The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-01-06

country boards, and a special tax
levied, under the general law author
izing the jurisdiction of the State
board, as follows: Anderson s.,
special tax none: Barnwell %,
special tax 9, Berkeley 2. special
tax @; Chester L, special tax none !;
Chesterfield 10, special tax Z; Clar.
endon 2, special tax 2; Golleton II.
special tax none; Edge6eld 10 special
tax / Fairfield l6. special tax 10;
Florence I, special tax none; Green
vile |, special tax !; Hampton 3.
special tax /; Kershaw Z, special
tax I; Lancaster l, special tax L:
Marion 4. special tax 2; Marlboro l.,
special tax /; Mulberry I, special
tax I Orangeburg IL, special tax u !;
Pickens 8, special tax 2; Sumter l.,
special tax L: Union /, special tax
/; York 4. special tax s; making a
total of 1871 districts, with 66 levy
ing special tax
There are eighty.nine public
schools in the State, as shown by the
school commissioner reports, in
which the public funds are supple
mented by private subscriptions. in
some of the counties, reports not in
cIuded in the above, the school com
missioner say "many - nearly all, !"
.sone fourth to third" etc.
The school commissioners reports
show eighty five academies and high
schools in operation this year.
The State colleges. male and
female, have had prosperous year.
Reference is here directed to their
several special reports. and to their
separate mention in the body of this
report, that you may have full and
clear conception of the condition OF
each of them. All the private col
leges, male and female, have been
well attended and appear to be in a
most prosperous condition.
X *
The vexed question of free tuition
in State colleges should be settled
and put to rest For many years it
has been subject Of dissatisfaction
and complaint on the part of the
friends of the other colleges in the
State and thus has worked injurys to
all the interests of education. That
such dissatisfaction should exist is
not surprising in the absence of all
uniform law or practice on the subject
in the several State colleges The
private and denominational colleges
are dependents largely upon their
tuition fees, and their friends com
plain of what they consi0er want
of dueNregsrd for their interests and
rights
Under such circumstances, and for
the sake of all the interests concern
ed, 1t is very desirable that some
equitable and permenent settlement
of the question should be reached,
which would be uniform in its appli-
cation to all the State colleges, and
Just alike to the Interests of the State
and Of the private colleges. So long
as the question remains open. the
agitation and the harm resulting from
it will continue, and the failure Of
each successive legislature to settle
it only increases the irritation and
danger III the hope of reaching
such a settlement, and thus harmonic
ing so far as possible all the interests
of higher education in the State,
recommend that at an early day in
the session the committee on educa
| ton invite conference of the presl
dents or superintendent of all the
colleges Of the State and of the
State board of education. with the
view of agreeing upon general
scheme which may then be enacted
into law, and benceforth enforced III
all the State colleges. l feel sure
that such conference would meet in
the spirit of compromise and with an
intelligent desire to advance all tho
interests of education in the State.
Of course the special scholarships
for normal or other purposes, should
be protected, but the general ques
tion of tuition fees might be settled
npon just and Uniform plan, with
which plan the private colleges
would doubtless Co operate | beg
leave to commend this suggnstion tt
early consideration
w. D MAYFIELD.
Superintendent of Education.
/