The age-herald., 1900-01-07
CONDITION OF THE
 COUNTY SCHOOLS
Superintendent Fountain Submits
 His Quarterly Report.
AN IN TERESTING DOCUMENT
Makes Suggestions and Recommenda- tions for Improvement of System Uniform Text Books and Re-
 cords Rests With Patrons

County Superintendent of Education Jerry Fountain has completed his report for the quarter ending December 31, showing the number of schools pupils, teachers and average pay of the teachers in the county, exclusive of the incorporated towns and cities.
 Accompanying his report Superintendent Fountain submits some suggestions which, if made effective, would increase the use- fitness and influence of the public SsSfools of the county and result in longer terms of absolutely free schools.
 With the present revenues free schools are open about six months in the year. The report is as follows:
 White Schools
 Number of schools, 10i; number of teaeh- CTS, 1S9; number of principals, 101; number of assistants, 3S; schools with assistants, 6S; without assistants, B; schools with three assistants, l; with two, 2; with one, 29; number of male principals, 80; female prin- cipals. 21; male assistants, ?; female as- sistants, 36; total male teachers, S2; total female teachers, 57; number of first grade teachers, S2; second grade, 54 third grade, 46.
  public fund for free school beginning Janu- ary 1.
 Number of schools drawing fund. 97; number of teachers drawing fund, 133; average number days taught, 50; number of white children in county, 14,220; number of enrolled 7,264; average attendance, 5,16S; amount of fund drawn for whites, SIP, ,S39 47; amount drawn per teacher. $92.77; amount per teacher per month, $37.1O. Coiored Schools
 Number of schools, AT; teachers, 49; prin- c,pals, 47; assistants, ?; number of schools not employing assistants, 45; employing assistants, g. with one assistant each, ?; number of male teachers, A; female, %; first grade teachers, g; second grade, 4; third grade; 36; number of schools draw ins fund, 47; teachers drawing fund, 49; average number of days taught, 45; num- Der of colored children in county, 605i; number enrolled, 2,S2S; average attendance 1,7s7 amount of fund drawn for colored schools, s2775.76; amount per teacher, $5665; average per teacher per month, $25. .1S'
 General Statement
 Total number of children in county: White. II 4220; colored 6054; total 20274; total number enrolled, white, 7264; colored 2,223 total 95S7; total attendance, white, 5,1GS; colored, 1,7S7; total, 6955; total funds drawn, $15,115.2S; total number of teachers IFS
 Balance of state fund on hand, $7,z03.S4; balance of county fund on hand, $6. .266.O3 balance of poll tax on hand, $5,29S; total amount on hand, $l9,367.s7.
 Daaa,. n, datfons
 With the increased amount of public fund on hand we should be able to run nearly every school in the county abso- lutely free for at least six months-in some cases seven or eight months
 The supplement" feature is the cause of 9j per cent. of the dissensions. We can pay salaries ranging from $25 per month for the experienced third grade teachers to $75 per month for the experienced, capa- ble first grade teachers under this plan. Our schools should be graded and not con ducted upon hap-hazard cIasslfcations, as many of them are today. We should have a uniform series of text books for the county. As it is today, every time a man moves he is compelled to buy a new set of books if his children go to school.
  ords in our schools. Our schools should be put under one general system so that they would thoroughly articulate one with arother.
 The township trustees should be paid in accordance with the work they perform. The teachers of the county should be paid monthly instead of quarterly. They are the only class of workers in the county who have to wait three monltlls for their pay. The monthly. pay may be allowed by law. See section 3614 of code. The patrons of the schools can have these recommendations carried into ef- feet by demanding of teachers 1nd trust ees compliance herewith and our schools will take on system and progress. JERRY FOUNTAIN County Superintendent of Education.