Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-12-11
The Morkrille Guqltirer.
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. II, 1884.
EDUCATION IN THE. STATE.
y be done.
YORKVILLE. s. &. {:

THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. II, 1884.
EDUCATION IN THE STATE.
We have receiveda a pamphlet copy of the
sixteenth annual report Of the Department
of Education transmitted to the houses of
the General Assembly by A. Coward, State
Superintendent of Education. The report,
with appendices, makes pamphlet of l2l
pages, and contains q great amount of mat
ter interesting to all who are engaged in
teaching, or to those who feel an interest in
the cause of education. The report shows
the deep interest which Col. Coward takes
in his work, and the amount of official labor
performed by him during the past year.
Besides number of special visits to schools
and colleges, and his attendance upon the
sessions of the State Normal Institute for
white teachers, at Spartanburg, and the
Colored Institute, Claflin University, at
Orangeburg, healso officially visited twenty
six counties during the year. In some of
these counties he inspected schools, and in
several he made addresses on educational
topics He discontinued his visits for the
year because no practical good could be ac-
complished in consequence of the general
elections, and of the fact that in most of the
counties not yet visited, the school COM
missioners were soon to 60 out of office.
The report shows for the past year an in
crease in enrolment of 1854 pupils; in
average attendance, 3,l1S; in number OF
teachers, 100; in number of schools, 2l3
The average length of the school term was
four months. The Superintendent says:
GA higher standard of requirement at the
county examinations Of teachers has been
reached, and much worthless material has
been eliminated. Under the stimulus of
these examinations, and of the State and
County Normal Institutes, spirit of pro-
fessional pride has been developed in large
number of teachers, and is making itself ap-
parent in improved methods of teaching
and discipline in the schools under their
charge"
Included in the State perintendent's re-
port are extracts from reports Of County
School Commissioners, showing more fully
the progress of free common school educa-
ton in the various counties. The following
is the report of DR.. Latham, late County
School Commissioner of York:
During the last scholastic year the schools in
York county have been managed so as to pay
teachers in accordance with the grade OF certifl-
cate held by them and the average number of
pupils attending the schools taught by them
severaly.
Heretofore the teachers have been frequently
very worthless. They took no interest in the
work in which they We're engaged. All they
cared for was the salary. This was due largely
to the system of paying the teachers. Each one
of them received just m!:"h for teaching half
a dozen pupils as he did for teaching two dozen.
The result was that too frequently the teachers
made no effort to please the patrons ofthe school
or advance the pupils.
Prior to the beginning Of the last scholastic
year the school authorities of York county held
a meeting and agreed to pay third grade teacher
five cents day for the monthly average atten-
dance, but the monthly pay of third grade
teacher was limited to sixteen dollars. 1t was
agreed to pay second grade teacher six cents
per day for the monthly average attendance OF
pupils, but the monthly pay OF Il second grade
teacher was limited to thirty dollars. In accor-
dance with the plan, a first grade teacher was to
be paid seven cents per day for the monthly
average attendance of pupils, but the monthly
pay ola first grade teacher was limited to thirty
five dollars. This plan was tested during the
scholastic year just now closed, and am glad to
say that, although the plan is not complete in all
it's details it has been success. The public got
rid of a multitude of worthless, would-be teach
ers, and secured in their stead good and efficient
ones.
1t was Also at the same meeting at which the
above plan was adopted, resolved by the school
trustees to pay licensed teachers from ten to
fourteen dollars per month. In my report all
the licensed teachers are classed as third grade.
think the State should fix the per diem to be
given teachers. and that the examination of
teachers should be taken entirely out OF the
hands of the county board of examiners and
placed i'm the hands of State board appointed for
the purpose.
am convinced that there is great laxity in the
matter OF examining teachers. y number OF
persons hold first grade certificates who are not
capable, ion fair examination, of taking third
grade. This is doing good and capable teachers
great injustice
In York county each school district has been
granted exactly the amount of school funds
which it paid into the treasury. This has been
very satisfactory to ALL and has not varied to any
apprecabe amount from the average attendance
of pupils in the several school districts.
1t is proper to mention that the schools III
York county were closed on the lst OF November,
1883, and opened on the lst Of January, 1854, i'll
order that the system adopted by the school au
thoritics might be put into operation after the
examination of teachers in January. The result
was, that on account Of this delay and the sever
ity Of the winter, Il number OF schools were not
opened until after the examination III July.
The enrolment and average attendance Of those
schools opened after July do not appear in my
report, since no monthly reports were received
from them prior to August 81 1881. This ac-
counts for the fact that the enrolment and aver
age attendance of this year are not so great as
they were last year. In fact, more children have
entered school during the present year lSSl) than
last year. and the attendance has been far greater.
Never have the schools been so prosperous in
York county, The teachers are of Il better grade
and have been very faithful in the discharge of
their duties. II. LATHAM.