The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-05
Wednesday, Dec. S, 1888.
10 it the Impress OF the Conqueror


We believe, as a matter OF fact, that the i'm.
press OF the conqueror is always LEFT upon the
conquered. and we further believe that IN no
instance is IL more definitely and more clear
ly shown than In the case Of the Southern
States, which were eoverpowered by the North
ern States.
In fact, the South presents an entire change
of front. Our people have adopted new con-
fessioh OF faith in so far as 1t may seem to be
necessary to conform our political opinions to
that OF the conqueror.
Take, for instance, the laws and expressions
Of our public officers to-day on the question
OF public schools, and then compare the laws
and the sentiment which governed US before
tho war.
Can anybody on the face Of the earth ac-
count for the laws and the sentiment OF to-day
which are diametrically opposed to those
former years, on any other ground than that
OF the impress Of the couqueror.
II Is not for us TO stand In judgment, but IL
really seems to US that the remuneration oi
those laws and those sentiments which gave
to South Carolina the lowest per cent. Of Hit.
eracy before the war, is not a step In the right
direction. The people have become demoral-
ixsd, and now depend almost entirely on the
government for the education Of their chill.
dren. The result is q continued increase of
illiteracy, and annually the demand upon the
taxpayer Is greater and the call for more
money, with each succeeding year, Is more
urgent from those officers who handle the
money.
We have before us the twentieth annual re-
port OF thsState superintendent OF Education
OF the State Of South Carolina for 1885," That
document Is full OF interest for those who
choose to study 1t. It follows in the footsteps
OF its predecessors In 50 far as concerns the
call for more money, and larger salaries, and
goes further, In asking for exclusive privileges
for the officers Of the school department of
the government. The school department OF
South Carolina would seem to be as remorse-
less In its attacks upon the taxpayer, as the
horse lsech, which Is never satisfied.
The recommendation which would deprive
the people Of the right to choose their own
School Commissioner, they choose to
select him nom the prescribed class-is as un-
democratic In policy as 1t is unjust In princi-
pe..-
The idea that nobody but an educated per-
sod. capable Of teaching first grade school,
should be allowed to be School Commissioner,
is an impractical theory which has been ex.
ploded long ago. The proof is on record that
education alone has not been panacea for
all the ills OF the school system. Without In
tending to be personal, and with not the
slightest intention to be offensive to any one,
we would suggest that the proof is against the
assumption that the most learned men are the
most practical, or best qualified to fill the Of
fce OF School Commissioner. The duties OF
School Commissioner are pre-eminently prac.
teal, and demand the exercise Of large de-
gree Of common sense. and in the manage
mont Of the schools no display OF learning is
equal to q fair share OF "horse sense"
AZ rule, the most Impractical men on the
face Of the earth. are the school teachers. For
this reason the good Of the system would
seem to demand that school teachers be made
Ineligible to the Office OF School Commission
or. Put a school teacher in Office and he al.
most invariably proposes to shorten the
school term, by increasing the salary OF the
teachers. Can any man point to an excep-
ton? He can't do 1t in Abbeville. Put a
school teacher in office. doesn't he always
shorten the school term? There has been no
exception to this rule In Abbeville county.
And we have had the same Jeachers-no
matter whether the pay from the public treas.
ury was $40 or $40 month and he who says
We have not had good teachers. either knows
nothing OF them personally or else he is not q
Judge whereof he speaks. large per cent. OF
our teachers are graduates Of colleges, and
nearly all the white teachers hold first grade
certificates which were earned on an exami-
nation on the questions prepared in Columbia
having conformed TO all the requirements OF
the law, and yet there are unthinking men
who sneer at our teachers as If they were un.
worthy.
Judging from results Abbeville county has
the best School Commissioner In the State.
He gave us flve months Of public schools, be-
ing longer term than is reported in any 9TH
er eounty-and Captain Cowan is not teach
or, either.
During the different years which were con.
trolled In Abbeville by learned ex-teachers
the school term was greatly shortened.
"By their fruits" &c.