The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-14
FREE SCHOOLS.
Some Interesting Facts Showing the Early
Development fthe System in the South.
Baltimore Sun.

paper read recently beioresthe Hlstorl-
cal and Political Science Association of
the Johns Hopkins University, that
free schools were established in Mary
lapd before the close of the seventeenth
century. They are first mentioned in a
bill dated April Is, 1871, which passed
one branch Of the Legislature, but
failed to become law. The first bill
for free schools approved by both houses
was passed October Is, 1894, by the aid
of Gov. Francis Nicholson.
1T provided for the erection of one
free school at Annapolis, and contem-
plated the erection Of others in various
parts of the province. The first school
was erected entirely by the aid of vol
untary subscriptions. Gov. Nicholson
contributing literally, and nearly every
member of the Legislature following
his example. The school was continued
by revenues arising from special fines
and taxes appropriated for It's support
In 1896 the colony sought the patronage
| of King William for a college to be
erected at Annapolis, which foundation,
called King Villains school, was made
by authority of the Legislature in 1904
In 1928 legislative provision was made
for free school in every county, to be
governed by a board of seven visitors. !
Among the eighty committeeman thus
appointed we find Gov, Charles Calvert, |
twelve colonels and thirteen ministers, |
the others being planters and merchants
of acknowledged integrity and public
spirit. These schools were supported \
by fines and imposts, incluing duties
upon the importation of negroes and
the expectation of tobacco. Donations
from private individuals were not infre-
quent. BY a statute passed in 1928
provision was made for the education of
poor children in each county The fire.
quent mention of free schools in the
statutory law of Maryland attests their
popularity and Importance in the minds
of legislators, who fairly represented
the better sense of the colony Con-
sidering how slowly Maryland grew,
how isolated her people were (their
manor-houses being widely separated),
it is remarkable that free schools were
so early established. That free schools
exercised considerable influence upon
the culture Of the people is beyond
question. Mr.. Eddis, in his letters from 9
America in the last century, remarks
upon the purity and even elegance of
language in Maryland. OF Annapolis,
where the college was located, he said,
few towns in the British dominions can Z
boast of more polished society. The
present prosperity of the school system |
in Maryland is in no small degree the
of that first planting two CEN 2
turies ago by wise legislators and phi !
lanthropic citizens"
The free schools Of South Carolina I
also are of ancient date, being coeval I
with the parish and the district, says
the author of another paper read before 1
the same society:
"The early legislators of the colony a
were deeply impressed with the import $
ance of popular education. So domin- {
ant was this idea that it had much to +
do with the division of the counties E
into parishes, in order to obtain aid I
from the society in the mother country
for propogating the gospel in foreign !
parts. This society lent its aid in sup 9
plying parish ministers and preachers. $
Parochial libraries were founded and ?
parish schools were established, at first 2
under the immediate control of vestry- .
men, The history of popular education
in South Carolina dates from these par 4
sh beginnings. As far back as 17l0 a U
free school was established in Charles J
ton. Similar institutions were planted
1t Dorchester, Childsbury, Beaufort, /.
st. Thomas parish, ST. James, a
Santee and elsewhere. Many of these a
schools owe their origin to legacies be- G
luethed them by generous parishioners, q
ike Beresford, Ludlam, Childs and
others. With the growth of primary .
sducation the demand for the higher z
education increased, resulting in the Il
Of no less than five col Z
eges and several academies before the I,
expiration of the eighteenth century. q
Many charitable societies also main 4
aimed schools, usually for the education a
If the poor. In some cases ever. slaves o
we're taught to read. The State con
jtantly encouraged education by dona- G
ions, immunities, and by yesting o
n school board escheated property in Is
villages or parishes. In 1901 the South 8
Carolina College was founded. BY the u
rear 1911 the demand for popular edu- y
,ation had SO increased and the country !
vas being so rapidly settled that gen q
.ral system of free schools was inaugu-
.ated. From this time on there was a I
teady increase in educational facilities I
lntil the outbreak of the civil war" <
The fact is that the propriety of es- q
ablishing free schools was recognized =
,arly by all the colonies, and the system I
.ttained different degrees Of develop p
nent ii. each quarter, according to the u
rarying conditions of density Of popu- G.
alton, occupation, etc. 1t is question ?
.ble whether what has been added 3
rom abroad to the original Maryland G.
ystem has not been in the direction of g
superfcialism rather than 4
eal efficiency. d