The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-03-13
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
School Commissioner Wells's Views on
the Public Schools--Suggestions for
Improvement.

tine PuDuc ScN0OiS--SusSeseIou 1oi
Improvement.
In accordance with my sense Of
duty and the requirements of the laws
of the State, I have, as School Com
missioner of Clarendon county, visit
ed officially nearly every free school
under my jurisdiction. and made close
personal observation into the manner
of conducting the same, the methods
of management, and the books used
by the pupils attending the schools.
The teachers appear to be earnest
and active, and the new series OF
books adopted by the board have been
found in very general use, only here
and there an exception to the con-
trary; while there is good ground for
expectation that ere long these books
viii be handled exclusively. No effort
has been spared to impress both
patrons and teachers with the great
necessity of conforming to Q require
ment so beneficial in its results.
By a careful survey of the field, the
undersigned is convinced that very
great improvement could be effected
through changes in the existing order
of affairs. First, the school districts
are too large, for the trustees to give
that thorough supervision of the ter
ritory under their charge so requisite
to the weIl-being of the schools. They
receive no compensation whatever; are
often called from home and cannot
give the proper oversight to any re-
mote points, except at very considera-
BILE sacrifice to themselves Nor is
the legitimate duties devolving upon
them the only load they have to bear.
Consequent to them are many ills
and unpleasantness from factional dis
cord and disagreement, where it is
often impossible to adjust matters
without offence to one side or the
other.
The remedy, at least a very great
alienation, would seem to lie in re-
duction of the work, by redistrict-
ing of the county. To make each
township a school district would doub-
le the number OF trustees and reduce
by one-half the labor of each. Re-
ceiving no pay, it would cost nothing
to effect this change, and the scope so
reduced would, as it were, place the
schools directly under the eyes OF
those accountable for their successful
management The wants OF each VI
cinity could be better understood;
school houses built and schools estab-
ished where the public money ex-
pended would to the best advantage
subserve the public need. Along this
line the greatest requirement, and BY
far the most important, is the method
through which our people may be
aroused to the consequence OF allow
inc the school interest through apathy
and indifference to weaken and decay.
From different quarters the hue and
cry has been raised against the free
school system. We are free to admit
that connected Herewith are defects,
but OF such character as readily to
be remedied. No one who has given
the matter the proper thought could
desire to throw any obstacles in the
way of these schools when it is called
to mind chat education is the pallad-
ium of a peoples liberty, and that
there is no slavery so CALLING as the
bondage in which ignorance enchains
| sshs mind. To such as find themselves
in a condition to fully ea?tlrate the
intellect of their children, the free
schools may appear farce. But what
of the hundreds and thousands who
have but this light, faint though it be,
to light them in their escape from the
fearful thraldom of illiteracy which
without the benign effects of these
schools would have been much more
securely fastened.
Let the poor boy have the chance,
slim as it is, and ambition may be
aroused that will not down at the Did
ding of untoward circumstances, and
il the girl never progresses beyond
the point of being able to read her
Bible to her children in alter life, who
will attempt to say that the school
was farce, and the money thrown
away. Let teachers, patrons, trus-
tees and pupils ali put their shoulders
to the wheel, and aid the cause OF
free school education in every way
Let every effort be put forth to sup
DIV the necessary books, and then
keep the children punctuany at the
school It may be hard, and often
times is, to spare the boy from the
farm, but let no trivial demand come
between him and the only chance ne
may ever have perhaps to improve hls
mind; an opportunity that IS soon
gone, and once gone can never be re-
called.
/ The questions herein noticed have