The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-05-21

VIM. NJ. PRESLEY,
School Com'r. Abbeville County.
Office State Superintendent Education, |
COLUMBIA, s. c., May l, 1873. J
To VIM. N. Presley,
County School Commissioner O
AbbeuiNe County, s.. g.
DEAR SIR:
Section 49 of can Act to amend an
Act entitled an Act to establish and
maintain a system of Free Common
Schools for the State of South
Carolina" approved March 9Th 1871
provides that can annual meeting o'
each School District shall be held on
the last Saturday in June, of each
year, at IL o'clock NJ, notice of the
time and places being given by the
Clerk of the Board of Trustees, by
posting written or printed notices i'll
three public places of the District at
least ten days before the meeting"
Section 81 of the said Act provides
that "The inhabitants qualified to
vote at a school meeting, lawfully as
sembled shall have power:
1st. To appoint Chairman to pre-
side over the meeting.
I'd. To adjourn from time to time.
Sd. To choose a Clerk, who shall
possess the qualification of voter.
4th. To raise by tax, in addition to
the amount apportioned by the State
to their use, such further sums OF
money as they may deem proper for
the support of public schools, said
sum not to he more than three dol
lars for every child in the District
between the ages of six and sixteen,
as ascertained by the last enumera.
tion; said sum to be collected by the
County Treasurer, and to be held by
him, subject to the order. of the Trus-
tees, countersigned by the County
School Commissioner, such sums of
money to be used as shall be agreed
upon at the meeting, either for the
pay of teachers salaries, or to pur-
chase or lease sites for school houses
to keep them in repair, and furnish
the same with necessary fuel and ap-
pendages; or to furnish blackboards,
outline maps and apparatus for illus
trating the principles Of science. or to
discharge any debts or liabilities
lawfully incurred.
9Th. To give such direction and
make such provisions as may be
deemed necessary, in relation to the
prosecution. or defense Of any suit or
proceeding in which the District may
be party.
9th. To authorize the Board Of
Trustees to build school houses, or
rent. the same; to sell any school
house site or other property belong
ing to the District, when the same
shall no longer be needful for the use
of the District.
9TH. 70 alter or repeal their pro-
ceedings, from time to time, as occa-
sion m ay require, and to do any other
business contemplated in this Act"
You are hereby most earnestly ad-
vised to instruct the Clerk Of each OF
the several Boards Of School Trus-
tees in your County to give due notice
of an annual meeting, to be held in
the School District under their super
vision, on Saturday, 18th day of June,
1873, at - o'clock, N. I deem it of
great Importance to the success OF
our Free Common School System,
that these meetings be held in every
School District in the State, and that
each School District raise liberal
Local or District School Tax for the
support of it's Free Common Schools
for the following reasons:
1st. The State. appropriation made
for Free Common School purposes,
for the current fiscal year, is of itself
insufficient to supply the educational
wants eff the people. In those States
having the most popular, satisfactory
and successful systems Of Free Com
mon Schools, the schools are almost
wholly sustained by means OF Local
School Taxes.
I'd. The amount Of Poll Tax COL
lected in each of the several School
Districts is, of itself, insignificant.
Sd. The Local School Tax raised
in any school District will be CT great
service as auxiliary and supplemental
ry to the State appropriation and
Poll Tax.
4th. The Local School Tax is paid
into the County Treasury, and is d.
rectly subject to the order of the
Board Of School Trustees, counter
signed by the County School Com
missioner. 90.
Very respectfully,
X TTT1CON