The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-18
April IS, 1853, If
Public SchOols..-COl. Rice's Address.
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Our community has been honored
by the presence of our State Superin-
tendent of Education, Col. J. H. Rice,
who delivered an address on Educa-
ton at the Methodist church of this
place on Wednesday 11th. ] have no
doubt that all who heard Col. Rice
heartily wished that every citizen of
our community had been present.
Owing to the time and short notice of
Col. Rice's visit, but few were out, but
I venture the opinion that they will
not soon forget his eloquent defense of
our Public School System or his noble
sentiments on the general subject of
Education. For the benefit of
those not priviledged to he present 1
wish to call attention to some of the
leading points Of this address.
After defining the nature of the du-
ties of his office to be that of general
oversight of the States work in the
cause of education, rather than any
special power or control over individ-
ual officers or teachers or School
Boards; and stating that he came into
our midst as citizen, taxpayer and
parent to endeavor to awaken a proper
interest in this great cause, he proceed
ed to give reasons why all should be
interested in this grand work. The
liberty of the citizen, the property of
the taxpayer and the future of the
children were shown to depend to q
large extend on the present attitude of
citizens, taxpayers and parents to the
subject of education, and especially on
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System. Col. Rice showed that while
the Public School System of our State
is deficient in some respects, and
in point of time is still in its
its experimental state, it had ac-
complished wonderful results.
While in a few instances it seemed
to be doing but little, his travels all
over the State revealed many evidences
of it's good effects. Before its intro
duction the education of the masses
had been very much neglected: IN
most communities parents who were
desirous of educating their children
were suiected to the inconvenience,
expense and risk Of sending them to
schools at a distance. Now schools
are in reach of almost all.
The remarks of Col. Rice in regard
to the duties of parents were certainly
very apt and forcible. Parents, he
said, have no right, morally, to send
their children of immature age away
from their oversight and training, but
were in duty bound to join together,
provide schools at home, in their own
communities. And this could not be
accomplished by simply employing
some educated young man or woman
to come and take charge Of q school,
and this being done to cease TO take
any interest in the matter; never even
darkening the doors of the school
room, or in any way showing any
anxiety about the success of the teach
ers or the advancement of the children.
In many instances not even taking
the trouble to become well acquainted
with the person to whom they have
entrusted the great work of educating
their children. This was mere trif1ing
with the great subject and bad results
would inevitably follow. The school
would soon go down and the poor un-
fortunate young man seeing starvation
staring him in the face would flee in
disgust. In after years perhaps they
might hear of him as distinguished in
the practice of law, or as a journalist,
or in some other more appreciative
vocation, and in great wonder would
remark among themselves, "Why, he
once taught school in our town, but
we did not see much in him." No
wonder, they never got close enough
to him to know anything about him.
Col Rice showed plainly that such
trifing wonld never produce good re-
suits and urged all to unite in the eff
fort to build up our schools. He
showed that without unity nothing
could be done and where contentious
arose, such as were likely to arise in
any place, that the safest position was
generally on middle ground. His IL
lustration of the little fellows see-saw-
ing on q rail was certainly suggestive ::
if one got too near the end of the rail
somebody was likely to get pitched
over the fence. Moderation was to be
commended in all things.
Col. Rice also combatted the er-
roneous opinion held by some, that the
State having taken part in this work
should take entire charge and do the
whole work. He said the State would
readily undertake this if the people
wonld vote the tax; but it would take
q siX-mill tax instead of q two-mill
tax, and he doubted if they were ready
for this. He explained that the object
of the present system was merely to
assist and did not lessen the response
bility Of citizens to take part in the
work.
He also advised against the plan in
vogue some communities of attempt
ing to divide their little school money
among large number of small schools.
1t was too small to admit of such di-
vision. You need not attempt to cut a
suit of clothes out of Il piece of cloth
only large enough to make one gar
ment. Let all unite on central loca-
tions and make good schools.
In conclusion Col. Rice very pleas
ly alluded to the fact of some difficult
ties existing in our community on the
school question, and said he hoped
"the winter of our discomfort would
soon be made glorious summer by
some glorious son of York"
1 do not think, Mcssrs. Editors, that
the address of Col. Rice can be too
highly commended and no doubt good
results will follow. / must confess, af-
ter hearing him, much deeper inter-
est in the subject and regret my in
ability to more faithfully reproduce
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