The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-03-22
LETTERS FROM UTOPIA.-NO. ).
MOREyILLE, CTOrIA,
March Is, 1893.

Of education. Large appropriations Of
money are annually made to enable our
poorest people to obtain in the govern
mcnt schools an elementary education.
Every child over eight years Of age is
allowed 10 attend school regularly free
Of cot every year until he obtains from
the State or County Superintendent Of
Education certificate Of Proficiency in
the branches taught in the State Elcmcn-
tary schools; and no citizen is permitted
To have any voice in gDvcInmen, affairs
unless he holds such certificate.
We have in every Congressional Dis
trict q Public Normal School, il which
candidates for the Office Of public teacher
are thoroughly prepared for their yoca.
ton and no one can obtain "A situation
as public teacher unless be holds n Ger.
tiiicatc of Approval from one of the
District Normal Schools.
For higher education, we have well.
endowed !nstit,:tions fIrnishiBg ample
opportunities to all rho are able 10 Ell.
JOY them. These institutions are 20
numerous aud SO widely scattered through
the land that there is no need of sending
youth to a great distance from home
to be educated: 80 that for young man
to leave his own State and attend Col.
lege la Il remote section Of the country
is now almost entirely out Of the ques.
ton.
The advantages Of this state Of things
are very numerous and very great. Our
young men go to College to be prepared
for the duties and business of subsc-
qucnt life; and, whatever station one
may occupy in society, his interests Of
every kind may be greatly promoted
and his usefulness much enhanced by
the cooperation and help of his fellow
men. The attachments Of fellow stu
dents ut school are notably strong, and,
in favorable circumstances, may be life
long. A youth attending school re-
mote from his future home will lose the
great advantage of his fellow students
help, because he is entirely beyond their
range: while one whose College days
arc spent in the neighborhood of his fu-
turc arena will have in every communi-
ty around him all his life firm friends
and earnest helpers. 10 the want Of
this favoring fact may Le traced the
comparative failure Of many Il young
man who enjoyed the very superior ad-
vantages Of distant Institution
Our schools in general also are con.
Quoted on more rational principles than
formerly. Pupils are not allowed to
3 embarrass their progress and dissipate
r their minds by undertaking a large
number Of studies at the same time and
to this we attribute the wonderful
achievements Of devoted specialists in
tue arts and sciences.
When you were among us, it was quite
common to offer special prize of con.
, siderable value to the student who should
, excel his fellows in some designated
study. You may remember the Thomas
More Gold Medal for Greek offered by
yourself i'll the Moreville University.
:, The stimulus produced by these prizes
: was supposed to conduce to more earnest
O,udy, and consequently more thorough
scholarship. But, in the course O; time,
it was observed that they had injurious
tendencies also. The stimulus intended
for the whole body Of students was found
! to exert actual permanent influence on
: only a very few: for it soon becnmc man
ifest that only Il small number of the
students could hope to win the prize,
and ali the rest therefore ceased to make
any effort toward it. The generous en-
alation which existed at the beginning
of the contest was. in great danger OF
:, degenerating into bitter rivalry and, il
= it did not, it was very likely to induce
too severe mental exertion, which often
= resulted in nervous prustl alton and per.
: :naaca: loss of health. AND, besides, it
did not seem fair to give the prize with
all its honors to only one of several
competitors vino were SO nearly equal
in merit that it was very difficult TO de.
. eide to whom to award it,
From these considerations, the plan
was entirely discontinued some years
. ago; and, in some Institutions now, pre-
!, miums OF varying value are awarded to
q! who grade above certain described
. standard, respectfully but not unreason-
ably high,-the value Of the premium
: being somewhat proportional to the grade
b attained. Many of our best institutions,
] however, make no such appeals, and sue.
l ceed in inducing their pupils to study
e for their atudies, sake.
5 The good effects of the general dis.
3 semination of education can hardly be
= exaggerated. They are manifest, not
f only in the elevated social intercourse
which renders life among US SO delight
full; but they impress themselves on
every line of industry and enterprise,
stimulating inventive genius to the pro.
duction of labor saving machines and
} desirable conveniences In every depart.
ment Of effort or enjoyment. These give
time for further study; and SO, by recip.
rocal influence, the race advances with
acceleratiug speed towards the goal of
perfect happiness.
Your nephew,
T. MORE, Jr.