Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-02
EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

After his return 10 Boston from his South
ern tour, DR.. Mayo published in the Boston
Journal Of Education, of which he is one of
the editors, the following as the result of
his observations while in this State:
Our Associate Editor has just finished a
six weeks visit to South Carolina, where,
under the direction of State Superintendent
Coward, he madeaddresses in nearly twenty
places, in almost every portion of the State.
He reports gratifying progress in school
work in several of the larger towns, and a
very decided advance in public sentiment
on the public school question since his last
visit three years ago. Everything we'll be-
gun then is stronger now. The public
schools of Charleston, under erSuperintendent
Archer, are putting forth new vigor, and
are being strengthened. This year the
State institute will be held in Charleston,
with Superintendent Archer as principal,
and the ablest teachers in the State as as
sistants. Several important county insti-
tutes will be held, and great preparations are
being made for the summer instruction of
colored teachers at Aiken, under Professor
Rodenbach and q corps of the ablest work.
ers from other States. The, State University
was never so largely attended or more ably
manned with professors, and the depart
ment for colored students, Claflin Universi-
ty, is becoming a model of its kind. The
excellent new graded schools OF Columbia,
the capital, under Prof. D. B. johnson, are
becoming power in the State, and many
of the smaller towns are dealing with the
question of an efficient system of graded
instruction.
The greatest drawback here, or elsewhere
is in the open country. But already the
public school is everywhere established, for
both races, with average session of from
three to four months. The new State Su-
perintendent, Col Asbury Coward, is fit
successor Of Hon. Hugh S. Thompson, now
Governor, a professional teacher, effeettHe &c I've
free school. The leading press of the State
and majority of its public men are vigo-
rously on the right side in matters of public
education, and fair vote of the people
would show three-fourths vote heartily in
favor of national aid.
There is still, in this as in every Southern
State, a strong opposing influence, showing
itself more in the way of local obstruction
than by ypublic demonstration ;and the oppo-
sition, which works along with the ecclesi-
astical and social phases Of hostility to the
free school, is not to be moderated. But
here, as all through the South, the masses
of the people are getting thoroughly arous-
GU, duu SCl lQlil lCtluiiS IuS0oAoAtS3
such as: Why the education of all the chill
dren in community should be postponed
indefinitely to crafty the theory Of some
ancient and honorable politician, to build
up the parochial schools Of two or three eX-
cellent clergymen, or to afford a subsistence
to the worthy members few decaXed fam
lilies? Why State like South Carolina
should remain half developed to illustrate a
theory that the laboring class should be kept
in ignorance? and why Southern boys and
girls should not be permitted to enjoy those
advantages for start in life that are freely
offered to every child in every other portion
of the Union? The people are patient, but
are getting deeply in earnest, and if those
to whom these questions are put do not
"hurry up'' satisfactory answers within a
remarkably short time, the Southern peo-
pie will deal with this question of universal
education in the decisive American way ;
whoever or whatever may 60 down stream
in consequence.