The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-01-21

.SsWuSt6 ttSe.
The article of Col. Clinkscales, our
able School Commissioner, which appears
inthe Teachers, Column this week, settles
thepublic school question until June at
least. Our friend, however, We think,
has failed to show any inconsistency in
our position about the difficulty of main
tanning the schools at present. The
problem, which is difficult of solution, is
whether the schools should be kept open
or not. If they are kept open, it can
only be done by the School Commissioner
assuming the responsibility and going
ahesd, regardless of the failure Of the
Legislature to provide for the school
fund apportionment, and also regardless
of the advice of the State Superinten-
dent of Education. Ordinarily, We think
there could he no doubt that under such
circumstances the schools should be
closed, but we think that in the present
financial stringency that the hardships
to the teachers would warrant special
effort, and the assumption of unusual re.
sponsibilities, to keep the schools open.
Reaching this conclusion, which our
friend will SEQ disposes of the difficult
problem as to what ought to be done, ac.
cording to our view, then We say that We
see no reason why an approximate ap-
portionment could not be made and the
schools carried on. We know that the
polls the County will be as great as
last year, and that with an apportion
ment of seventy.fve per cent. of the
last years school taxes would have been
enough to maintain the schools until the
assessment is completed. This would
have been safe apportionment, and no
claims need have been approved in ex-
cess Of the fund. Ordinarily, the inter-
ests Of the teachers ought not to govern,
and the reasons for getting ahead are so
strong that the propriety of doing SO
cannot be questioned, but the suddenness
of this emergency makes the hardship.
a years notice of the proposed change
would have permitted the Catching up"
to be done without 80 much friction and
Inconvenience. The matter, however, is
settled, and we do not desire to criticise
or find fault with the decision. We did
not understand the decision as complete,
or ne should not have made the COM
ments of last week. We know that the
school interests of our County are pre-
sided over by most thorough and
earnest Commissioner, who will take no
step that he does not fully consider. In
his judgment the people of the County
have reason to feel the uttermost conf.
5dence, for he has greatly promoted the
cause of education in our MIDST during
the short time that he has been in Office.
He is progressive and wide awake upon
all educational interests, and when we
differ from him upon school question,
We are willing to admit that the pre-
sumption is that he is right and we are
wrong.
Since getting the above in type, Col.
Clinkscales has received instructions
from Col. Coward, State Superintendent
of Education, to open the public Schools
under an Act Of the Legislature direct
ing the apportionment to be made on
the basis of last years school fund. This
Act was overlooked, and the members of
the Legislature themselves did not ap-
pear to know that it had become q law.
It seems, however, to have gotten into the
hopper and been ground out in due sea-
son. The schools will be continued, and
we are very glad of it. We thought
best, however, to leave our editorial in
type as it vas before the error was dis.
covered, as we did not wish our comments
Of the week before to be misconstrued.