The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-10
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE PAY OF TEACHERs--THE AVERAGE
ATTENDANCE OF sCHoEARs--THE
SCHOOL AGE.
The School Commissioner ~ Abbe-
willie County Makes Many suSges.
tions Of Vital Importance to the
PeODle.
OFFICE OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONER
ABBEv1LLE COUNTY,,

ABBEY1LLE COUNTY,
ABBEV1LLE, s. g., Jan. IL, 1876:
The County Board of Examiners have agreed
that the monthly pay Of teachers shall be &C.
cordng to grade Of certificate, or grade of
school, as follows:
| First Grade Twenty-Five Dollars.
! Second Grade, Eighteen Dollars.
| Third Grade, Ten Dollars.
| That the minimum average number OF pu-
| pills per month that shall entitle teacher to
| full pay in country schools shall be Is; in In
corporated villages and towns 20 In cases
where the average number between the ages
of and l6 falls below the minimum the trus-
tees shall pay per capita share of the month
The following changes of general import.
ance to trustees and teachers have been re-
Gently made in the School Law:
l.. Certificates granted by County Boards are
WITHOUT examination, at the discretion OF the
said Boards.
2. It shall not be lawful for any person who
is less than six or more than eighteen years of
age, to attend any Of the free public schools.
| The law requires the trustees to meet as ear
ly as practicable in the year, in order TO locate
the schools aud elect teachers. This ought TO
year, so that by that time all the schools Of
the district shall have been established and
all the teachers employed. No school ought
to be opened after the first week in February
| unless under peculiar circumstances. The ap-
portionment of the school fund to the several
school districts Is made OH the lst OF February,
| or as soon thereafter as practicable. Unless
| the trustees fix some limit to the time during
which they will contract with teachers of pub
lie schools they cannot know the number OF
teachers nor their grade in time to ascertain,
with the accuracy that the subject demands
the length Of the school term for their district
| The trustees, therefore, are urged to ascertain
as soon as the app pEortionment Is made the
length of the school term for their district and
report the same TO all the teachers and to the
School Commissioner. The school term or each
| It-tSt Co. 10
operated as public free school, should be the
same.
There has been 81 ear defect IN the admin
istration Of the school law In respect to the To-
cation of schools In some places the schools
are located too ear each other. This distribu-
tion of the forces and efforts Of a community,
as we'll as the distribution OF the public fund
has had the effect Of shortening the school
munities Of the influence and advantages Of
one good, we'll paid, well-equipped and well
sustained school. I recommend to the trus'
tees the sentiment OF distinguished COM
success, promptly replied, ~ concentrate n'y
forces"
| In some places, on the other hand, the
schools are too far apart. The effect has been,
probably, more disastrous than In cases where
the schools are too near each other. 1t has
lessened, alarmingly, the attendance In the
county schools, and, doubtless, smothered Inc
spark of genius IN many worthy youth
"
ministratlon as 1t is important. While the
law requires the trustees to pay due regard to
any school house already built, or sites pro-
cured, it also requires them to have regard 10
"other circums ances proper to be considered
so as best to promote the educational interest
of the district" ] am disposed to believe that
there are schools In the county that ought to
be removed from their present location, ana
established in places accessible to larger
number of children who are not now Within
convenient distance of any school. No Two
public free schools for the same rcce ought to
be within less than five miles OF each other.
tance from a good school: 4 very Je,o only VIII
be required to go even this distance, and they
can, surely, we'll afford to do so, If, by having
fewer schools, we increase the length Of the term.
and the efficiency Of those that tCe have.
| 1t Is lamcntable fact, known even 10 the
casual observer, that in some sections of the
county there is an increasing disposition, on
the part of parents, to shift the responsibility
where it properly belongs, to the public, where
| it belongs only in cases Of extreme poverty
and misfortune, or wilful neglect. They de-
mand that the public, which cxacts from them
cate their children. build and repair their
school houses, and even pay the incidental ex-
penses OF the school. This disposition ought
to be checked at every point, and especially III
houses. 1t Is a manifest injustice to the teach.
| ers to take any part Of their already too small
salary and appropriate IT to building and re-
pairing school houses. The school house Is
local matter, and the community ought to
build it ut their own expense. The circum-
stances ought to be very exceptional indeed,
which would induce the trustees to appropri-
ate any part of the public fund to building
and repairing school houses. feel sure that
nv Views on this subjest will not be we'll re.
ceived, but l believe them to be right, and
that Is sufficient reason for me TO recon-
mend them to the earnest consideration Of the
trustees.
The trustees will please see to it that the
teachers monthly reports are properly hlled
out as the School mmissioners annual re-
port is based upon these monthly reports.
Any letter conveying suggestions and rec
ommcn dations to trustees is essentially defec-
tive that does not ask their hearty support in
the proper administration Of the school law.
in raising the standard Of teachers certif-
Gates, in increasing the efficiency Of the
schools, in arousing an interest IN the all-im'
eating our children. AND in making darln1s 1 the the
vanccs all along our own hines in the grand
march Of education.
Respectfully,
GEO. C. HODGES,