The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-12-23
REPORT ON EDUCATION.
THE SCHOOLS OF THE STATE IN
GOOD CONDITION..
Dir. NJ syfi eld is the First of the ohicers to
Send His Report to the Public Printer
Enrolment Greater Than Ever.

Send His Report to the Public Printer
Enrolment Greater Than Ever.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. 1S.-Super
irtendent of Education May6eld yes
terday handed his annual report to the
| General Assembly to the Public Prin'
ter, being the first of the State officers
to do SO. It is very able and inter,
esting document, furnishing much
valuable information about the edu-
cational institutions of the State and
discussing in a most lucid manner
several questions affecting their in
terests. MIR. Mayfeld's discussion OF
the dispensary profit question is par
ticularly timely, showing that Jegisla.
ton is needed to make the schools re-
ceive funds from this source as in
tended by the constitutional conven-
ton. The introduction TO the report
is as follows:
! To the Honorable, the Senate and
House of Representatives Of South
Carolina:
Gentlemen: I have the honor 10
submit the following as the twenty
eighth annual report OF the DEPART
ment of Education:
| The statistical tables shows gen.
eral Improvement
The department has been free from
disturbance or friction. Harmony has
uniformly prevailed among the teach
ers and school officers.
| NIc
for the year have been satisfactory
and the results accomplished as great
as could have been expected.
The school law passed at your las!
session contains few conflicting sec
tions of minor importance which l will
call to the attention of the committees
on education during your session.
A few changes in the law are need
ed. These | will suggest when take
up the subjects to which they relate.
The enrolment for the year is lar
ger than ever before in the history Of
the State. Last year the number of
white pupils was 103, 72S, and this
| year 100, 159, an increase Of 5, 450; col
ored pupils last year 119, ,292, and this
year 123,17S, an increase OF $3.50; a
total increase of white and colored
pupils of 9.316. This increase has sur.
| passed the most sanguine expectations
| of those charged with the manage
| ment Of the department. This scho-
lastic year was put eight months, in
stead Of twelve, commencing Novem-
Der 1 and ending June 80, caused by
the change in the law. Had the
schools that were taught during the
summer months been included in this
report as they would have been had
the scholastic year been - months
instead of eight, possibly the enroll
| ment would have been still larger.
Formerly the scholastic year ran
from November the 1st to October
the 30th. Under the new law it runs,
after this year, from July the 1st to
June the 30th. This was wise change
asst rr:aliiees the Scholastic year coter.
minal with thatof the collegiate and
graded school and thus prevents dl.
vision of the sessions Of these schools.
Formerly a part Of the sessions OF
these schools was incorporated in the
report of one scholastic year and the
remainder in that OF another. As
soon as the officers familiarizs them
selves with the change they will be
pleased with it, for in addition to the
reason already assigned it gives am
pie time in which to prepare and for
ward their reports.
The schools for the whites average
95 months, aud those for the colored
3.25 months. 1t will be observed that
the average is not as great as that OF
last year, but this is to be accounted
for by the shortening OF the scholast.
ic year, putting the schools for the
summer months into the next scholas-
tic year. Had the schools for the sum
mer months been included in this year
the average length OF session would
have been increased beyond that OF
any previous year.
By careful management all the
schools OF many of the counties have
been brought to Q cash basis, and in
many other COUNTIES some Of the
school districts have been brought to
cash basis. In but few Of the couus
ties are all the schools on credit ba-
sis. 1 had hoped to see the schools Of
every county in the State brought to
cash basis by this time, but this has
been impossible. Work along this
line has been quietly done, with but
little, if any, notice taken of 1t, and
in no way has the cause of education
suffered on account of it. Efforts
along this line will be continued, but
I can not promise results as the terms
of the law are at times in the way and
prevent wise action which would ac-
complish the purpose. The condition
of the schools of the several counties
are 50 very different that no general
mandatory law on the subject would
meet the exigencies OF the case or pro
vide the proper relief. An amend
ment to the law with proper limita-
tions giving wider discretion or this
line to school officers would aid great
ly, if it did not altogether accomplish
the end desired.
The total school expenses for the
year were several thousand dollars
less than last year. but this IS also &C
colntable for By the shortening OF the
scholastic year and putting the schools
for the summer months in next year.
It may have been expected By some
that the expenditures for the year
wouli be largely in excess OF any pre-
vious years. But it should be remem.
bered that the counties on cash basis
used only the tax formerly levied,
poll tax and two mill tax. In some
counties not on cash basis only
poll and two mill tax were used and
in no county was the full amount OF
poll aud three mill tax used. The
| condition OF the schools OF the differ,
ent counties rendered this course both
proper and expedient. This is but an
instance Of the advisability Of making
the law more flexible. The State con.