Our Greatest Drawback-Needfu
Amendment 10 the school Law
County Superfntendents.
LEvYvILLE. Fla, August 1s.-Editor Morning
Ne1cs: As you seem to take deep interest in
everything that concerns our State, I would
most respectfully invite the attention of your
readers Especially your Florida readers) to a
subject which is more intimately connected
with the public veal Of Florida than any other,
and one, too, which claims the attention of the
public less than any other that concerns the
people, so far as 1 am able to judge. Neither
the merits of the public school law, nor the
system itself. Is discussed to any noticeable ex-
tent in the public prints. So reticent are our
public men and journals that one would natu-
rally suppose that it is institution of very
little consequence any way-a thing to be toll
Grated simply, rather than encouraged and
supported. No one, whose opinion is worth
anything, has the temerity to openly oppose or
denounce it, but it is crippled hv Indifference,
which is worse than open antagonism
fear that there is an undercurrent of feel
ing among our people that the system is one
or those enete measures engrafted upon our
constitution by the Radicals when I'm power.
and therefore, like much that they did. opposed
to the public welfare. shall not here discuss
the merits of the system Under proper regu-
lations it has been so thoroughly tested and APP
proved in other States that IL is very surprising
that any one at all acquainted with the facts
touching its practical results should for
ment hesitate to give it hearty support.
Much of the prosperity and general intelli-
gence OF New England is due TO well regu-
lated system of public schools, which. to-
gether with her colleges and universities,
has enabled her to dictate laws to this
continent, as Senator Joe Brown truly tells u.s.
/ noticed Immediately after the defeat of our
party In the late Presidential election the cry
W raised at xUn
should bend our efforts to accumulate wealth
as an onset to the money power OF the North.
which 1t was supposed secured the election of
the Republican candidate. This is all well
enough II the education and general intelli-
gence OF the masses keep pace with such effort
to accumulate. Unless this is done we shall
commit a very grave error-one that cannot
be easily corrected. We're it possible, as
body to amass great wealth without edu-
eating the people. 1t could do them
very little good for they could not direct it so
or others. hold that if the masses are edu-
Gated. prosperity. general intelligence and
happiness will follow as a matter of course.
We want not the education Of a select and ia
vored few to the exclusion of the masses. This
may do for an aristocracy or monarchy. but
will not do for republic. We must, therefore,I
conclude, abandon our claims to a republican
form OF government, or educate the masses.
But, to return to the school law of Florida.
That we should reject it simply because
the Radicals introduced it into our State,
would be very surprising that with all their
laundering they should do nothing to redeem
their character. The clause in the constitu-
ton establishing public schools does much. in
my opinion to mitigate the evil effects of sever
al years misrule. Our school law as originally
drafted was almost q verbatim transcript of
the school law OF Indiana, as may be seen by
comparing the two; and in my opinion the
original had less Objectionable features than
the present with its repeats and amendments.
Legislation, instead of making it better, has
rendered it less effective. However, the law,
even as II stands now, is accomplishing and
will accomplish great deal of good for the
rising generation. One or two necessary
amendments would make it thoroughly effec-
tive. What they are 1t is quite unnecessary
for me to suggest. 1 will, however. state this
evident proposition: If the State takes upon
itself the education of the children it has a
right to enforce the attendance of those chill
dren OF the schools it established for them.
No sensible individual would undertake to
educate children without adopting such
measures as he might deem necessary to secure
that end Neither should any State Our
sumption that due appreciation Of the benefits
arising from an education. and the natural
affection of parents for their offspring, would
be sufficient incentive to induce them to en-
brace every opportunity eagerly for educating
their children. To a people trained themselves
by the aid of common schools this argument
would come with great deal more force than
to those to whom the system is comparatively
new. Experience proves that while our people
are not wanting in natural affection, due
estimate of the advantages to be derived from
education is deplorably wanting, and therefore
that proportion Of children are not found an
nually in our public schools which the State
should require. 1t is true the practical work
ing OF our So stem under the school law is, in
many counties, highly Objectionable. aud am
free to admit that much of the indifference in
many localities grows out of an unwise admin
istration of the law. Ineficiency and want of
adaptation to the duties of their respective
positions of many school officers does much to
beget this spirit of indifference.
In many counties appointments in this de-
partment have been made, and continue to be-
through political consideration, rather their fit
ness for the position. So long as this policy is
pursued we cannot hope for the success of the
cause In this state of things the executive is
not to blame, dependent as he is for informa-
ton upou others. Our late Superintendent of
Public Instruction of the State, Hon. W. p
Hslsley, in his last report, made some wise
suggestions, which, II acted upon, would do
much to remedy this evil
He thinks, and correctly. that none but ex-
perienced teachers should fill the position of
County Superintendent. He knows, from an
experience of many years as an instructor
and four years as Superintendent of the State
during which tine he sustained the most in
innate relationship to County Superintendent
and Boards of Education-that the success of
the entire system is more dependent upon the
County Superintendent than any other officer
Hence efficiency. activity and adaptaoility
should characteriZe this officer.
Our school law makes it optional with Boards
of Education whether they examine teachers
and issue certificates to them, or confer upon
the County Superintendent the authority so to
do In large majority of cases County
Boards are only too glad to be relieved from
this unpleasant duty, and consequently the du
ties devolve upon their Secretary. Here is a
man then that is to determine the qualification
of all the teachers In his county; to protect
their rights; to sympathize with them, and in
fact, to act as their guardian, so to speak. Nor
is this all. His duties lead him to visit every
70 tF4fs niaaf
he may deem proper. so as to note and judge
of the progress of the pupils. Considering
these and other similar duties which law i'm
poses upon him, is 1t not clear that none but
experienced educators are properly qualified
for tn ostl Let US have such an amendment
to the law as shall transfer the whole system
from the hands of mere politicians to the hands
of experienced educators and we will find
new impulse given to the cause Of common
school education in our State.
s. s. MOORE.