The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-02-08
FoR THE HERALD.

Messrs EDITORS. said or done
to promote the interests of our common
schools, is apt 10 be read with interest by
the people. There are evils attending our
system, which appear, to be irremediable.
Perhaps some person or persons may see
light, if so, it would doubtless be received
thankfully by the public.
Over the signature j. A. L., in your issue of
the 25th., it is asserted that our free school
system, as now conducted is "simply farce"
This assertion is rather sweeping in its ma
ture to be received without some evidence
in its proof. That there isroom for improve
are very few who are willing to admit thai
it is nothing more than farce. Ir is true
that our schools are, some of them, too full
in the winter months, but this feature is not
peculiar to the present form and admins
tration of our system. It results from the
condition and pursuits, of the people of our
country. Farmers are not able, (most of
them) 10 spare their children, during the
months when their labor is most effective.
This, of necessity, causes the schools in some
sections to be crowded in winter. Thirty
pupils to the teacher is very pretty theory,
but it is also first class practical absurdity,
in this country. In proof of this, appears the
fact, that it is difficult, if not impossible to
get assistant teachers for only two, three. or
four months in the year.. The kind o. teach
ers we need are employed. Those who are
no. employed are not commonly the kind
we want in our schools. Besides this, our
school-houseS, as now constructed, will not
allow us to make assistant teachers the sue
cess they ought to be. Two recitations 60
ing on at the same time in the same small
school-room, it appears, would be rather an
annoyance. There appears, therefore, to be no
way to avoid crowded winter schools, uoiess
we submit to some great, probably greater
| evils. Although school Of go, 10 or 80 pu-
pills, is rather unwieldy, yet experience has
shown that a great deal of good has been
and may be done, even with 60 or 10 pupils
| to the teacher.
The writer eft fred to above, thinks the
appropriation s&lald be more universal"
| l suppose this means 1t should be made COM
mensurate to the keeping the machinery 60
! ing all the time, or at least longer time.
This plan would be more Objectionable than
| the one pursued at present, because it would
MAKE the poorer class pay for the tuition of
| those more able 10 pay, and would also
cause schools to be going on through the
summer months, with 8 TO 10 pupils, in
many places, or else deprive some sections
\ Of summer schools altogether II would also
throw upon our responsible citizens the bur-
den of educating class, who are non-tax-
paying, and opposed to their political inter-
ests.
Now, like my friend, in your issue of the
25th Ihaye shown the way into the difficulty,
| will some one volunteer 10 show US the way
| out? can see where some Improvement
might be made in the distribution of the
public funds, but no farther. If so much
were allowed per day, for each pupil, some
remuneration would be made the large
schools, for being overcrowded in the win.
ter.
In conclusion, permit me TO state, thai
whenever | have alluded to the article Of j.
A. L., it has not been in spirit of criticism.
but rather with view TO stimulating the
interest already taken in schools, and pro.
noting free and full discussion of this i'm
portant subject; for as my friend says, the
enlightenment of the masses, is the hope oi
our county and the sheet-anchor Of all free
government.
TIMOTHY CREEK.