The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-16
TEACHERS COLUMN.
Our Country Schools.

What are We to do to build up our
country schools? is a question for all of
US to consider. We would not say here
that they are on the decline, but we
certainly cannot say that any decided
improvement is being made.
is it the fault of the common school
system? Is it a badly defective one?
Certainly not. There is nothing wrong
with it. We will not discuss this sys-
tenn, however, until some one assalls it.
In the first place, we would say that
We have too many schools. In many
instances school houses have been To-
Gated unwisely by trustees. They have
tried to please communities by estab-
fishing schools too near each other.
The result of this has been to impair
the efficiency of one good school, and
in its place have two or more inferior
ones. We want school with a large
attendance, and at the same time in
reach of every pupil that should attend
it. Too many schools are injuring the
system seriously and should be avoided.
In the second place, we want more
money. We now pay about 500 from
the public fund to first grade teachers.
Is this enough? If not, how can we
get more? We want enough money to
run the schools at least six months,
and pay first class teachers not less than
$40 q month.
The people are naturally opposed to
taxation, whatever the taxes may be
for. 1t is true that taxes may be
levied sometimes for unwise purposes,
but no one can say that taxation for
school purposes was unwise unless the
iu.y - --~-Il .-,oot tho do
mands.
The authorities in Columbia are
urging school officers to insist upon the
levy of a special tax of two mills as
provided for by law. The only reason
why we are opposed to this is because
it is too small. A four or five mills
levy is what we want if we are to have
any. We are speaking now of schools
in the country.
Suppose that man has three chill
dren and he agrees to pay SIS each for
their education. No one will say that
this is too high. The three would cost
S45 year. But suppose that the SUBJ
scription plan is abolished aud taxation
substituted. The same man, perhaps,
has his property assessed at S3,000 and
not one in fifty assesses higher, and he
agrees to pay four mills extra for school
purposes. He only pays Sl2 now for
his children, instead of S45, as by the
subscription plan. But there may be
some in the district who have no chill
dren to send to school, and they may
object to the tax. Why do they object?
r. CrIty fn j.
away? Does it do the State and society
no good? Shall the children of the
country grow up in ignorance to save a
few dollars to a few individuals. Let
the people answer these questions.
In many instances the subscription
plan has proved failure, then would
it not be better to try some other?
TO improve our country schools we
want thoroughly trained t achers, not
teachers who expect to give three or
four months to the work and no more,
but teachers who prepare themselves
for teaching, and who are willing to
give their time and attention to it.
This will all come right, however,
when aUe get the money for the schools.
The towns give us no uneasiness.
They have good schools, but the people !
are taxed for their support. Take New
berry for example. Here the tax is
about three mills. Nobody complains,
because the good results are apparent.
1t is true we may not have as good |
schools in the country as we find in the
towns, but there can be great improve /
ment.
When the trustees assemble at their
annual meeting this summer they |
should come prepared to give some idea
as to the best way for improving the
efficiency of the school system in the
country. Something must be done.