San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-06-20
THE SCHOOL HOUSE QUESTION.
VIII.
Historical Sketch Of Public School
in San Marcos,

IN the GrOtesIhnt ieiOi "'"''""'
tho American public school system,
North and South, and especially in
Texas; the action Of the trainers OF
tho Texas Republic on tho snbiecti
the inhibition OF sectional or demon
national schools as part OF tho free
school system, and the wholesome
results OF the same; the merits and
necessity OF the system as an educator
Of all the people; we now como home
again in order to q Ground up" OF
facts and arguments as bearing more
directly on the main question. Our
present number will be devoted to
an historical sketch OF public
schools in San Marcos. and o
few more practical essays will con.
clude our series OF articles on the
School House Question.
The FREE Press has heretofore
through communications from the
late VIM. Pitts, ST., and others, given
some account Of the first schools OF
San Marcos. One OF them, which he
fuiled to notice, was taught in the
house lately occupied by Rev. r. IL.
Belvin. Among the teachers there
were Mr.. Yellowly and Prof. Edgar.
All these schools came before the
present schoul system which began
in 1870. Before that time, it is true,
there was some did given by the state
to the INDECENT, or such as claimed
inability to pay, bat it was not sys-
tomatic and general in Texas as it ia
at present until about 1870.
coRoNAL INSTITUTE.
Before that date Coronal Institute
had been built and opened as n pr.
vate enterprise by Prof. Hollings-
worth. He did this by the issue OF
bonds payable in tuition, which were
generally taken by the citizens Of
the town and vicinity. His financi'
al calculations, however, were at
fault and he failed to mako it q
success. Rev. Mr.. Belvin then pur'
chased the concern, operating it on
a similar but improved plan. There
being then no public school house
and the Institute up to that time and
for some years after being non-sec
tartan, it naturally received tho free
school pupils and Mr.. Belvin was al
lowed rent by the state for the use OF
tho building. In order to secure q
lower rent, the public school WAS af-
forwards taught, down to 1873, in
tho building on the river opposite
town, now known rs tho section
house, q Mr.. Wilmoth being the prin'
cipal.
Tho first free school house erected
in San Marcos was that for the col
ored people, about 1872. By the
way, they have had no other since
and it has become totally inadequate
to their needs.) The subject OF q
public school house for the whites
for which fund had been partially
provided by taxation, was agitated
from 1878, but as we have shown in
former artio les, the school powers
that were for some years disregarded
the call for it. Meantime another
change had taken place in the Insti
tute, and it passed under the con
troll of the West Texas Methodist
Conference. A subscription of So,
600 was asked of the people to pay
for the property, the conference
agreeing to raise n like amount. The
citizens, in cash, bonds and property
mot large part of thcir contract. The
conference pretty much entirely, fail
ed in their part OF tho undertaking
We are not calling in question the
good faith of the leaders in this movo
ment-not in tho least. They die
their best to collect and failed. The,
simply overcstimated tho denomi
national liberulity towards this odu
cational enterprise.
The change of ownership OF thu
Institute was not calculated to hastel
tho building Of q public school house
The now management naturally dc
sired to hold on to the public schoo
pupils and funds. And really W,
are moro inclined TO excuse than do
nounce them for it at that time
The free school system here was thel
q new thing and altogether odious-
deemed as only fit for paupers nn'
negroes. Tho number OF white fire.
school pupils was then comparativel,
small-therc were Accommodations 70
them in the Institute. What wonde
that the free school house fund wa
held in allegiance, or as we have beef