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 7lj0. OF this number the average at>
tendance was J4G33, 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 j0l2. 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 aud 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 tor 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 4 shorter term for
800 children than it will for 900.
Six years ago there were utl25 schools
in the Comfy, while to-day there are
about $50, and it is easy TO be- seen li;at
the same, or nearly the same, amount of
money will not last as long now as it did
then. Horea Path ard 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 q cash basis.
Brushy Creek has run the longest term of
any Of them, having made five and half
months during the year. This is due en-
lirely to the good management Of the
trustees, none of the credit therefor being
due 10 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 2l9 were
being taught the alphabet, bnt 6lSG were
being taught to read. When the present.
incumbent came into Office there was
something over g 600 cash balance to the
credit of the schoo! fund, and he will
turn over the affairs to his successor with
cash balance to the credit Of the differ
eut districts amounting in the aggregate
to $S9.4S, and if the policy outlined at a
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 psy
the teachers The cash AT the end Of the
month. But it is to be regretted thst the
increase in the school fund of the county
does not keep pace with the increase in
school population of the county, i'l fact,
is greatly disproportionate to it. There
is certainly more property in the county
than there was five years ago, aud the
fund ought to be larger, bat as 4 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
we hope the time is not far distant when
the fuud will be increased by some means,
80 that there may be p free school in cY-
cry community for at least six months in
the year.