The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-02
ABBEV[LLE'S SCHOOLS.
SHALL WE TAKE A PROGRESSIVE STEP IN
THE EDUCATION OF OUR CEILDREN7


SHALL WE TAKE A PROGRESSIVE STEP IN
THE EDUCATION OF OUR CEILDREN7
Will the People Interest Themselves
the Schools while Paying Taxes to
support Them ?-Say. Yourself.
II seems that there is now disposition
among this people to take some advanced
steps in the matter of educational facilities
what we can learn there is very little una
nimity as to the methods which may be
adopted TO bring about the desired result.
From some observation and little expert
ence with the public schools, we are inclined
to the opinion that the people themselves
have not had full share of responsibility in
governing and controlling the schools.
And we are further inclined to the opinion
that the system furnishes too much oppor-
tunity for arbitrary control OF the people by
the school authorities.
In many communities great dissatisfaction
has been felt at times, and in some instances
numbers Of people have thought that their
rights have been trampled upon by those In
authority.
In view then Of the past troubles, and in the
face of the contention or dissatisfaction now
existing at Abbevile, 1t is we'll for those who
may seek O change from the old plainly
inaugurating expensive methods-to look
well before they take decisive action.
-one for the white children and one for the
negro children.
As the white people pay more Of the taxes.
they Of right should have finer or more
costly house than Will be built for the negroes,
who pay less of the taxes.
lift Is practicable of lawful, or ifitseems ex-
pedient and desirable, let each and every cit
lien indicate on his ballot the school to which
he wishes his taxes applied.
In this way no harm or injustice would be
done to the individual citizen or to either
race.
reference to the schools comes from the fact
that our people often think that they are ar.
btrarily ruled by the trustees, the Press and
Banner would suggest that the peoole should
elect their own trustees, in the same manner
and at the same time that they elect town
We would further suggest that the people
themselves vote directly for the teacher OF
their choice.
By this system every semblance Of bossim
would be removed, and no citizen who de-
sires the fullest and best government Of the
people by the people need object to this plan.
If the people may vote for County officers,
for Legislators. and for Presidential electors,
are they not fitted to express their Individual
choice for teacher Of their own children?
II they contribute Of their taxes for the sup
port of the school, may they not vote for the
trustees and the teachers, whose salaries they
pay?
Isn't it presumption. If not an insult for
any man TO say that this community Is IN,
competent to elect their own teachers and
trustees?
If it be urged that some Individual, or some
coterie of men, could select better teachers
than the great body Of the people, we would
members of the Legislature. We presume
that there are many men who think that
they could appoint more able and more elo-
quent members for the Legislature than the
Ia n1
But, even admitting that any man or any
set of men could appoint better representa-.
tives than the people themselves would
choose, the men so chosen would not be chos-
ernment, and therefore would not be as &C.
ceptable to the people, as men OF their own
choice.
The whole theory Of this Government is
that the people should rule. They arc never
dissatisfied with their own acts.
If the teachers in the public schools are
elected by the patrons and taxpayers, the fact
would Insure 10 every child IN the school I'M
partial and just treatment. The teacher, un-
der such circumstances, would feel that he
must give to the humblest child just the same
attention that is eXacted OF him for the chill
dren of The most influential parent.
To sum up:
school district.
3 Let them allow the people to express
their wishes annually by ballot In reference
to their choice Of teachers and trustees.
propriation Sufficient to build the needed
school houses for the public schools.
4. Let the people have the right TO vote an
extra tax for the support Of The public schools,
proprated exclusively for the support OF one
public school for the white children, and one
for the colored children.
This is small community, and we can well
afford to allow every child within the school
age free access to the public schools.
The plan proposed above would bring peace
and goodwill among our people, and remove
all possibility Of cause, for complaint, jeal'
ousy or contention.
with the schools, and even If II were possible
to believe that the great body Of our people
preferred teacher, which small coterie in
their superior Judgment may think less ac-
ceptable than one whom they might select,
yet the people will not likely make greater
number OF mistakes than have been made In
the past. -
fewI who interested themselves in the control
of the schools. and we all know that that
plan has not given great satisfaction.
A school association was formed years ago
TO guarantee the salary of the teachers. AL
though the trustees Of that institution were
the very best that could have been selected
from the town, yet we all know that the
schools did not flourish under that system.
barred out, or else they voluntarily withdrew
from the institution-they were not there.
We would not be understood as censurlng
any trustees. We believe that each and all OF
them acted conscientlously, but we do main
tain that the people themselves can conduct
their own affairs more satisfactorily than
can any board OF managers.
If the reforms suggested can be effected, we
believe II will be wise to levy tax 10 sup
port the schools.
But If the old plan of being managed by
the trustees is to be continued, we think 1t
better to do nothing at all in the, matter.
Having had experience under the old system,
when we had plenty of money, we do not
now think that plan would work any better
under heavy taxation than under volun-
tary contribution OF individuals for the sup
port of public schools.
1t was not lack of money that made failures
of the old schools. 1t requires the co-opera.
tion of the people-and to get that co-opera-
tion we must have less arbitrary ruling In
the managementof Of the schools to make them
successful. This can be had by allowing ev.
cry one TO exercise some choice and TO as
sumo some responsibility in the selection OF
trustees and teachers.