The Monticellonian., 1903-05-21
SOUTHERN
 EDUCATION
SOUTH CAROLINA CAMPAIGN.
Educational Conference at Co., Iumbia, April II.

"Regarding if IS beyond discussion that universal education is absolutely necessary for the true solution of those problems which will ever con 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 1I1O. which declared it was necessary that q free school be conducted for the youth of the province, affording instruction in the arts and sciences and useful learning; reatfirmng that as people of the past owed duty to us: that the commonwealth exists chiefly for the children of to-day and those nf the future and that the principles of the Christian religion as well as Of humanity and of sound economies de mand that we recognize and meet this obligation when taken in its widest form of expression. therefore:
 We. an educational conference as gcmbled in the city of Columbia this April 11th. 1903, do make and address to the people of South Carolina the following declaration:
 "l. No free government can long exist without an educated citizenship; this condition can not be secured eN- 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 inteligently to perform all the services demanded Of him in his relations to family, so- ciety, church and state.
 '2 The people of South Carolina have made d noble effort to meet this obligation. but the actual facts of our educational conditions show that tirc battle for popular Nlucation 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: CD the length of our school term is ss.4 days Fer annum; the average in the United States is 145: @ the average salary of teachers is. per month. in South Carolina, S31.25; in the Unite l States. $33s; t3) average cost of edu- cation per capita for enrolled pupils in South Carolina. S3.65: in the Unit ed States, S20.29; (4) the statistics also show that 35.9 per cent. of the entire population and Is of every t0I whites over ten years of age are c1assed as illiterate.
 '.To 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.
 "In view of the supreme importance to the commonwealth ef better schools in these rural districts, this conference. invoking the aid of the two great agencies, the pulpit and tic 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- tion, fer the general extension of this 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 oY1 ,-npfS nf tho nap.Nla
 "3 The consolidation, wherever practicable. of weak schools into larger and stronger organizations.
 "4. The 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.
 "The conference. therefore, recon mends that campaign executive committee of three be appointed to organize and conduct the campaign for carrying out the purposes of this deelaration.'
 Gov. D. C. Haywood, State Superin- tendent 0. E. Martin and President D. E. Johnson. of Winthrop college. were chosen as the campaign commit tee to direct the educational cam paign, which will be inaugurated at once.