The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-07
Speaking Of this, Frofs. Thornwell and

'It has been suggested in some of the
reports before us that all the schools Of
the State should be taken under its
patronage, and that a system should be
introduced like that of New York or
Massachusetts,. We need not
the Northern systems, for our white
population that requires the help ofthe
Government is too small to call for the
sacrifice of higher people, or the ex-
penditure of a large amount Of money
on the part Of the State, one orsthe
other of which consequences must be
the result of the adoption of any COM
mon school system upon Ia, scale COM
mensurate with the whole white popu-
lation of the State"
Prcfs. Thornweu and Elliott thought
that $50, 600 a year would be sufficient
at that time to furnish common school
instruction to the poor, who could not
getitotherwise, and they recommended
that amount. -
Of course $4,000 would not suffice
now; for the increase of the white popu-
lation in nearly fifty. years that have
intervened, and the emancipation of
the negroes, have largely augmented
the number of 'poor children" rela7
lively and absolutely. But we have
sum that would be ample if properly
applied, though it IS not half enough
under the present method of applying
it. And the effect of this method is,
poor people cannot give their children
| more than three and half months
schooling in the year, and richer peo-
pie, frequently will not, because they
Ehave come to depend on the public to
do for them what they could better do
for themselves. They think that, hav-
ling paid taxes for public schools, they
should get a quid pro quo in the in
struction of their children. ~.
| MORE TAXES, Oh A BETTER SYSTEM.
There must be a change in our COM
mon school administration, otherwise
it will prove curse to the white peo-
| pie of the. State. Its administration
now dwarfs private enterprise; it has
driven the best teachers out Of the
field; it has broken up the best private
schools; it offers no attraction to skilled
teachers; and, worst Of all, while the
people insist on depending upon the
/ system for the instruction of their chill
dren, they are fast coming to look upon
it, not as blessing, but 2 necessary
evil. =
/ One or two things must be done be-
fore we can have efficient common
schools in this State: Either put on
an additional two-min tax, or else ap-
1 ply the tax we now raise primarily for
the instruction of the poor. The first
alternative is not to be thought of; for
Whatever school taxes are paid must be
divided with the negroes, and the
| whites, are already paying as much for
| negro education as they are willing or
ought to pay. By paying much less
than two mills, if they Will pay directly
to their teachers instead Of TO the tax
| collector, they can make their own
schools thoroughly efficient, with good
| teachers and long terms. This suggests
the other alternative, which is to en-
force the constitutional provision for
six months terms. ... r ..-
! This constitutional provision must be
enforced before the free school system
iwiu ever accomplish any benefits for
the whites beyond what might have
been better accomplished without, the
| system. Far better for the whites that
there had neyer been any free school
tsystem, if it does less for them than
private schools would have done.
/ A tax for common schools is justified
! by the fact that it is to the interest OF
! the State that her citizens should be
\ educated. In this State education is
not compulsory. The rich and the
| poor may refuse to educate their chill
| dren but an education should be worth
/ seeking and always in reach of the
| rich, and the rich are taxed to put it in
reach of the poor. The idea that the
rich man pays taxes to educate his own
children or his rich neighbor's children
is preposterous in the present condition
of our public schools. Among thickly
I settled, wealthy and homogeneous
people it might do very well, but it
will not do in South Carolina. Some
still contend that it is not right to take
i one mans money to educate another
mans children, but We have got be-
yond the point of arguing that. 1t is
time we were regarding this school tax
| as We regard the tax for charitable in
| stitutions. No taxpayer expects to re-
!; ceive any portion of the bread and
| clothing that are bought with the State
| appropriations, but these are incidental
benefits to him Notwithstanding. And
so it is in the paying of taxes for the
schools of the children of the poor
It is to his interest that they be
educated.
THE NEGROES.
I There is no doubt that the negroes
are proiting much more by the free
! school system than the whites are
The school commissioners, trustees and
other citizens with whom I have talked
on the, subject. as well as my own OBJ
} | servation, confirm this. The negroes
T get their pro rata share of the public
) funds; and they get more schooling TO,
the same amount of money, first, be
cause negro teacher can be procured