The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-28
THE SCHOOLS OF THE STATE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF SUPEIsIN
yTIGNDENT MAYFIIGLD.

Fifteen Thousand More t.egrOCs Than
Whites Enrolled in the Schools
Suggestions and Recommendations
to the Legislature.
superintendent of Education May
fold has just completed his annual re-
port to the Legislature. Mr.. Mayiicld
has takcn a. deep interest in the edu-
catiOnal institutions of the State, and
recommends several improvements
which, If adopted, will provo Il great
help to education in South Caro-
lima. The report in full is u lengthy
one, but tho following introduction
will be read with interest:
10 the Honorable the Senate anG
House of Representatives of South
Carolina
Gentlemen have tho honor to sub
NIT the twenty-seventh annual report
Of the department of education. In
view of the fact that the constitu
tioual convention is now in session
educational interest of the State,
doom it inexpedicnt to make some sug-
gcstions | otherwise would.
There were enrolled in the free pub
lie schools OF the State for the year
beginning November /, 1894, and end
ing October 81, 1895, lO3, ,729 white and
1929 colorcd pupils, aggregating
223,O2I.
The enrolment of the colorcd for
this year exceeds that of the whites by
,563 Last year it exceeded the
whites by l4,4l4.
Last year The white enrolment was
lO6, l76, this year l03, 720, making Il loss
OF 2,441 white pupils.
Last year the colorcd enrolment
was l2O,5O0, this year lis, ,292, making
u loss Of ,29S colored pupils.
Last year the total enrolment was
22G, 766, this year 223, ,02l, making a
total loss OF 3,7I5 pupils.
1t should be rcmem bored, however,
that tho enrolment last year was in
excess Of that for any previous year
by 3,6i6. This year it has dropped
back. 1t is, perhaps, but fair to at
tribute tho loss this year to the extra
dcmand oi parents for the services Of
their children on account Of the iinan-
ciul stringency Of the year.
| bog to again call your attention to
the fact that under the special acts
passed by your body for the formation
OF special school districts you put all
such schools in Il large measure from
under the control OF tho State and
county school authorities and thereby
render it very difficult for these olli-
these schools. The failure this year
OF many Of these schools to renOrt to
either the county authorities or to this
ollico accounts in part fot tho falling
of in tho enrolment herewith reported
for the year.
Under the rule for asccrtaining the
average time the schools Of IL county
have been in session during the year
the long term schools, which are in
the cities and towns and special dis
tricts, are placed with the short term
country schools, and the general aver
aye for the county does not do Justice
to the long term schools, while it in
dicatcs to the casual thinker that the
short term schools ran longer than
they really did. 1t would be we'll for
these schools to be reported in sepa-
rate classes and tho law should be
amended for this purpose.
Tho special schools should be put
under the school authorities at least
to the extent Of accounting for the
public money received and expended
and reporting such other matters as
will enable the school authorities to
make complete reports of tho cOndi-
tiOns OF the schools OF the State.
am forced again to complain of the
negligence Of many Of the county school
commissioners and some of tho treas
urcrs in making up and sending in
their annual reports. This is q great
annoyance and hindrance to this Office.
But fcw OF thc school commissioners
sent .incompleto reports. Tno iucom-
plctc reports had to be returned for
corrrcLiun, and in many instances all
the corrections were not made. Three
OF the county commissioners have not
yet reported. This necessarily has
thrown my report behind, and to the
cxtunt Of these failures it is incomp-
lctc. There should be some legisla
tion on this subject. Ii tho school
year began Jolly | and closed June 30
OF each yoar, more time would be
given before tnc meeting OF your body
in which TO perfect the reports and
tho school year nS it would thcn be
defined by law would be in accord
with the sch. ol session as the schools
arc now Iun, and there would be no
tapping Of The school sessions. SO far
as the money is concerned there could
be no trOu bic in that respect. We are
now using tie taxes OF ono fiscal year
to pay the school expenses Of another,
this being made necessary by post
poning several years ago the collection
OF taxes for one year.
| am pleased to report that thCrc
has been Il general Improvement in
the teachers Of tho public schools,
which is evidenced by the greater in
forest they take in the work. This Of
course must be necessarily gradual.
TO the school authorities and the
voluntary efforts on the part Of the
teachers themselves this improvement
is due.
In many counties summer schools
ana teachers institutes were held with
satisfactory work 0n\'hc part Of the
Instructors and good 40. ndance on the
part Of tho teachers. Th s work should
meet with your approval and cncour
agcmcnt.
EXPENDITURES.
According to the reports of the coun
ty school commissioners to this Office
the expenditures for the fiscal year fOI
all public school purposes were al
| follows
Teachers salaries. .$470, ,083 G.
Rent Of school houses. 1856 81
Repairs of school houses. =. 21,72l T.
Purchasing school furniture l,G65 q
Purchasing fuel and Incl
| dentals .................. 8,Ol8 8