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42 stances, the best efforts of the Instructor should fail and the efficiency of the School be destroyed ] FUNDS. The Public Schools were, hitherto, almost entirely dependent for their support on State donation until the Act of 1862 was passed requiring the Commissioners tn establish a "Rate-bill" of Tuition fees, based upon the assessable property of the patrons The maximum charge was accordingly fixed at twelve dollars per annum, for tuition in the English branches. During the year 1863, (here was paid for tuition fees $1634.99, in 1864,$1468.07 and for the eleven months, ending June 30th, 1865, $1179.15. The lota! re- ceipts of the old Board, from all sources, were, for the last eleven months of their incumbency, $4141.68, while their expenditures were, for the same time, $6528.09, leaving a debt to bo provided for by us of $2383.53, which, added to the cost of protests on their checks, makes a total deficiency of $2411.11. Of this debt we have paid $2281.11. GENERAL INTELLIGENCE OF OUR PEOPLE. While I cannot speak in flattering terms on this head, I am not prepared to give the exact number of the illiterate adults, though it would appear, by the census of 1850, that out of a total white population of 3630, we had 365 adults, or nearly ten per cent. who were unable to read or write, and I fear the proportion has not diminished since. I regret also to be obliged to confess that the zeal of our com- munity has exhibited itself thus tar less in sustaining than opposing our efforts towards the introduction of the new system, and I have yet to hear of the first contribution, to aid in the erection or furn- ishing of a new School House. Universal Education finds here hut few supporters. The pre- judices of Partizanship, Sectionalism and Caste have all been invoked against it. The Demagogue dreads Free Schools, which engender free thought and render the masses less subservient to their leaders. The Sectionalist recognizes in Free Schools the odor of "Yankeedom," the advocate of Caste declaims against Free Schools, as detrimental to the contentment of the poor. In certain neighborhoods, board is refused the Teacher, and thus the School is kept closed. Yet, notwithstanding all these obstacles, we cannot but indulge the hope, that with a better comprehension of the Law and the practical exemplification of its benefits, our noble Educational System will win its way to public favor, and our people rise to the full measure of their duty in sustaining it. RULE FOR PAYMENT OF TEACHERS. Early in September last, we adopted the following rates for the Fall Term: |
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Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1866
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