Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-09-11
Some Very Good Suggestions
Upon the Vital Matter of Ed
ucatiOn, by Georgia
Teacher.


ucation, by Georgia
Teacher.
MR. EDITOR: All enlightened
nations have their public school
system deening it wise to provide
for the children all opportunity
for at least an elementary educa-
ton. How to do this and give
Justice to the whites who pay most
of the taxes as well as to the ne
gro who needs charitable consid-
GRAFTON is a question confronting
the Southern States. A convic-
tion is growing with the whites
that the taxes paid by them for
school purposes should be appro-
priated only to white schools, and
the taxes paid by the nogro should
60 to only :legro schools. This
then is certainly fundamental
question for the consideration of
your convention. A government
undertaking to raise every mans
children from birth till of age
would rightly be denominated a
parental government. To try to
school them all II cir school age is
about the same thing; a very
slow parent at that to send the
children from six to eighteen,
.welye years merely TO learn the
elementary studies.
Most old countries limit the age
TO fourteen and no doubt for the
purpose of ceasing parental charge
at a time when merit of the child
or sacrifice on the part of the pa
rent should sustain further educa-
tion, as we'll MS to give the chill
dren their elementary education
that early. Even if the taxes of
| the two races for school purposes
can be separated aud appropriated
each to IFS respective race it would
he wise to limit the age to four
teen instead of eighteen or ev'n
sixteen inteaching merely the ele-
mentary branches. Many espe-
ciallq of the negro race are grown
in size at the age of fifteen Or
pighteel,. There being no public
register of the ages large aum-
her of negroes go to sch ,ol from
three to fvo years after eighteen.
But LET the limit be fourteen and
the appearance of children will
show when they are over age. That
age will no doubt give the chill
dren the same leaning as now at
|eighteen, for the parent will then
do his best to keep his children
constantly in school whereas low
he is Indifferent, thinking there is
plenty of time 20 learn the elemen-
.|tsry studies. He will not put the
leleven year old boy to work as is
.Idona at present, but realizing that
further opportunity for public aid
lis. short be will make greater sac.
i rifces to ocontinue the boy at school
during the whole of every school
term. A child thus CONSTANTLY
and continuously in school fol
eight years can be taught ever
better than one going irregularly
through twelve school terms, be-
sides giving the former the advan,
tage of four years in which to ado
to his learning by mis- own exer'
tions or otherwise. The fourteen
years old boy or girl will certain
ly be prouder and more ambitious
than the one at eighteen with thu
same learning.
Overgrown negroes going to school
and slow progress of children
in consequence of irregular atten
dance rather condemns the public
school system. 1t is the practice
if not necessity among the white
laborers and farmers to keep th'
children over twelve at home t.
aid them in their farms during
crop season, while the negro liv
ing on half rations continues nj
children at school even after eigh
teen.
Again 1 repeat let the schoo
age be between Six and fourteen il
order 10 put overgrown negroes t
work out their own education, t
foster spirit of sacrifice by th
pa-rnt to keep the children il
school and have them learn th
elementary studies early, to foste
a spirit of self-reliance and indi
Ividuality with all families an
youths of the State, and to d
Justice to the convictions and in
terests of taxpayers by limltin
charitable appropriations to les
sonable aid. Do this and the Stat
will have for her public schoc
system higher appreciation {
it's merits and greater co-operativ
efforts to make it operate well.
I am aware that wise laws al
based upon a comprehension
what the people will do under su
rounding circumstances and nj
le upon what they ought to do, b'
e, nevertheless I give my reasons fe
II the faith entertain that the Sta
'e will accomplish more with Il
- o,,I fnt1,