The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-22

IL uuS COllCcrn.
DAVID CRAWFORD.
School Commissioner.
Abbeville County.
COLUMBIA. S. c., January ], 1s7a.
To the School Commissioner Of Abbcrfic Ibunty.
StR-l. In making the apportionment Of the
school funds for the present year, county
School Commissioners sho1ld take caro- not
TO exceed the amount which Will probably no
collected. RHards OF Trustees should be eau
TONED not TO make contracts In excess OF the
school funds OF their nistric:-all such con-
tracts are v0ld-see Sec. - o! the School Law.
year to the several county school commits.
sioncrs. Should additional copies be needed
to supply Boards OF Trustees, the county
school commissioners can obtain them on APP
.. One OF the evils OF the public school sys-
tenn In the past, has been the establishment
OF too many schools.
The results OF this error nave been to di.
vide the funds OF the School Districts into
small portions. TINS reducing the salaries OF
teachers and thereby impaIrIng the efficiency
OF tho public schools. The smaller the num-
Der OF schools In each, District. the better will
cient the work which will be done. The
schools should be 50 situated as to afford ALL
proper facilities to the pupils OF the different
localities, but 1t IS believed that In many in
stances this can best be done by reducing the
number Of the schools heretofore established.
The salaries OF teachers are not regulated by
Inv, nor would 1t be practicable TO du so.
The salaries which can be paid must depend
upon the amount OF the school fund. which
varies In different school Districts, and upon
other conditions which Boards OF Trustees
must take into consideration. AS a general
rule, ! would advise that the rate Of pay al.
lowed teacher be AS liberal as possible. The
services of competent teachers cannot be OBJ
tanned for inadequate compensation.
3. No amendments to the School Law were
made at the recent session OF the Legislature,
Several Acts and joint Resolutions were pass
ed affecting the school interests OF certain
counties In the State. Their purport cannot
be Indicated in n Circular. County school
commissioners can obtain the Information
necessary for their guidance by reference t.
the Acts and joint Resolutions which will
soon be published.
!. In answer to repeated Inquiries on this
subject / would say that I know Of no law
prescribing the age 1t which pupils shall be
allowed to avail themselves Of the benefits O
the public schools.
5. The school fund collected for the past Us.
cal year was S'lG, 1871. 10. Taxes which will he
hereafter collected by Executions will increase
this mount.
1t is probable that the school fund Of this
year will Go at least equal to that OF the aSl
year. The proper expenditure OF this large
q high and important trust. The people o
this state have a right to expect that III,
school fund shall BIO expended not only hon.
! cStly, but wisely. To secure these ends, cOun
ty school commissioners are earnestly advi
Scd to spare 20 effort to obtain the hearty CO
operation OF their subordinate officers, ant
, by all means III their power to arouse among
the people Of the several c~ouutlcs IN .ncrels
ed Interest," IN the cause OF public education,
Hugh s. THOMPSON,
State Supt. Education, {. {.