The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-08-30
F--.-iE 80 - y.
Pub,;c Education.


Public Education.
At mass educational meeting at
Ninety Six, on Friday, August l4th.
speeches were made by several of our
prominent men, in which very conflict
ING views were expressed on the subject
of public school education. The lmpor-
tance of the utterances are enhanced by
the fact that all Of the speakers occupy
high. official position. They were. the
Superintendent Of Education, the Secre-
tary Of State. a Congressman and State
Senator. We cannot quote the whole OF
the speeches, but only make, such ex-
tracts as will give the general tenor OF
the remarks. Col. Coward, Superiutend-
ent of Education, was the first speaker.
He made polished official address. He
said: 1.-The common school system has
been discussed both in the social circle,
! in private interviews, and in the public
Press. 1t is not a perfect system. We
have no systems that are perfect, and
we need not expect to have till the day
Of the millennium. But such as we have,
have we tried it fairly and fully? Not
| TIL then are we prepared to reject 1t. Or
point out its defects intelligently? The
| trouble about 1t. is in the application OF
it's provisions. He was not here to ad-
vocate any system. There were many
difficult problems lying back of tile ques-
ton about which the best minds have
been exercised, md have disagreed. One
| Of them is, should the Government have
anything to do with education? The
State is committed Oh this subject. 1t
| is incorporated into our constitution, and
is fundamental principle which we as
officers are bound to observe and enforce.
| 1t is therefore not question for Discus
sion, or which lie was at liberty to dis.
| cuss. The anomalous condition OF our
citizenship was O sonrce Of difficulty IN
its administration. The application of
its srovisions to the two races with equal
| satisfaction was difficnlt undertaking.
The strongest objection arose from the
matter Of taxation. This is true. 1t IS
unequal, but when we rise to the high
plane Of citizenship which a liberal-m!nd-
ed, generous and magnanimous people
| were expected to attain, this matter OF
inequality dwindles into insigniticance,
and is lost sight Of in the grandcr con-
ceptlon that all are citizens"
Congressman Aiken spoke next, and
/ the following is brief synopsis OF his
remarks: HE acknowledged that we
| were committed to some system of pub
lie education. but was opposed TO the
present one. and Thought it ought to be
| amended. He thought there were too
many schools. That the amount appor-
toned among so many teachers was so
small that we could not secure the SER
vices Of those who were competent. and
hence the system was defective IN this
most vital particular. lie thought that
education embraced the moral and ply
steal man. as well as the intellectual;
that while the first two were indispen-
sable in order TO erect that high stand
ard Of citizenship which the Superintend-
ent OF Education desired: the present
school system made no provision for
either, but rather ignored them. It per-
mitted reduction Of salary by multi
plicity of schools, which is virtual de-
NAL of competent teachers. he did not
believe in entrusting the education OF the
youth to the immoral and dssolute. He
thought that the system should provide
also for instruction in the domestic arts;
that the sewing machine, the cooking
stove and all other implements ncccs-
sary to give practical lessons IN reference
| to these Indispensable duties should be
used. He was in favor of the co-educa-
ton of the sexes. He had been thus
educated himself and found that the
rivalry of his sweet heart was great
incentive"
Secretary Of State, James n. Lips
comb, was the next speaker, and it is
said that the applause demonstrated that
his sentiments struck responsive chord
in the breasts Of his hearers. The fol-
lowing is the substance of what he said {:
'sHe wanted no common school system.
He denied the right Of the governmental to
have anything t. do with education; that
it forbode evil and only evil. There was
no institution or authority which could,
with impunlty, come in and usurp the
appointment Of God in this matter, who
had imposed upon the parent, aud sealed
| it by the divine adjustment oftee relation
SLIP, duty which cannot be cast upon
the shoulders Of another. It is long
stride towards Capitalization. The next
step will soon be taken towards COM
pulsory education, making it obligatory
on every parent to send his child to
school. This much gained, then another
step, and another, till the liberties ofthe
people are surrendered to centralized
government. He believed in the good
old anti-hellum system which had taught
our fathers and mothers. than whom
none were better. The present system
was of foreign grating, and for one he
| would never consent to retain it when he
had an opportunity to reject it,"
Senator Callison, of Edgefeld. closed
the discussion, and, IN his humorous
style, tried to pour oil on the troubled
waters. He took up the line of Col.
| Coward and defended his position.