Year: 1879

|
ter and amend the school law Of South Caro-
lima" passed at the regular session of 1877.


This system, though somewhat defective,
was the best that could have been then de.
vised, and it has produced good fruit. Its de-
fects are of character which, perhaps, at
this time cannot be remedied on account of
our peculiar condition.


A perfect school system would be one which,
by its own machinery, would bring into the
school-room all the youths Of the State, be-
Tween the proper ages, and subject them, for
the greater part Of the year, to the tuition of
thoroughly competent and professional teach
ers-competent to instruct and discipline TIE i e
mind as we'll as develop and discipline the
character This last, being, in my judgment,
as important, if not more important, than the
first.


The present system provides no special mode
of furnishing the State with the class of teach
ers suggested. The different Boards author.
lied to license teachers are dependent upon
those who apply-many of them entering the
work as mere temporary business and for
present support. The examinations are nec-
essarily, to some extent, superficial, and can
not reach fully into the higher qualifications
of capacity-learning and character-requir.
ed on the part of those into whose hands the
educational interests ofthe young Of the State
are entrusted. I know no mode of remedy.
ing this defect, except the establishment OF
one or more normal schools, to prepare and tit
teachers for this important work. Itnay be-,
on account of our depressed condition, that
the State is not yet prepared to undertake a
scheme of this sort and establish it on firm
basis; but the whole school system depends,
in great measure, for complete success, upon
the character of teachers employed, and we
will be compelled, ultimately, to adopt some
better mode, than is now in existence, to
meet this demand.


. The other defect referred to, to wit, the
short period during which the schools are kept
open, is due, not so much 10 the system as to
the fact of deficiency in the sum appropriated
for school purposes.


The schools are kept open to the full extent
of the means appropriated, and, through the
energy and most earnest efforts of the State
Superintendent, are doing all the good that
can possibly be accomplished with the limited
means provided; and until the State is pre-.
pared to enlarge its appropriation, either
through State or local taxation, this evil must
continue, unless, in the meantime, private ef.
fort can be combined, in some way, with pub.
lie aid, to continue the schools after the public
funds are exhausted.


This matter of public education, however,
is of the very hig CHEST Importance, and re.
qiires the maturest consideration and in a
government like ours, resting, as it does, upon
universal suffrage, it is, indeed, the question
of questions.


The time is coming, and is rapidly ap.
preaching, when public sentiment will not
only approve, but demand, that education in
all its grades, higher and lower, shall be free
to all, without money and without price. nj
had the power, l would hasten the arrival of
that time, and would then rejoice in the con-
sciousness that had borne some humble part
in work than which no greater can mark
the history of any people. But you are far
more competent than myself to deal with this
great subject, and into your hands l commit
it, commencing to your consideration the very
able report of the Superintendent with the
valuable facts and suggestions contained
therein.


1t will be seen that this report furnishes
much important and interesting information
showing the growth and improvement Of the
school system. The number of pupils at
tending the public schools during the last
year was, 1872 ,469 of this number 58,368
were whites, and 64,095 colored. This is
probably the largest number Of pupils that
has attended the public schools in any one
year.


The improvement in the schools for the
colored race has been marked. 1t is worthy
of note that since 1876 the average increase
of attendance of colored pupils has been more
than As per cent. greater than under the Re-
publican administrations Four Of the coun-
ties, it appears, had not made returns Of the
school fund collected when the report of the
Superintendent Of Education was submitted,
but enough is known to warrant the asser-
ton that the school fund for the fiscal year
187S-79, was greater than for any preceding
year.


The expenditures have been kept within
the receipts, and the general management Of
the school fund deserves especial commenda-
ton. The heavy load of debt which was left
by the school officers under the Republican
administrations, has embarrassed greatly the
working of this department, and the short
ness of the school session is due IN some
measure to this cause.


would earnestly recommend some legisla-
tion which will secure to teachers in the pub
lie schools, the prompt payment of their sal
aries The difficulties with which teachers
have to contend because of delay in this mat
ter, are fully explained in the report Of the
Superintendent of Education. 1t will not be
possible to retain competent teachers if we
do not make provision for paying them
promptly for their services.


MILITIA.


The condition Of this department of public
service will be found fully se; forth in the re-
port of the Adjutant and Inspector General.
This officer has been most untiring in his ef-
forts to place the militia of the State upon a
proper footing and the result of these efforts
will be seen in his report.


The militia has been surrounded and en-
barrassed with many difficulties, not the least
of which is the scanty support given it by the
Legislature. Notwithstanding this, a splen-
did nucleus has been organized, which, if en-
couraged, could be easily extended to meet
all the necessities of the State in this depart
ment; but if it fails in the future, as it has
in the past, to meet that cordial encourage
ment from the General Assembly which the
system demands, it is idle tc expect the estab.
lishment and continuance of well-organized
militia, such as would do credit to the State
and be prepared for any emergency that
might arise. The spirit, patriotism and State
pride of the young men Of the State stand
ready to respond to any demand upon them