The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-07-10

convinced, materially impair the eff
cheney of the public school system, and
prove the entering wedge to its ulti-
mate disintegra,iou. There is 90 way
by which we can judge the future.
since history but repeats itself, save in
the experience of the past. A calm re-
view of the lessons to be drawn FROM
the history of the public schools since
the adoption of the present constitution
10 1868, will demonstrate the unwis-
dom of attempting to maintain pub
lie school system. at least for the pres
ent, 10 South Carolina. whose fouuda-
ton stone is not imbeded. deep and FIX
edly. 10 the organic Law of the land
When the present constitution was
adopted. one of the commands laid
upon the Legislature was to provide
for liberal and uniform system Of free
public schools throughout the State. y
How much obedience has The Legisla-
ture given to that command from then
till now? How much future Leglsla-
lures will heed like command. IN a
new constitution. is at least doubtful
quantity. ALI We have Of q public
chsool system to-day. and surely it is
little enough. is due entirely to the fact
thar the constitution as amended lr
1873 provided-did not leave it to the
Legislature to provide-but itself pro
yided. that the Board of County
Commissioners shall levy an annual
tax of not less than 2 mills 90 the dol
lar upon all the taxable property in
their respective counties. which levy
shall not be increased unless by special
enactment of the General Assembly,
for the support of the public schools
in their respective counties, +" aud after
stating that the General Assembly
may provide Annually for poll tax
not to exceed one dollar on each poll,
which shall be applied exclusively to the
public school fund.- further provides
there shall be assessed on all taxable
polls in the state an annual tax Of one
dollar on each poll, the proceeds of
which tax shall be applied solely to
educational purposes
But for these constitutional provis-
ions, but for the fact that year after
year. with persistent constancy. this
constitution knocked at every mans
door and demanded the payment Of
these taxes, permanent, fixed. ouyield
ing, the public schools would long ago
fallen into disuse aud become thing
Of the past. Even as it was, for al
most ten years. our people reseetiDg
the insults of foreign power. and de-
spising every institution fastened upon
them by voice Dot their own, sat
supiuely down, and refused to admit
that any good thing could come out Of
Nazareth-refused to accept the newt
able and to reap the benefit of what
had not been originally intended for
their especial benefit
Some ten years ago, perhaps more,
a change of feeling began TO set in,
prejudice was dethroned and reason re-
sumed her sway The people of the
State realized at last that the public
school system was here to stay. aud SO
they wisely concluded to take tbs exist
ing and make the most and best OF it.
Appeals were made to tie Legis.a
tnre to supplement the constitutional
taxes by special appropriations, upon
the ground that the school fund was
sufficient to keep the schools open only
from 2 to 4 mouths in the year Such
appeals were in vain. The Legislature
vas too busy appropriating money to
the higher educational institutions,
where the show aud pomp and parade
is made, and so the common schools
were affectionately commended to an im-
proverished people with the Injunction, J,
help yourselves
Never was like injunction better
needed.
Then. indeed, was the wisdom Of
fixing in the constitution definite pro-
visions for the maintenance of the pub
lie schools demonstrated. The cousti-
tusional taxes became the foundation
stone upon which to build. the nucleus
around which to work.
Supplemented by private funds. old
school districts were reformed, old
school houses were repaired or moved
to more convenient localities. New
school districts we're created, new
school houses were built. New aud
better books were introduced, more
efficient teachers employed, better
methods Of teaching adopted, the
echool term increased from 2 and 5
montbs to 6 aud I and in some cases to
S and g.
Local option. allowed by the Lsgis-
lature. Of levylug special taxes for spe-