The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-13

|erally, is duty of too obvious importance
Ito need special enforcement. 4 ..s 81
REPORT OF THE, SECRETARY OF. STATE.
The report Of the secretary Of state pre-,
sents information of great value, COVERING
the matters connected with the ordinary
duties of that Office, and also the land;
commission department., and the improve
ments upon the State house and grounds
during the past year. l call attention to
the recommendations of the secretary of
state on page 6 of his report.
REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT AND Inc,
SPECTOR-GENERAL. -. =.
herewith transmit the annual report
of the adjutant and inspector general,
with, its accompanying documents and
vouchers; and invite your attention at to the
information, as well as the various recon-
mcndatlons, therein contained. i; .r..
REPORT OF STATE LIBRARIAN.
|, The report of the keeper Of the state
house and state librarian has been hereto
fore transmitted to the general assembly.
REPORT OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT
OF EDUCATION.
The report of the state superintendent
of education is herewith transmitted to the
general assembly. commend the entire ,
report to the earnest attention not only Of
the general assembly, but of all our fel-
low-citizens who look to tho welfare of the
State. 1t presents the actual condition at
this time Of our common school system,
tits progress during the past year, the
causes that diminish the efficiency, of tho .
system, and also points out some remedies
tor present evils. It may be said, ingen-
|eral, that the report shows fair measure
|of progress during the last year.. The
school population of the State is 23O,lO2; }
the total school attendance is 1O4, 1885,. am
increase of 19, IA over the school attend
ance of the preceding year. The, number
of free common schools in the State is
now 1858, an increase of 272 since, the
preceding report of the superintendent.
The total number of teachers employed, ;s-
1927, an increase Of 253 since the preced-
ling report. The average number, Of
months during which the schools were ao. :
|tually open was only five. The number.
|of school houses in the State is, ,228, an.
increase of 2ll since the preceding report.
The total amount of funds applicable to-
the common schools during the past year
was $512,924 90, of which there remains
las unpaid appropriations the sum. of $29,-
|779,71, leaving the sum Of $$483, l45. % as
the net school revenue of the past year.
|Ihe ! school expenditures for the year were
lp44O, ZC1. 10. iit ~ =. ..iI.
I call attention to one or two facts,- !,
which appear from theas stetiatics, and
which show how far oar; school system
Istil! is from the atandetd which shodld
be aimed at. First, the total school.
attendance falls considerably below
lone- half OF the tota. school poppl3 /:
ton. being about seventeen thirty
ieighths. Second. the average period
ihnrinY vphiNh
sion. is only I've months. Gar con.
|stant aim .shouId be to Sincreasa The
school attendance till it embraces ,aah
our school population. and Ia increase,
the length of time during which our,
schools should be in session to eight or
niue montha in tho year. The State
iSuperiptendent calls especial attention,
to the ipcapacity Of, many, OF the
teachers employed. ]. agree With him
in the fact stated, apd in bis, sueges-
ton Of the cause Of that fact, The
blame reats with the Boards Of County
iSchool Examiners, whose duty it is to.
examine all teach ers, These boards,,
consist In each Comfy of the County
School Com missile ner ana two persons :,
selected By The Oopnty School Conn.
missioner. n Yebam mend mos, earn.
'estly that the Ispp4i ptmept, Of the latter
iesaniners be sgis sgissb '..tn the State, ,sn-
,perintepdeht 81 Educatiop,' I do not i.
Wish to 6n pndsrs!o9d az tsAesting
Iupon "ll our County .SoLopl bbmmis-
,sioners by this rscomnie 4dAtt09,, but.
in view Of undehihble facts as In tho,
Iincapaoity or dome OF these officers.
I am perspaded ,t6dt, the, mode Of ap-
pointing the ,sxhmineIs should be i'm
mediately Changed That being done, I
I Thick this pfimary,. cause OF ineff[
|cienoy, in opf, school. System-the, in
most entirely removed. I also renew ;.
the Recommendation made in my inau. "
|gurai address. that high schools be :.
provided for in each County. The
amount OF money required by the h.
State Superintendent, to carry on the
school system for she present year. is.
bated upon school year OF nine
mouths, aud is undoubtedly largely in.
rxcoss of the means available for that
purpose. I cannot recommend any.
appropriation under this head in, ex-s
motto. "Pay as you CO." 10 applicable
here as elsewhere. Even in eduoa-