The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-24
.Onr PabIic ssel.ool sxsteI,. NJ.

SA'1 W SSS TIE euOEtS Delng |
made by our School Commissioner to !
elevate the standard of teachers in ouY
public schools. 1t certainly needs the
efforts not only OF the School Commits
sloner. but Of every intelligent citi-
zen In the nei9hborhood of public
school. But see the difficulties in
,, his way-shortness offunds and com
planning citizens who seem not to up.
Preciate the value of skilled and
competent teachers, and who want
quantity instead of quality. Hence
we find some urging policy that will
drive out competent teachers, and fill
the schools with teachers totally unfit
to teach-that is reduce the pay of
teachers one half that the schools may
be run double the number of months.
They forget or perhaps do not know
that thoroughly competent teacher
will teach pupil more in three
months than poor teacher will in
twelve months. We would suggest
them to consider the old copy that used
to be for boys in our school days, cit
IS hard to unlealn what you have
learned aniss.' If the test of a good
School Commissioner is to be the
length of time he runs the schools We
would suggest that the pay OF teach
ers be reduced to SO per month; for
even at thnt price all the schools can
be filled with teachers 80 called
AS State, South Carolina in her
poverty, like other Southern States,
mas attempted too much. She has
taken upon herself the whole burden
or the education Of the children O.
the State. And the result of her pol
icy Is that the citizens are fast coming
TO think that the education of their
children is not their business, that
the State has undertaken that res
ponslblity and they don't feel that
responsibility that they ought to feel.
1t would be far better to have no
public school fund than to fos-
ter such feeling of dependence up
on the part of our people. Destroy
ing their manhood, and making the
children feel that they arc benelicia-
ries of the public bounty.
1t Is Il grave question what effect
our present common school system is
having upon the standard of educa-
ton in the State It has virtually
destroyed the high grade academies
Of ante bcllrm days, and thus lower
ed the standard of education. In
time it is obliged to tell upon ON
mon III public position who are to
shape the policy of our government
Ill law, morals and literature. Can
we not already observe it's eflcct7
Look over the list ofpublic men in all
the departments of government and
how many Calhouns, McDut1ics,
Prcstons, LeSaros, Haynes, Pcti.rcwS,
HarpcrS and Wardlaws do You find
since the war. 1t is the same coun-
try, same climate, same p 'litiral in.
Shtutions, and vet the standnrd of
, stntcship is lowered. How much is
. to be attributed to tho warkinyof ou,
syst III OF public schools?
Ii has taught our pcop!c to depend
almost entirely upon the public
school fund for the elucation Of their
t children. Here n question su~y"st:,
itself, what right has q State to ta
| one citizen to educate tie children
of another who is fully able to educate
them himself! a tax to aid the poor
to do this might come under the
"gcncra( welfare" principle, but this
cannot. l. suppose about tire same
right as the British Government has
tp tax it's subjects to keep up q big
church establishment with enormous
"ilvings" for its clergy. We live in a
pure republican government and ev-
cry citizen, able to do SO, should ed:l-
cate his own children, and only those
who are not able to do so, should be
assisted. But some will say the ne
Srocs will get the larger share of the
poor school fund. Will they
get more now than they ought to
have considering the fact that the
white people pay ninetyfivo cents of
every dollar raised by taxation for the
school fund. If you wish to avoid
this / see no way except to wipe out
the whole system and depend upon
individual and community efforts to
educate the children. suppose the
negroes would then take care of their
own needs, and SO would the whites
III every community.
When man pays out of his own
pocket for the education of his chill
dren he will keep them at school and
take more interest in having a good
teacher. Now many parents finding
that it "dosen't cost anything" keep
their children ut home one or two
days in every week, and then COM
plain that they do not progress III
studies. But I am wandering from
what / intednod. Let tho School
Commissioner stick to his policy for
our country's good and have fewer
schools and better teachers.
AN OLD TEACHER.
Col. j. J. NoRToN FOR JUDGE OF