Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-01-23
Thoughts for a Better Educa-
ton.
J. L. OUZTs,
for Committee.

we nave tuOuSuI loi ooit4|
that we would give our system for
managing public schools. We Go
no, believe in always finding fault
without doing something to make
our schools better. This paper
will have in view, Edgefield Coun-
ty. and our first desire is to help
homo; and, furthermore, we will
consider more specifically The coun.
try schools, for we think many OF
the towns have very good schools.
1t shall always be our prerogative,
we hope, to aid the country schools.
rH54s.5E As-Ei3y 2plz be Necessary ny an. TO
agement of the public schools IN
contrast to the system We offer.
Let us consider our school district,
and the present management will
allow any number of schools to be
run. This is very good for those
who do the teaching, but it does
the people very little good. The
trouble is that there are too many
-Sy.zn..a more unions apd.
not &C, m my e1nl.ll lsingde.asS L.. i.
5educattoll We MUST put aside our
se1fshness. If we do not, we shall
never have good schools. The
trustees and patrons must have
philanthropic spirits as well as
teachers in order to secure good
schools. Our system, whieh-Rer,
feel sure will elimi9attee-many elimi9ate evils
now Meexsfsti6g in schools, is as fol-
lows:
1. Redistrict the county into
districts not over five miles square.
We think it is unnecessary to de-
fend this proposition, for surely
every man has seen the evils aris-
ing from cutting off a district here
and there over the county. We
have never known one laid off but
that it caused some trouble, be-
cause the proper regard can not be
had for the interest," of those liv-
ing just outside the school district.
Some good men who want to edu-
cate their children have been de-
prived of a school. Another trou-
bic is, that these special school
districts are generally too large.
Is it class prerogative to cut
off a school district for the bene-
fit of some while others suffer? We
have no war for school districts,
for we want school districts. We
complain at the way they are laid
off. We want to give every man
the same chance in public schools:
80 by redistricting the county we
will give every boy chance to 60
10 school.
2. Build a school house in the
center of each district. We need |
not defend this proposition at all.
No one is so averse to reason and
right as to try to refute this.
3. Elect Board of Trustees
from the very best men in the dis
;ricts. Twenty-three centuries ago |
Plato gave us his opinion as to
who should be elected school trus-
tees. He says "the best men should |
be chosen; that the election should
be solemnly held in the temple
that care must be had for that on
which means destinies hang"
There is more in this than many
If us have ever thought. No one
who has children to educate can
afford to think contrary to Plato.
These trustees, of course, have The
management of tht whole school;
hey employ the teachers, and the
parents of the children should nev-
,r give this prerogative up to "Tom,
Dick, and Harry" We grow sick
It heart when we see our people SO
Indifferent about who is to choose
eachers for their children.
4. In order that We may have
he schools to run seven to eight
months each year, let us levy
tax. By doing this
We would be sure to have good
chools every year, and we could
institute mode of grading the
chools, which would prove much
,enefit TO the people. The tax
'ayers, we think, would never OBJ
ect to being taxed, if they see
ood school near them. Even
hose who have not Children to ed
cate could not object to paying