The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-27
THE NEWBERRY GRADED SCHOOLS.
Report Of the Board of Trustees-Fou
Trustees Elected.

THE NEW BERRY GRADED SCdOOLS.
Report Of the Board of Trustees-Four
Trustees Elected.
It takes considerable interest to get up
a good sized citizens meeting in New
berry. The meeting called for last Thurs
day, though OF importance to every man
in town, was atteode by only a very few.
But then they can all read what was done
in the newspapers.
The object Of this meeting was to hear
the report of the Board of Trustees OF the
Newberry Graded Schools, and also to
elect four members of the board, for two
years, the others being life members by
act OF the Legislature.
Hon. Geo. S. Mower was made chair
man of the meeting and Mr.. j. w. Ear
hardt secretary. DR.. W. E. Pelham, the
secretary of the board. then read the re-
port of the trustees, which was as follows:
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
The Board of Trustees of the Newberry
School District in presenting their annual
report, realize that the work OF the scho--
lastic term ending June -, 1898, did not
differ essentially from that Of preceding
years; the character of the exercises one
year is practically that of any other year,
which, of course, it is the hope and pur-
pose of the Trustees to popularize the
schools by the adoption of systems and
methods considered the best by the wlsest
authorities in Graded School work, in
order to the highest development or ad-
vancement of the pupils in practical as
we'll as theoretical knowledge. In other
words our desire is to firmly establish
system Of schools in Newberry which will
not, a. j we believe does not, now suffer
by comparison with the schools IN cities
and towns where educational progress
grows apace. We have in our schools
the same number of grades as formerly
and a like number of teachers as have
heretofore been employed. We maintain
that we have so raised the standard OF
the schools that they are completing the
full course and receiving a certificate OF
graduation, is thus fully equipped for en-
trance to colleges of higher grade without
further preparation for all courses except
those requiring Greek. And we may well
add that in these times of enforced econ
omy it were desirable to attain that de-
gree Of efficiency in the schools by which
additional expense to parents may be
avoided, such as are usually incurred by
attendance upon fitting or training schools.
AS TO SEVEN MONTHS SESSIONS.
In respect to the public school fund
and the Peabody fund, our schools have
suffered losses from these sources to such
extent the past year as required the short
ening of the session from nine to seven
months. True the schools were open
during nine months of the year, but two
of these were upon funds voluntarily con-
tributed by the patrons of the schools.
This community has been made aware OF
the causes leading to the short term by a
statement from the secretary, appearing N
the public press of Newberry last March;
lest, however, this matter has escaped at
tention, some excerpts from the report are
herewith subjoined:
"The legislature of 1892 amended the
law relating to the apportionment OF the
school fund, which the two mills consti-
tutio1;l tax yields, making enrolment
instead of average attendance the basis OF
distribution. By this change the Graded
Schools of Newberry are deprived OF a
revenue amoui. .Sing to $3.50, which sum
the Board of Trustees confidently expected
to secure by reason of the improved aver
age attendance of the pupils. We do not
profess to understand the wisdom Of the
amendment; certain it is that it operates
greatly to the disadvantage of this commu-
nifty in its school interests. In addition
to this loss, the schools are no longer bene-
fciaries Of the Peabody Fund, that going
into other channels, by direction OF those
who control it; the amount heretofore
received was $780,"
BOND TAX MATTER.
Another matter we desire to present to
the citizens is the debt contracted in the
erection of the building heretofore re-
ported to you. To complete and pay for
the work the trustees found it necessary
to negotiate a loan from the National
Band of Newberry, S. c., for which the
Board pledged its personal credit by sig
nature. There is now due a fraction
over 81 200. The citizens Of the town
here assembled are now asked to author
ize, by resolution, the Board of Trustees
tn apply so much of the excess after pay
n.ent of interest on bonds each year &C
cruing as may be necessary to iquidate
this debt. The act of the Legislature
under which our schools were established
does not invl st the Trustees with this
authority, but it is held that the citizens
in mass meeting can clothe them with
the power desired. Thus the property IN
a short time will be fully paid for, and
the Trustees relieved of debt which
they are carrying for the community in
their official capacity.
ATTENDANCE AND TUITION FEES.
The Superintendent in his annual report
shows the total enrolment OF pupils Tor 1898
was S02, number greater than 1892 session OF
80. Of these 4l6 we're white and 336 were
colored. The receipts for tuition fees for the
seven months session were $4,000
During remaining two months when
schools were supported altogether
tsched we're ~ s51o.6S
Total l........... $50. IS
REsOURCES-sPEER'S REPORT.
Cash in hand Of Treasurer Speers, o 40 o.,
Cash nS from superintendent from ocio-
FeesS M SV 4o'- seo6S
or. ByWarrants on Speers, Current
EIEenses Teachers; Salaries, &c. 7y7l2
Ra1ance on hand cSpeers). ............. 8 55.el
RESOURCES coNTINUED-BoYDis REPORT.
teaching ,2sSsa
mill 996s9
Collected from polls and penalty.- o6oIoo
Total collection ......... ........ s3,e5lO
poid Teachers. Insurance. &c, on Or
ders 3,sl5
To amount oyerpaid paid............ s:6IoS
INTEREST TAX.
1Ruiidinel ....................s 1OOoS
Collected on same this year............- 1,l7l69