The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-29
Sumter County School Fnnd.
Sumter Watchman.l

in the prosen M 1T of the Sum cr Gran
Jury we find the follwing paragraph
which We would like the Watchman t
explain. as it denotes most gratifying
condition affairs worthy Of imitation il
other counties.
"Thc School Commissioner report !, al
annually increasing surplus count,
School fund, amounting to over $5,OO(
and the public Schools in an improve,
and progressive condition."
How was the $4,000 accumulated
dow much is paid to teachers Of lst 2nd
and Bird, grades ? Our esteemed cotcm.
porary will confer Il favor by answering
these qucStionS."- IiHen Recorder.
The above questions arc easily an
Swcrcd. For the last six or eight Years
the trustees in Il number OF School
Districts Of the County. have each wear
LAID by small portion Of the amount
placed to the credit Of their Districts,
until the prcsen: gratifying condition of
affairs has been attained and about
| two-fifths Of the teachers checks can be
cashed as soon as issued.
The various boards of trustees have
authority to do this and it to be regret
ted that all have not dcnc as some few
in Sumter have in this matter. If each
School District in the State had reserved
ten per cent, Vt the amounts apDro-
prlatcd for school purposcs-commcue-
ing in ls7S-thc schools would now all
be running on cash basis. The School
taxes to be collected next Fall arc
intended to de(ray the school expenses
which have accrued since Nov 1885.
Had this laying-up process been followed
up the above named taxes would he
used to pay the school expenses for the
term commcpcing next Nouvmbcr the
last years claims having been already
settled.
Another advantage, would result had
this plan been adopted. The SCHOOL
Commissioners according to the present
arrangement has to make division Con
paper) Of the school funds before they
are collected and even before the assess
mcnt is made and there are any number
OF clements Of uncertainty in such Il
computation whereas were the taxes
paid in advance that official would know
precisely the amount to be given each
District
We noticed some years ago, when !
better informed on school matters than |
at present, that in some counties when
ever any funds were left over from |
the last year the Commissioners would |
ask for special. legislation to allow the
Treasurer to carry the balance over to
the coming year. We have always
thought such unnecessary, and our
School Commissioners in Sumter have
never hcsitatcd to carry forward balances
and place them to the credit of the new
year.
In reference to the amounts paid the
different grades, the various board of
trustees exercise their own discretion.
The salaries vary from $15 to $25 for
he most part though some few teachers
received $40 or $50. In some Districts
he grade is not considered at all so
much being paid for the school. Our
;olcmporary will see from these latter
statements that we are not rs we'll ora
sanized as we migAt be.
0nr Srhcc1 forr c.o,, |
months, and in one District seven
months.
In conclusion we will say that the
,nblic schools Of Sumter are not in nc !
n condition as the friends of
ducation would desire A compariso
With a number of schools in others coun-
les has satisfied US that we are not
'chin1 them but we arc not as advanced
$ we might be. We do not pretend to
ocate the blame but it is patent to all i.
hat the public school system has but 8
title hold on the popular heart. We
Wish we could put Sumter County i,
onward as proof Of the wisdom Of our
chool system, but cannot do so Just vet. :
lay be that good time is coming in the
uturc.
On Tuesday last Hon. w. G. Bcnct. of t
.bbcvilc, delivered the address before II
he graduating class of the Laurensvillc i
'cmale College. His snhject was .Em- p
loyment Of the Time between Gradua. 8