The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-04-03
OUR SCHOOLS.

already expressed as incumbent upon
the School Commissioner, he should
be informed when and where each
and every school is opened and ex-
ercises begun, and how long each
school can continue, having reference
to the apportionment made by him
Tor each school district; and should
so inform the trustees, thus securing
to each school uniform length of
time. No new school should be open
ed, which would operate to shorten
the time ofthose already in operation,
therefore no school would be com
menced without full knowledge of
how long the term would be. AS it
now is, the chairman of the board of
trustees is the only person who knows
or can tell how long time any
school in his district can continue in
session. This Mt present is account
ed for, in this way: the trustee is
first to sign a warrant or report of
the teacher. hence his knowledge of
the amount of money unexpended
which of course governs the school
term, is in advance to this extent of
the school commissioners. Yet it
would not be so if the Commissioner
was fully informed as above stated,
with reference to the number etc. of
the schools Incorporation. The book
of entry kept by tie trustee in which
all claims signed by him are kept,
must correspond with similar book
kept by the commissioner, in addi-
ton to which is the duplicate held
by the commissioner as voucher,
all corresponding in amount and date
to check one upon the other, thus Sc
curing uniformity in auditing and
paying school claims. In the selec-
tion and appointing of school trustees
by the School Commissioner reference
should be had solely to the fitness
and ability to fill the position, and
in doing so, it would be well to con-
suit the citizens, patrons of the
schools of the district. In point of
fact no officer should be chosen on
account of personal populnrity-but'
on the contrary Wholly with references
to his fitness and ability. The school
trustee occupies a peculiarly un-
thankful 7 osition, is in great meas
ure responsible for the establishment
and maintaining schools is the object
of much abuse, and no pay. The
school trustee could be very easily
dispensed with, placing the whole re-
sponsibility upon the School Comms-
sioner, and the county Board of Ex
aminers, who turnout and give GER
tiGcates to teachers. | have careful.
ly read the new Constitution, and
feel satisfied that the intention in
raising the constitutional school tax
from two to three mills is to keep the
public schools open ten months in
each year.A further provision is made
which authorizes and empowers the
Comptroller General to levy Il tax
supplementary to the regular three
mill tax, wherever the three mill tax
together with the poll tax, shall yield
an amount less than three dollars per
capita of the number of children en-
rolled; provided further that the net
earnings of the dispeasaries does not
yield a sufficient amount to meet this
deficiency, which is and shall be APP
plicable to the school fund. Ali
this seems ample for all school pur-
poses, provided it be .judiciously exc
pended. | think it folly for Il child
to attend school three months in the
year. No child can ever get an edu.
cation at this rate. | urge all to
send their children to school if sac.
rifice has to be made to do so. You
may leave your children property
which can be taken from them, but
an education can't.
Respectfully,
JNO. y. GAGE.
Union. s. c. Mch. 30th, 1896.