The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-29
For The Herald and News.
THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.
An Interesting Statement of the Condition
of the Common Schools in the County
by the School Commissioner.


The free school term having closed,
I feel it my duty to give the public
some idea, at least: as to the condltlon
of our schools and school finances.
During tie past year eighty-elght
free public schools have been IN sue
cessful operation. Besides these, the
schools in the special districts have
been open also.
The school term has been, on an
average, a little more than three and
one-half months. In the majority OF
the white schools, the session has been
lengthened by private subscription.
About thirty-ive schools have supple
mented the public fund, causing the
session to continue six months or
more.
The attendance of pupils has been
very good during the year, although,
IN few instances, teachers nave
made complaint that their pupils 40
not attend as regularly as they should.
I would urge that parents have their
children 90 to school every day when
nossible. No one can tell how much
NAV be lost to a child by remaining at
home only cue day in a week.
The school buildings in several dis
tricts are much better than they were
q wear ago. In few instances private
subscription has done the work of re-
pairing and building school houses
while in many others the public tund
has been used for this purpose. II IS
NV desire to have good and com1orta-
BILE school buildings and 1 have there
fore recommended that trustees, where
private subscriptions cannot be secured,
use a part of the school fund for tins
nurpose. In every instance where this
has been done the result. has been en-
tirely satisfactory to all concerned.
When the session of 18S9--9O shall
have closed, it will show that nearly
one-thousand dollars were used for re-
pairing and building school houses in
the country districts. :.
During the past and the preceding
wear about siXty-tive maps of South
Carolina and a like number OF the
United States were placed in the
schools. This was done in order to
stimulate the study of the geography of
our own State and country, but more
especially that of our State. Some
teachers have done excellent work with
these maps, while others have not done
so we'll. When used judiciously they
are a great help to the teacher and to
the school.
Other appliances are rather poor IN
most of the districts. There is a serious
want of desks, blackboards, charts,
globes and other school furniture. l
think, however, that there is improve
ment making in this direction.
The financial condition of the schools
is better than it was year ago. In
every district, except one, the credit
system has played an important part.
Next year at least four districts will
pay cash the entire term, while several
others will pay the greater part of their
claims. I hope that in short time
every teacher will get her pay as soon
as the claims are presented.
In September, 1883, the County
Board of examiners, in accordance with
law. adopted a list of text books to be
| used in the public schools for five years.
These books are in every school, either
wholly or in part. A great many
teachers do not use any other books
than those prescribed. l have used
| every effort to secure uniformity, and
with the help of teachers and trustees
have nearly succeeded. 1t will not be
long before every school in the county
will be using the same text books
throughout.
The greater part of our schools are
taught by ladies, the male teachers
being comparatively few. Among
| both male and female teachers l find
some who are we'll fitted for the work
and who are striving to prepare them
selves better every year. They seem
to realize that teaching is to become
profession, and realizing this fact they
are going forward with their work
! earnestly and enthusiastically. Every
| thing considered, the teachers Of the
county are worthy in many instances,
| of much more liberal support than
they receive. The teacher demands
the full sympathy of the public, for she
| has an arduous work-one which re-
ouires patience and endurance to per.
| form.
A County Teachers Association is
held monthly, but is not so we'll at
tended as it. should be. There can be
no doubt lnat the association has been
productive of much good, in that it has
| caused teachers to take more interest
| in school work.
In the latter part of June, 1889, a
Teachers Institute was held at New
berry. It was we'll attended and created
an enthusiasm which has not ceased
to be felt. The County Board of En-
aminers will hold another this year,
commencing on the 23d day of June. l
hope that trustees and others interested
in school work will urge all teachers to
attend the Institute.
Among the colored teachers there
are some who are doing satisfactory
work. They do not seem to be teach
ing solely for the pay they receive, but
i are anxious to please both trustees and
| patrons.
The Free Common School is fact in
South Carolina, and there can be no
doubt that it has done much for the
State and that it is destined to do
much more. 1t is true that the system
may seem little defective and appear
that it does not fully meet the demands
made upon it, but at the same time a
careful examination of the system will
show that these defects are more ap-
parent than real, and that the demands
made upon it are eXtravagant and un-
| warranted. The fault is not so much
in the system as we may at a glance
suppose.
am glad to say, notwithstanding
considerable opposition, that in some,
yes, in many sections of our county
there is a strong feeling in favor of
| common school education.
One year ago two new school districts
were formed in the county, and the
citizens voted an extra tax for their
support. 'Only few months ago the
Town of Newberry was made sepa
rate school district, and an extra tax
was voted for its support. These things