The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-05-14
Declaration OF Principles.


Regarding it as beyond discussion
that universal education is absolutely
necessary for the true solution of these
problems which will forever confront
a free government recalling that faith
Of our State was pledged by our faith
ers to the support OF schools for all
people by the act of the assembly of
1110, which declared that it was neces-
sary that free school be conducted
for the youth Of the province. afforaing
instruction in the arts and sciences
and useful learning; reaffrming that
as the people of the past owed duty
to US, 50 We owe duty to all who
follow us; that the commonwealth
exists chiefly for the children Of today
and those Of the future and that the
principles of the Christian religion as
we'll as OF humanity and Of sound
economics demand that We recognize
and meet this obligation when taken
in its widest form Of expression there
fore.
I'VE. as az educational conference
assembled in the city CT Columbia this
lp'il II. 1903. do make and address
to the people Of South Carolina the
following declaration:
Il. No free government can long
exist without al educated citizenship:
this condition cannot be secured eX
cept by system CT education which
shall provide free ScncolS for ail the
children of Tie Statc-a system wGich
shall furnish such training as will pre-
pare every child TO intelligently per-
form all the services demanded Of him
in his relations TO family, society.
church and State.
"2. The people c. South Carolina
have made noble effort to meet this
obligation, but the actual facts OF our
educational conditions show that the
battle for popular education has not
yet been completely won, and there
fore demands renewed and organized
effort on tie part of all who love the
State. Some of these facts are: DThc
length OF our school term is So 4-10
daysper annum: the average in the
United States is 1i5. (2) The average
salary or teachers pei i.:onih in South
Carolina. S31.25: in the United States
S4S: salary per annum in South Carroll
ra. S13S.12; II the United States. $685.
co. 90 Average cost OF education per
capita for enrolled pupils il South
Carolina, 1855; in the United States.
S20.29. (4) The statistics also show
that 81 9-10 per cent. of the entire
population and IS of every 100 whites
ever 10 years of age a-e classed as IL
litterate.
ITO remedy this state of affairs is
clearly our duty now. and the remedy
lies in hard. persistent work for those
schools which alcNe can offer an op-
portunity for an education TO that
great mass o. cur deserving and pa
triotic citizens who live in the rural
districts.
I'm view OF the supreme Importance
to the commonwealth Of better schools
in these rural districts. this confer
ence, invoking the aid Of the two great
agencies, the pulpit and the press. and
the cooperation of all good citizens,
declares itself in favcr of:
Il. Local supplementary taxation
as necessary alike TO tha moral ana
financial support of the efficient pubic
schools. and hence persistent agitation
for the general extension oi this pial'
already adopted in our State by one
sixth of aur school districts.
"2. Better training and payment of
teachers. expert supervision. longer
school terms and courses of study
adapted to the economic conditions
and wants Of the people.
IS. The consolidation. wherever
practicable, of weak schools into larger
and stronger organizations.
"4 The improvement OF school
houses anu grounds with better equip
ment for teaching.
"5 A systematic campaign. not only
with these aims in view, but also FOR
the purpose Of arousing popular inter-
est in education.
"The conference. therefore, recon-