The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-06-19
Educational Problems.


We come now to a question that is
of more Importance to the future well
fare and progress of our State than
any other l refer to the education of
our children. All history shows us
that to be permanently great, pros
porous, and happy, people must be
educated.
After the great war for Southern
independence, our State was ruined
and lay powerless at the feet of an
Ignorant and servile race, which was
led by as vile a crowd of white men
as ever disgraced humanity. For
eight years we endured a reign of
| corruption and debauchery such as no
other brave and virtuous people have
been called upon to suffer. Then,
under the great Hampton, our people
rose and threw off the fetters which
bound them. Our State was redeem
ed, but it was also bankrupt in all
save honor. Still, poor as she was,
her first efforts were along education
al lines. Mistakes were made; our
educational system became top-heavy:
wide gap was left between our com
mon schools and colleges. The proper
thought and attention had not been
given to the education of the masses.
Our common schools were poorly
taught, and of equipment, they had
almost none. Of high school we had
none, our colleges had to lower their
standards, or the children had to be
sent elsewhere to be prepared for
college.
Some years ago, our government
saw its mistake and for number of
years high schools have been estab-
llshed at rapid rate, common schools
have been greatly improved, the stan
dard for teachers has been raised,
and, in one word our ideas along edu-
cational lines have been revolution
iZed.
But do not imagine that all has
been done that should be- Our COM
mon school system is founded on the
wrong basis. The three mill tax is
county whereas it should be a State
tax. The school children are the chill
dren of the state and not of the var
ious counties, therefore, this should be
State and not county tax. Soon
they will take our places, and the
destiny Of South Carolina will be in
their keeping. Not only on account
of good citizenship, but also on ac-
| count of the superior business qualifi-
| cations of an educated man, so are all
vitality interested in having an edu-
Gated people.
Let us see some of the gross irreg-
ularities of our present school terms.
In the city of Charleston there was
expended last year for the education
of each negro child on the school rolls
the sum of $21.27, a sum greater than
was expended for the education of
each white child in thirty-six counties
of the State. This condition is not
confirmed to Charleston alone, it ex-
lists in other cities of the State. Now
| am not fighting negro education, but
l do say our first duty is to our own
race. We have a glorious heritage in
the civilization which we received
from our ancestors, we can only pre-
serve that civilization by having an
educated people.
The making of the three mill tax q
State and not county tax will not
entirely equalize the school terms,
but it will be long step in that a.
! rection. l am sure that our patriotic
people will, when their attention is
called to this, recognize the fact that
these children occupy the same posi-
tion toward the State as does the
Confederate soldier. These brave Old
heroes did not suffer hunger, colds
and all kinds of nrivatiop for Cun,