Year: 1867

The Superintendent elect of Public Schools
has recently devoted leading article in his
own paper. the Spectator, to the considera-
ton of the Public School system of this
State. The article is evidently put forth as
q feeler. No clear outline of policy is stated;
but hints are given of radical defects, and OF
changes to be initiated This covert way OF
using language gives the writer an oppor-
tunity of expressing much more, in the
his views, than the casual reader might
suspect.


The Superintendent is mistaken if he sup
poses that his election is an indication that
the people desire any radical changes in the
public schools of the State. He ran behind
his ticket some thousands of votes because
he was thought to be far from a safe custo-
dian of these interests. He received votes
enough to save him from defeat, from men
who, putting what they deemed fair inter
pretaton upon his own declarations, claim
ed that he had been misrepresented. and was
really friend to the public school system
as it now exists in this State and in that
respect, would not fall behind the present
incumbent in earnest labor to sustain these
interests. Notwithstanding the vagueness
of the new Superintendent manifesto, it
is hardly possible that he would have cherish


haf
the election.


There can, of course, be no objection to
making our public schools even more accepta
bic to people of every sect and name in the
State but when the Superintendent inti-
mates that he does not understand the pres
ent school law, it is hoped that he will fully
comprehend it, as thousands of unlearned
people have done without difficulty, before
he suggests sweeping changes. The Super.
intendent is not elected as legislator, but
as an executor of the law He will find, on
taking possession of his Office, a system of
public education which has been the result
of many years of trial and experience. 1t
may not be perfect no candid citizen
claims so much but the new incumbent
will be fortunate if his prudence and wisdom
shall so restrain him that he will be able to
hand over to his successor as perfect sys-
oversight. If more complete justice can be
DONE SO much the better. If in wisdom,
energy, good faith and downright ability,
be shall surpass all his predecessors, the
public, which sooner or later is just, will
accord him an honest and generous verdict
He succeeds to Office at a time when the pub
lie school system, whatever may be its de-
fects, is the pride of a majority of the citi
izens of the State. The moment such a
system is made sectarian or denominations
al, it falls to the ground worse than worth
less. 1t is because it is wholly American
that certain UNCONVENTIONAL and provincial
antagonisms have been arrayed against it,
The more cosmopolitan the stronger would
be the objections from these quarters.


But it happens that there is not a single
State in the Union where a public school
system worthy of the name, has not been as
sailed on precisely the same ground. And
the more thorough and comprehensive the
plan. the mors determined has been the hos
tility from those who could be induced to op-
pose it at ALL And the difficulty is that this
opposition claims that whatever is vital in
principal and of universal application shall
be stricken out. The State undertakes to
foster cert ain amount of secular education
by an appropriation of public money. 1t
puts the children of the rich and the poor
upon the same footing, and knows nothing
of the religious proclivities of any. 1t can
not go further. The one step by which
schools are segregated according to religious
prejudices, is simply hurling of the whole
system over the precipice. Is the new Su
perintendent prepared for this2 The minor
ity, whatever that may be, have rights but
it is too much to ask and too much to con-
cede that whatever is vital in system of
public education should be torn out to crafty
an anti-American prejudice. The new Su,
perintendent is too sensitive to the public
judgment to desire less than the lasting ap
probation of a majority of the people. 1t is
easy to come short of this by following the
counsel of rash and desperate leaders.
WADE HAMPTON ON IMPARTIAL SUFFRAGE.