The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-03

| Gllc oCuUOi SCi III Nto thLSO ooN Z" he'A
months, decrease of half month.
The total amount of funds available for
school purposes during the year 1SS3-S4,
the latest period for which reports are
attainable, was S515, ,5s0.3S, of which
SAL ,599.S7 was collected during the
year, and $73, ,9S1.01. consisted of unex-
pended balances brought forward from
previous years. The total amount ex-
pended WAS S428 ,A19.41.
It was shown in the annual report for
1884 that the limit of ratio Of enrolment
to the school population Of the State had
been nearly reached, and that the in.
crease in this respect would, in the ab.
sencc of upfavorable conditions, only
keep pace with the natural increase of
population. This indicates that the
schools have been brought within the
used by them. The average attendance
of pupils for the school term shows an
increase of 7,949, and has now reached
nearly SO per centum of the enrolment.
That this percentage should be so high
among people mainly rural is highly
encouraging, because it demonstrates that
the work Of the schools has become more
effective and better appreciated. There
are, however, two great barriers, which,
until removed, must always limit ad.
vancement in further improvement. One
of these barriers is the unsatisfactory
way in which the teachers salaries and
other school expenses are paid, in conse-
quence of the failure to collect at the
proper time the taxes for the fiscal year
l876-77. The evils resulting from this
failure have seriously embarrassed the
administration of every department of
the State Government, but they fall with
unmitigated severity upon the operations
of the public schools. In the eight pre-.
ceding reports of the Superintendent of
Education this matter has been urged
upon the attention of the General As.
sembly, aud in the present report is again
pressed with great earnestness. ! heart
lily endorse the appeal of the Superin.
tendent for prompt remedial measures,
and I would recommend for your consid-
Grafton the propriety of levying, for the
fiscal year 1856, four mills and dou
bic poll-tax for the support of the public
schools one.half the proceeds of which
shall be applied to the expenses of the
school year 1866, and the other half
to the school year 1986-87. This will at
once place the affairs of the schools upon
a strictly cash paying basis, which can
be hereafter maintained by the levy now
prescribed by law.
The other barrier to progress arises
from the constitutional prescri ption as to
the mode of election and the term of
Office Of the Superintendent of Education
and the County School Commissioners.
This subject is discussed at some length
in the report, and it is not necessary for
me to do more than say that.I concur in
the statements and views therein given.
The evil is 80 radical and so prolific of
harmful results as to justify resortto con-
stitutional amendment.
The specific recommendations of the
Superintendent will, I trust, receive your
careful consideration.
THE INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION
OF THE DEAF AND DUMB AND BLIND.
The thirty seventh annual report Of
this institution, with the letter of trans
initial OF the board of commissioners,
will be submitted to you. The manage.
ment Of this institution, both as to its
finances and as to the character of the
work accomplished, is a ground of con-
graduation to the State. The gentlemen
composing the board of commissioners,
majority of whom live in the imnedi.
ate neighborhood of the institution, have
labored faithfully, and without pecuniary
recompense, for the welfare of the afflict.
ed children committed to their care.
The report shows an enrolment during
the year of eighty-fve pupils-a consid-
erable increase over that of the previous
year. The Superintendent reports that
the appropriations made for erecting and
furnishing the west wing, which COM
pletes the building according to the
original plan, have been sufficient, and
no further sum is asked for that purpose.
A critical examination of the financial
report of the institution will, feel sure,
satisfy you that the appropriations con-
fded to its board of commissioners are
wisely and economically expended. The
statistics show that in the forty institu-
tions of this kind in the United States
the average annual cost for each pupil is
1926. The cost of maintenance of each
pupil in this institution is about $155 q
year.
The only unusual appropriations asked
for by the Superintendent, and recon-
mended by the board of commissioners,
are 5000 for drainage and 81, 200 for a
pipe organ. The report shows plainly
the necessity for these appropriations. I
recommend that these amounts, with the
sums asked for, for support, repairs and
insurance, be appropriated.
cLAFLIN COLLEGE.
This institution, which was founded in
1869, is designed for the higher education
Of the colored youth of both sexes. The
report of the president shows that its
present condition is highly satisfactory,
and that it is fulfilling we'll the purpose
for which it was established. The total
enrolment for the last year was 405.
The attendance for the present session is
greater, and the students are more ad-
yanced in age and in scholarship than in
any previous year.
There are FIVE distinct courses of study,
eleven teachers, and four superintendent
of Industrial departments. In addition
10 the ordinary school duties, students
are required to work at least one hour a
day, either on the farm, in the shops and
about the buildings, or in the boarding,
laundry and sewing departments. Thus,
willie taught habits of industry, they arc
enabled 10 pay portion of their neces
sary expenses. Careful attention is
given to the health, habits, manners and
morals of the students.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
The report of the board of visitors, to
be submitted to you, will give in detail,
as required by law, the record of the
operations of this institution during the
year.
The Academy now has four classes, the
full number provided for in the course of
instruction, and during the coming year
it will send forth its first class of gradu-
ates since its reorganization in October,
1882.
Three States besides our own arc now
represented on the roll of cadets, and it
may reasonably DO expected that cousid.
erabln accessions to tho number Of stu
dents will in future be received by the
| admission of younv men from States i'm