Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-02
SCHOOL FUND.

, 80 w ASSi S-fJ Sool ,U4J, ~; 1879.
so (cstimntcd,) s351415 SO.
| The year lS77-75 was the year in which
the constitutional amcdmcnt relative to tho
school tax went into operation. Full reports
have not yet been received FROM oil tho
counties in regard to tho school fund for
the last year, but the estimate xiven above
is derived from figures carefully complied
in the office of the omptrollcr-goneral, and
is beloved to be very nearly accurate.
The report of the president of CIaflin
University, which is contained in tho
report Of the Superintendent of Educa.
tion, elbows that that institution is in q
flourishng condition, and is affordiug each
year increased fuciltics for tho higher
| education of the colorcd race.
| The average Of the school sessions for
the last year was thrco und onc-half months
q slight increase over tho sessions Of tbc
three preceding years. In Anderson County
the sessions lasted ak months, and iu nine
other counties the avorsgo length of sessions
was IRON Tour to five mouths. The short
ness OF the sessions in the remaining coun-
lies was due in large measure to tho fact
that considerable portion of the current
school found had been diverted by authority
Of the Legislature to pay clnims incurred
before the Democratic party came into
power. Tho whole omouut Of these claims,
which have been reported to the supcriuten
dent of education, is 5000 &C.
The report of the superintendent Of edu-
cation gives interesting information, showing
the many improvements in the public school
system which havc been made in the last
four. years. would commend to your
favorable consideration the Recommended.
ton in the eport for the further improve
pcnt aud development Of the putlic schools.
The success Of tho Normal Institute, held at
Spartanburg during the month of August,
was very gratifying. The Claiin University
has well organized normal department
for colored teachers, but tho Normal lpstit-
ute gave to he white teachers the first
OK Iportunity afforded them for special lrain--
ing. The meeting Of this Institute forms
on era in the history Of educational progress
in this State. Ono hundred aud ninety
seven teachers attended, and they showed
commcndable desire to avail themselves of
the great benefits of the Institute They
voluntarily, aud at their own expense, gave
month OF their vacation season to study
and to the work Of self-improvcmcnt.
The praise "orthy spirit thus manifested
should be encouraged by tho Legislature.
The full and able report Of the distinguished
gentleman who was the principal of the
Institute gives much interesting nforma.
ton rs to the work accomplished, and shows
tho Importance Of continuing it, Expert
cncc in Europe and in this country has de-
monstmled the necessity for special training
schools for teachers. Until this State can
found n Normal School, much good can be
accomplished by the holding of institutes
during the summer moths.
The Superintendent of Education aeks
tho auho,ty of the General Assembly to
use during the next year, for deiraying the
expenses Of the Normal Institute, 81 500 of
a fund Of S3,77G.22, belonging to tho free
school fund, and row in tho hands Of the
State Treasurer. This fund, ns will be
seen from the report, is the proceeds Of an
investment of moneys paid in accordance
with tho provisions Of Act No 37S, ap.
proved March 8, 1871, to establish the
Charleston Charitable Association of the
State of South Carolina for the benefit OF
the free school fuud Tho amount OF the
fund is too small to be of service if divided
| among the counties Of tho State, aud, even
If much larger, no better use could DO nndc
0! It. | recommend that tho authority
asked for be granted, under such regulations
ns the General Assembly may prcacrbc.
The following table, which is contained
in the report Of tho Superintendent Of
| Education, gives the number Of educational
institutions now in operation in this State:
Colleges, male and female, II
Professional schools, 2
Industrial training ochools, 3
Private academies or high schools, 81
Public academies or high schools, DO
Elementary evening schools, 3
Private elementary schools, eos
Public schools, 2,703
The number Of patients in tho Lunatic
! Asylum arc Sill This number has been
| reduced TO l20 by discharges. There now
remain ,420 Of whom 2O3 arc males and
ZIG females; 2GS arc white so colored; 39l
ere State patients and 20 ply patients.
The increase for the ycar has been as. Of
those present 26 m.y be considered curable,
| 81 doubtful, and 3O7 incursbla.
There arc Sc pupils 10 The deaf, dumb
and b!iu1 asylum
The reports of tho Board Of Directors
and the Superintendent of the Pcnitentiary
will give you MI tho necessary information
as to this institution. There were on the
roll of the prison, at tho end Of tho fiscal
year, 500 conyicts in all, decrease of 35
from last report. Tho health Of the in
mates of the prison has been very good,
the death ruto being less than two per
cent.
Important improvements have been made
| .,