The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-01-13

average attendance for the year was 2o682s pupils, therefore the
amount paid for each pupil was $500. The total enrolment was
2SS,332, of which number I34a33o were white, and I54,oo2 were
eolored, showing an excess of 1863 in favor of the colored pupils.
Surely these figures alone should stimulate our white population
and should cause parents to make every sacrifice for the education
of their children. For further details regarding our common
schools, l would respectfully refer you to the complete report which
has been prepared by the State Superintendent of Education.
TWO SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.
Our educational system, however, will never be complete until it
shall include the education Of the hands as we'll as that of the brain.
In other words, the weakest part of II present system is the lack
OF schools OF manual training. Is not the time prophious for this
State to take up the important question of the education of our
children in the several crafts? Could not our larger cities and
towns begin the good work by starting schools in which boys may
be taught these honorable pursuits? In addition to this the question
of night schools has not yet received with us the attention it de-
serves, and the opportunity and need for their development seems to
especially exist in our large and growing mill communities.
A number of our boys and young mn are compelled each year to
leave the State in order to learn useful trades, which cannot be
taught them here, and many children in ~ mill districts frequently
cannot go to school as long as they should, for the reason that night
schools are not provided for them. Such conditions should no longer
exist, and we should see that a remedy is provided.
OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.
Our common schools are the living foundations upon which rest
our institutions OF higher learning. There can be 10 antagonism
between them, for each has it's own indispensable work in our educa-
tonal system. We can we'll afford to congratulate ourselves upon
the number, condition and record of our various higher institutions
of learning. These have faithfully and ably fostered a broad spirit
of education throughout our State, which honor is equally shared
by what are known as our sectarian colleges. No higher encomium
can be paid their. share in this work than is included in the state
ment that during the past year one of these institutions has added
to Its endowment by raising the sum of $I25ooooo for educational
purposes alone.
nth CAROLINA COLLEGE.
This honored a. historical institution is now i'll its ninety-ninth
year. For practically one hundred years this institution of learning
has contributed to the history of South Carolina, and among its
alumni are to be found the names Of many Of the most distinguished
men which the State has produced. Hoary with years. rich in the
honors these years have brought, its doors still stand open for the
youth OF our State. The College is well managed, its faculty is a
most efficient one, and from my own observation l am justified in
saying that its affairs are wisely and economically administered.
There are now upon the rolls the names Of 226 students. and Of
this number thirty-scvcn have been received from the establishment
by your body-at its last session-of a normal scholarship for each
county, These scholarships were wisely created and are destined
to do much good in advancing the educational interests of our State.
At your last session you appropriated $500 for the perfecting
of a sewerage system for this College. The Trustees will state to
your body that though this amount has been judiciously expended,
1t has proved not to be enough, and they will ask for IN additional
appropriation of $8,5oooo to provide, in the cheapest and simplest
manner, for the preservation of health among the students of the
College" Alo of the State buildings should be connected with the
city sewerage, and l recommend that this amount be appropriated
for the purpose indicated. AT your last session you appropriated
for current expenses, S2o,4oooo, and recommend a similar ap-
preparation this year.
1t has been called to my attention by the faculty that in January,
1905, this College will have completed its one hundredHh year of
active usefulness, and it is their desire to celebrate, in appropriate
manner, this centennial. Such all event marks an epoch, not only
in the history of this College, but i'll the history of education
throughout South Carolina and the South, and it is most appro-
PIRATE that it should be fifty celebrated. In order to do this, some
expense will be necessary, and the Trustees will ask from your hon
orablc body III appropriation of $4,000 for this purpose, and i'll
this request I also join.
WINTHROP NORMAL N INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE,.
1t has not been long since this College was organized, but it has
rapidly taken a leading place among similar institutions through
out Our entire country, and is doing a truly great work. The i'm
portance of sending forth such skilled, trained and educated teach
ers as are numbered among Winthrop graduates is of inestimabe
valuc to the cause of education in this State. Certainly, to an ap-
preciable extent, the educational awakening in our State is due,
IN a great measure, to the splendid work Of the graduates of this
College. There is no higher mark Of the civilization of a country
than IN the education Of its women, and none which will tell more
upon the future welfare of the State. President Johnson has had
charge of this College since its organization, and, seconded BY an
able corps of assistants, he has steadily maintained it's high stand
ard and general excellence.
Inc session which has just closed has been a most successful one,
every department running smoothly, with no friction. Five hundred
and ninetythrec students i'll all departments have been admitted
during this session, and the new dormtory, which was O much
needed, has been completely filled. The report Of the Board Of
trustees asks for an appropriation of $50 o8266, which is So ,3oI.s4
es thar was asked for last year. The carefully prepared report