The Newark journal., 1903-05-22
sour HE RN
 EDUCATION
SOUTH CAROLINA CAMPAIGN.
Declaration of the south Carolina Educational Conference nt Co.,
 IuInbIH, April II.

"Regarding it as beyond discussion that universal education is absolutely necessary for the true solution of those problems which will ever com front free government, recalling that the faith of our state was pledged by our fathers to the support of schools for all the people bY the act of the assembly of 17l0, which declared it was necessary that free school he conducted for the youth of the province, affording instruction in the arts and sciences and useful learning; reaftirming that 'as people of the past owed duty to us: that the commonwealth exists chiefly for the children of to-day and those of the future, and that the principles of the Christian religion as well as cf humanity and of sound economics de- mand that we recognize and meet this obligation when taken in its widest form of expression, therefore:
 We, an educational conference as gembled in the city of Columbia this April llth, 1903, dc make and address to the people of South Carolina the following declaration:
 "1 No free government can long exist without an educated citizenship; this condition can not be secured ex- cept by a system of education which shall provide free schools for all the children of the state-a system which shall furnish such training as will prepare every child intelligently to perform all the services demanded Of him in his relations 10 family, so- ciety, church and state.
 ''2. The people of South Carolina have made a noble effort to meet this obligation, but the actual facts of our educational conditions show that the battle for popular education las not yet been completely won, and there fore demand renewed and organized effort on the part of all who love the state. Some of these facts are: (D the length of our school term is SS.4 days Ter annum; the average in the United States is 145; t2l the average salary of teachers is. per month. in South Carolina. S3125; in the Unitei States, $3as; @ average cost of edu cation per capita for enrolled pupils in South Carolina. S3.65; in the Unit ed States, $2o.29; (4) the statistics also show that 35.9 per cent of the entire population and IS of every 1oe whites over ten years of age are classed as illiterate.
 ''fo remedy this state of affairs is clearly our duty now, and the remedy lies in hard, persistent work for those schools which alone can offer an opportunity for an education to that great mass of our deserving ana patriotic citizens who live in the rural districts.
 Tn view of the supreme importance to the commonwealth of better schools in these rural districts, this conference, invoking the aid of the two great agencies, the pulpit and the press, and the cooperation of all good citizens, declares itself in favor of:
 "1. Local supplementary taxation as necessary alike to the moral and financial support of efficient public schools. and hence persistent agita- llpll, TOT lut btlli'i ii cNAtliSlOll VI itii1 plan, already adopted in our state by one-siXth of our school districts.
 70: Better training and payment of teachers, expert supervision, long CT school terms and courses of study adapted to the economic conditions and wants of the people.
 "3. The consolidation, wherever practicable, of weak schools into larger and stronger organizations.
 "4. Tie improvement of school houses and grounds. with better equipment for teachers.
 "5. A systematic campaign, not only with these ends in view, but also for the purpose of arousing popular interest in education.
 "rhe conference, therefore, recon mends that a campaign executive committee of three be appointed to organize and conduct the campaign for carrying out the purposes of this declaration"
 Gov. D. C. Haywood, State Superin- tendent O. E. Martin and President D. B. Johnson, of Winthrop college. were chosen as the campaign commit tee 10 direct the educational cam paign. which will be inaugurated al once.