The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-08

tions for white pupils were utterly
insufficient, and the attendance upon
these schools-never very great
dwiEdled down to very small NUM-
Der. Very few Of the citizens Of the
community availcd themselves of
these schools. The total attendance
Tor the past two years had scarcely
averaged 500, and Of these large
majority were colorcd children. The
length of the school session WAS but
a little over three months. AS the
general school fund Of the county is
distributed in each school district in
proportion to the number of children
attending the public schools in that
district, it follows, that rs the school
attendance falls of the revenue Of
the school district falls off in like
proportion. AS result Of this state
of affairs, although the city of Colum
bia pays into the general county
fund about $1,000 annually, yet on
account Of the small attendance on
public schools the city has been yearly
receiving in return scarcely over ST.
TOO as its proportion of tits fund.
Therefore, when pubic discussion
of the new movement took place this
fact was brought to light, and the pub.
lie began to see the great need Of the
supplementary tax asked for. 1t be.
came clear, that if the city ever WAS
20 reap any benefit from the consti-
tutional two mill tax, it must make a
movement in its own behalf. Puolic
interest in the school movement
became aroused to an extent never
before known in this community.
The new board called public meet.
ing to submit the question again to
the citizens. January 81, 1883,
proved to be an eventrul day for The
city of Columbia. At the meeting
held on that day DR.. A. n. Tallcy
was called to the chair, and Mr. G..
M. lew acted rs secretary. After
some discussion a resolution was car.
RED, by decided majority, lcvying
tax Of one mill for the ensuing
year for the support Of the public
schools. These schools had already
been closed on account Of the def.
cheney of funds, and tho board de-
cided at once to make no attempt to
reopen them until in the fall Of the
year, which would give sufficient
time for the necessary arrangements
to be made in the reorganization Of
the whole system. Just at this time,
when the board had begun to feel
that new era Of prosperity was
about to dawn upon the educational
interests of the city, they were called
upon to perform the sad duty Of elect
ing a member to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Nathaniel b.
Barnwell, Esq, who had been a men,
Der Of the board from It's first organ
ization.
DR.. e. S. Joyncs was elected on
February 1st, 1888, to fill this vacan-
cy in the board.
In the meantime the board went
vigorously to work to devise their
plan of organization, and at their
first meeting in February resolu-
ton was passed providing for the ap.
pointment Of q committee to report TO
the board what plan should he adopt.
cd to secure the most economical
and efficient conduct Of the public
schools for the largest possible num-
Der Of pupils. Col. McMastcr, Prof.
Joynes and Mr.. Thomas constituted
this committee.
The main difficulty which con.
fronted the board in the beginning,
was the want Of the necessary school
buildings. At this time the board
had control Of two buildings; the
Sidney Park School for the white
children--which was totally inade-
quate for the purposes for which it
was intended, and the Howard
School, which did afford sufficient &C
commodation for the colorcd pupils.
1t was at this time, therefore, that the
board resolved to petition the trus-
tees of the Male and Female Acadc-
mics for the use Of those two spacious
buildings for the white chill
dren Of the city. These build