The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-11-27

NAV be deserved, but the difficulty does not
.em 10 me 10 lie so much in the oTlc1dLS as
in the herculean task with which they are
| ch ,rned, and the inadequate means placed at
their disposal for accomplishing it. Many will
| doubtless be surprised TO learn that the amount
| o: money appropriated for school purposes by
| the Legislature at its last session amounts 10
| lust eighty-three cents for every child OF
school age. The average cost OF education ID
| the primary schools Of this city, where II Is
reduced to very low figure, is about seven
| dollars ard fifty cents per scholar, just about
nine times as much as the school commission
ers of the various counties in the State have
been allowed for the task devolved upon them.
l am satisfied that the Office could be made OF
great benefit to the State, If some plan was
adopted by which It could be filed only by
competent persons. The people In their pres
upon whom should devolve the duty of select
ing this officer, and, until some change In the
constitution can be effected, 1t would perhaps
be wise to suspend the payment Of Salaries 10
the school commissioners, and thus dispense
with their services. This would add thirty
two thousand dollars 10 the educational fund,
which might be devoted to the erection OF
one or more buildings in each county for the
accommodation of the school recommended In
another part OF this report.
In compliance with the provisions Of the
school law, meetings OF The inhabitants OF The
several school districts lave been held, and
school tax levied, to supplement- the State ap-
propriations. At all OF these meetings $50 far
as am intormed,) a majority OF the persons
present were colored, and they have exhibited
their interest in the education OF their CHI
dren By taxing themselves, in most cases, one
dollar for each male inhabitant over twenty
one years of age. II proper effort is made 10
collect this tax, ] apprehend that 1t will be
cheerfully and readily paid, and very consid-
cradle sum realized towards the support Of the
schools If 1t Is neglected, as the collection
of The poll tax has been. the fault will lie not
with the people, but with the State officials
upon whom this duty devolvea. According to
the last census, there We re in Charleston Coun-
ty, outside Of the city, 1871 males over
twenty-one years Of age. If the poll tax levied
by the Constitution Of the State, and this TAX
duly assessed and collected, 1t would yield
fund nearly If not quite sufficient
for the present necessities Of the coun-
". This Is burden which none would feel,
and which, extending as 1t would through all
classes Of society, would develop an interest
in education which nothing else can do. More
Than that, it would lead the people 10 examine
more carefully into the expenditure OF the
money which each would feel nc had con-
tribu ed for specific purpose. The properly
of the Safe Owned 10 great measure by the
white 81 is already bur dened with taxation 10
an extent lar hey ond anything 1t has ever been
subjected to, and it would seem bat just that
almost entirely for the education Of the col
ored people. should in measure. at any rate,
be derived from item.
Section 4 of the school act makes it the duty
of the State superintendent Of education 10
furnish the boards of school trustees with text
books for the pu! is. free OF charge, More
than six months have elapsed since the pas
,,o of thot and M hOOks hare Vet been
supp led. The schools have suffered greatly
from this source, and 1t Is b ped the distribu-
ton so anxious Y expected may not longer be
delayed.
l cannot close this report without q refer
ence to the deplorable condition Of the educa-
tiopal interests of Charleston City, once cele-
brated for her liberal and enlightened policy
in establishing and maintaining system OF
education second to none in the country. Her
public schools, once the pride and boast Of her
citizens, are now all closed. More thar three
thousand children, who once filed her spa
cious and elegant school-houses, are thrown
upon the streets, many Of them losing the
precious hours of youth, and growing up in
ignorance and vice. What sad commen-
tary upon the government which has brought
all this to pass. By some strange and criminal
inadvertence, the bill passed by the Legis'a-
lure. al its last session, made no provision
for levyiDg tax In the city for school pur-
poses until tuo UOdlu vi eSuooi Sohmo
sioners therein provided for could be elected.
This was TO take place at he regular NUM-
cipal election in August last, and, iu the mean
while, no. provision whatever was made for
the expenses of the schools beyond the S:a'e
appropriation, which was not more than
sufficient to keep the schools open Tor three
mca:hs. This was soon exhausted, and after
many vain attempts to secure assistance from
other sources the board reluctantly concluded
TO suspend the schools on the 30lh June ulti-
mo. Their Indebtedness to the teachers and
others at that time amounted 10 over SIS, ,OOO.
Towards paying this debt the newly elected
board hold an order for about $4,000 on the
State treasury. which was issued several
months ago, but which the treasurer has not
vet been able 10 pay. There is also balance
of about 5000 in the hands OF the county
treasurer, and the entire poll-tax collected in
the city amounting to, perhaps, $1,000, leaving
balance of over $4,000, which must either be
paid by the Legislature or remain an incubus
upon the board for another year. would re-
Legislature be directed to the deficiency, and
that they be requested 10 make some provi-
sion for the same.
The eleciou in August resulted in the choice
Of board Of commissioners In every way nj
ted for the high and responsible duty with
which they are charged. At its head stands
the name of c. G. Memmipger, 80 long and
prominently Identified with the educational
Institutions Of our city and State, and the
character OF the individual members OF the
board is sufficient guarantee that the educa-
tional interests will not suffer in their hands.
The board have resolved TO reopen the schools
on the first of January next. and trust to the
Legislature to relieve them from their present
embarrassments, and provide the means for
carrying on the schools during the coming
year. tax will be levied upon the citizens,
and it is hoped no further interruption will
be felt.
I must not fail to acknowledge the hand
some donation OF $1,000 received on the 9th Of
last February from the trustees of the Pea
body Educational Fund, through Rev. B.
Sears, general agent. This amount was q
special donation to the city schools, and
reaching us as it did, at time when our
| teachers were in great need, was doubly ac-
ceptable. II was Immediately paid to the
teachers, and although the amount received
by each was small, the relief afforded was
most timely.
append to this report exhibits A and B.,
showing the receipts and disbursement OF the
Office. Z. MoNTlGUE 1RIaKE,
School Commissioner Charleston County.
ORGANIZATION of the Educational De.
partments in Charleston County.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
E Montague Grimke. Office No. 94 Church
| street, Charleston City.
BOARD OF EXAMINERS.
School Commissioner, er otfc o chairman.
Henry P Archer, A. Doty, Jr.