The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-13

south S6 per cent. Of the criminals are
dcficient IN education, while 60 per
cent. are totally illiterate." Statistics
snow that % per cent. of all the inhab
ltants In the South over ten years or
age are illiterate, while in New York
1t is only 3 IL per cent.
! IN my last annual message l en-
deavored to show the Importance of u
compulsory education law. Thirty
three States and Territories including
the District of Columbia, now have
compulsory education laws. The high
est per cent. Of illiteracy among the
native white population over ten years
In those States having compulsory at
tendance laws Is Wyoming with .7.3
per cent. and the law has been In
iorce only IL few years. In Connect
cut the per cent. is ! and In Massa.
chus2tts and Nevada only s.. III
states not having compulsory attend
ance the lowest rate Of illitcracy OF
native whites over ten years Is in Ten
as with S.3 per cent. In South Cnro.
linh the per cent. Of illiteracy of na.
| i've whites over ten years Of age ls
lS.l per cent, and in North Carolina
II is 23 per cent. In the face of these
facts l do not sec how any one can
oppose compulsory attendance at
school. 1t is not necessary to worry
| about the negro. He is getting all the
education which is provided now and
could get no more under compulsory
| attendance
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
1here Is q marked increase in the
interest IN public education and there
are many encouraging evidences OF
| Improvement. Yet the bare facts of
the condition Of the average school IN
some counties are shocking Refer
encc 10 the statistics In the report of
the State Superintendent of Educa.
| ton discloses that there arc numer-
! Gus schools with less than three
months term, and still more Will,
| teachers SO badly paid that they can
not be supposed in any degree compc.
tent. If the Legislature will dis.
charge It's responsibility to the cause
OF education in its entirety in the
State, there must be State aid to the
puDnc schools. An appropriation to
be apportioned according TO the mon
ey raised in tho counties is nothing
more than county tax--an Increase
or the constitutional three mill tax.
Efforts heretofore made to pass such
il law nave met with the response
from some delegations: I'VE have
money enough already" The Charles.
! So''oh' Val IOlnL 10 tnclr school
terms and their teachers salaries as
evidence that they need little or no
money. The truth is. that u lepisla.
tive appropriation should be made
along the lines prescribed by the Con,
Stltut1on to bring up the deficient
schools to minimum standard. The
dlsDensary money has been appor-
toned under a law fixing three
months or $75 salary as the minimum
standard, but the educational senti.
ment OF the State has passed the
point where it eau be longer satisfied
with this minimum. 1t would be Int.
tie enough for the Legislature to con-
tribute to the efficiency Of the public
SCHOOLS d sum equal to the amount It
| appropriates to the State COLLEGES. A
/ nuch smaller sum, as estimated by
; the state Superintendent in his an
nual report. would be more than ade-
qnate to insure six months term
with S2l0 teacher to every school
| IN me state that could make itself
deserving Of this aid by conforming,
10 the proper policy in it's location
and the qualification Of It's teacher.
. SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE.
! rms honored institution continues
10 measure up to the high standard OF
! einciency which 1t has maintained dur
ing the past hundred years. It's ar
: ialfS arc wisely administered. and
,he c!nlncntly successful, useful and
! honorable careers OF it's graduates
! emphasizes the wisdom of the State
! III continuing It's maintenance. The
/ colleGc now has 203 students, who are
! working earnestly and harmoniously
"htn 'helr professors. and there il
, nooo reason TO hope that this year
=
, < us history. An appropriation of af
l' lSt $4,000 will be asked, For r,m.
t"er and detailed information refer
lyon TO the report OF tho Board of
| Trustees
WINTHROP NORMAL. AND JNDIrS-
TRIAL COLLEGE.
Iherc is no more important institu.
uoh IN the State than Winthrop Col
| icse. us vital Importance consists in
che lact that 1t educatcs and trains the
luture mothers and teachers of tho
o.alc. 1t Is now universally recoe.
| hlZed That If a people are to be edIl.
| cated and. therefore. great and infIu.
ehtlal, the women Of that people musi
DC educated. An educated mother
J means educated children Women are
, me natural teachers Of children ana
winthrop College Is doing great
"elVice 10 the State by giving a pro.
icsslonal training to these nat,,ra |
teachers: The college has sent out
1l6 graduates in it's short life-ear.
nest, devoted women. most of whom
are teaching in this State and by their
work and example arc elcvatine the
'one anl standard Of the common
schools. The college has reached and
! n'hchtted great many more girIs
'hah thiS, however. During the post
SoEeh ana half years there have
! ,ocn chrolIcd in the department OF
| sewing, dressmaking and millinor,,
95G students, through whom tho worI,
has reached at least 900 homos