The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-12-11

The last annual report from this office
to the State Superintendent shows graft
flying progress ip several directions. The
total enrolment of pupils in the County
is 7150. Of this number the average att
tendance was 5463, much the largest av-
erage the County has ever had. Two
years ago, when the present incumbent
came into Office, the average attendance
was $3.50, the next year it was 5042, and
this year shows the figures above given.
This shows that the people are waking up
to the Importance of sending their chill
dren to school and sending them regular.
ly. There has also been an increase in
the number and character of new school
houses built, the figures for the year
showing thirteen new houses built, and
all of a substantial character. The ave-
rage length of the school term for the
County has been three and three fourths
months, showing reduction from last
year. While this is to be regretted, it is
easily accounted for in the fact that while
the school population has increased with
rapidsstrides, the school fund has remain
ed almost stationery for years, there being
only few hundred dollars increase in
the last FIVE or six years, and it is only a
simple question in long division to ascer
tain that the same number of dollars will
run the schools for a shorter term for
500 children than it will for 300.
Six years ago othere were about 1875 schools
in the Comfy, while to-day there are
about $50, and it is easy to be seen that
the same, or nearly the same, amount of
money will not last as long now as it did
then. Honea Path and Hall have had
the shortest term of any of the districts,
having run two and three months respec
lively, the trustees in these districts desir.
ing to hold back part of the fund each
year until they get on cash basis.
Brusby Creek has run the longest term Of
any of them, having made FIVE and half
months during the year This is due en-
tirely to the good management of the
trustees, none of the credit therefor being
due to the School Commissioner, who had
nothing to do with the management, but
simply lent his encouragement. This is
matter over which the School Commits.
sioner has no control, as the whole matter
is vested by law in the trustees. Of the
children attending school, only 219 we're
being taught the alphabet, but6166 were
being taught to read. When the present
incumbent came into Office there was
something over So, 600 cash balance to the
credit of the school fund, and be will
turn over the affairs to his successor with
a cash balance to the credit of the differ
ent districts amounting in the aggregate
to s89.48, and if the policy outlined at
meeting of the different school trustees
one year ago is continued for two or three
years longer every district may be upon
a cash basis, thus enabling them to pay
the teachers the cash at the end of the
month. But it is to be regretted that the
increase in the school fund of the county
does not keep pace with the increase in
school population of the county, ia fact,
is greatly disproportionate to 1t. There
is certainly more property in the county
than there was five years ago, and the
fund ought to be larger, but as matter
of fact it is but very little larger than it
was then. In all other respects there is
gratifying progress in all directions, and
ne hope the time is not far distant when
the fund will be increased by some means,
80 that there may be free school in ev-
cry community for at least six months in
tha wear