The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-30
Wednesday, Sept. 80, 1855.
Colonel Cownrd's Address

Colonel Coward, state Superintendent or
Education, came to this town on n visit last
Friday afternoon. He was the guest oil Judge
McGowan. In the evening he addressed the
reople or Abheville on matters pertaining to
tho public schools.
We were more Impressed with the speakers
polish as n cultivated gentlemen than with
the force OF his arguments, or with the cor.
rcctncss of his reasoning. or course there
can be no division or doubt OF the absolute
truth Of all the speaker said of the great value
Of n good education and OF the inconceivenble
Importance OF q pure morality on the part Of
the citizen. We are all agreed on that point
The real question seems to us to be: ais the
prcsent schoOl system tho best method In at
tnlning the greatest intelligence and for
preserving tho purity OF the morals OF our
pcopie?"
Tho speaker In referring to the old school
system, which prevailed In South Carolina
before the Inauguration OF the present plan
said that the school master then opened n
school on his own account, and taught merely
for tho money that was IN tho work that no
one was especially authorized to dismiss the
teacher or to correct nny grievance from
which the people might suffer on account OF
the shortcomings OF the school-mastcr, but
under tho present plan, the school trustees.
who were the best men In the township. were
authorized aud required by law, to look to the
best interests Of the childrcn.
We venture TO suggest that a majority OF
our readers would fall to bear the Colonel out
in the proposition that the schoo'-mastcr be-
fore the war was not as easily gotten rid OF us
the teacher OF to-day. The Colonel did not
refer to the fact, that nearly oil OF the SPLEEN
did private schools which existed under the
old system, and OF which Abbevillc was
proud, have given place to Inferior schools,
while the burden OF a great number OF speak
CTS Is the ''poor pay" OF the teachers OF the
poor schools Of the present day. NOsuch free
schools arc TO be found in this county now rs
were tho private schools which existed Mt
willIagton, and Lowndesville, and Clear
Spring, and Greenwood, and Cokesbury, and
other places.
The fact Is. we believe. that we have exceed
ing few good schools anywhere In the State,
which are under the control OF the Statc OFF,
GERS. If COLONEL Coward has q public school
under his supervision, or under the manage
ment OF any inferior officer which would
compare with any one OF II dozen schools that
existed In Abbeville county before the war,
~e should be glad for him to name n few OF
them. We would also be glad for him to state
whether or not this much.vauntcd school sys-
ten has not destroyed nearly every school OF
any note where Its blightlng influence has
been felt.
Colonel Coward sold that taxation for school
purposes was entirely consistent with the
principles of o Republican form Of Govern
ment.
Our understanding has always been that
even the most vigorous advocates Of taxation
for educational purposes never claimed that
taxation for schools was In accord with the
spirit Of our form OF Government, or In COM
pliance with the wishes Of the trainers OF our
Constitution but, Ms wc understand, the
friends OF public education maintain TINT
public policy, on the ground Of expedIency,
justInes the overriding OF principle.
The speaker in urging the necessity OF up
holding the present school system cited the
great number OF boys and girls,-ten years Of
ase-who could not read and write In 1871, and
claimed that In 1880, under this glorious sys-
ten, tho per centage OF illiteracy had been
decreased about one per cent. This is rs far
N the learned speaker wont into figures, and
AK they proved nothing, we are ut n loss to
know why no referred to them ut all. We
have not before our eyes the figures rs to the
number Of !llItcrate children In South Carroll.
ma as far back rs 1850, but we give the follow
ing figures, as TO those citizens who were over
twenty-one years Of age, and who could not
read and write at the dates affixed:
UNDER II OLD SYSTEM: