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

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librarian of the Senate. In reference to these efficient services Sen
aor Tihman makes the following request in his letter to me:
In conclusion, desire to suggest that it will be n act Of grace
full recognition and of simple justice to Mr.. Baker that the Legisla-
ture should recognize his invaluable services by appropriatng a
small amount of money, say $1,000, out of that which has been OBJ
tanned. His work was not done with this idea, however, but he is
poor and has a growing family, and the State can we'll afford to pay
him handsomely"
In view of the great service rendered our State by Senator Till
man in this matter, J. think any request he makes here should find
a ready response. ] therefore ask your consideration of this and
concur in the request made by Senator Tilman. The warrants
Nos. $40 and 5747-on the Treasurer OF the United States for
~$SoI37S6, were duly received and at my request this amount was
deposited by the State Treasurer to the credit of the general fund.
AS the State was under the necessity of borrowing money l thought
this was the most judicious disposition to make of these funds.
EDUCATION.
There is nothing of greater importance to a State than IS the
education of its people, Never was this need more anlembracing
and comprehensive than it is today. This is an age of progress and
enlightenment, and history and statistics alike reveal the fact that
the most prosperous countries re those with an educated citizen
ship. Under a democratic form of government, in a republic like
ours, where each individual has a direct and equal share in the
responsibilities OF citizenship, it is absolutely necessary that the
people should be educated. Only in this way can there be a proper
recognition of our relation and duty to the State.
To those who arc charged with directing the affairs of our State
the work OF educating the people should appeal most strongly, and
we should manifest this by earnest labor in this truly great
field. We should give the utmost consideration to every branch
of this work, from the little log schoolhousc to the university; for in
advancing our educational facilities we will not only make III State
more prosperous, but we will make permanent and steadfast a high
standard of citizenship.
THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
The proper education of a people must, OF necessity, have its
beginning in the commons schools. These should be i'll every COM
muniy in our State; they should be Is we'll organized on a business
basis as it is possible to have them; they should be presided over
by competent teachers, with fulllcngth scholastic terms, and the
school buildings should not only be neat and comfortable, but they
should be attractive. The surroundings should be such as to make
the children desire to go to school, and when this has been done
a strong point will have been gained at the very beginning.
Although it is very evident that there is a educational awaken
ing in our State, it is equally evident that much remains TO be done
In fact, the awakening but reveals the magnitude of the task before
us and the great necessity with which we are confronted. While
iii S true that the graded schools and the high schools in Ii various
towns show striking and marked improvement, the conditions sur
rounding the schools in the country are not so satisfactory. We
must remember that these country schools are not in thickly SET
tied communities, that they have no large school fund: but we must
also remember that a large majority of the children Of the State
are, OF necessity, absolutely dependent upon these schools for their
preparatory education.
The average white school i'll South Carolina is open only ua days
in the year and the average salary paid to the teachers in these
schools amounts to only $2o3vo4. Surely this is not a record upon
which we can afford to rest and be content. The imperative need
which contronts IS demands that we should improve this situation. 1t
is an absolute rcproach to us that these schools are open only for 1I2
days, which statement means that many are open for a much shorter
period. The same condition exists when we contemplate the small
salary paid to the teachers, faithful men and women who are devot-
ing themselves to this life work.
1t is most gratifying to know that these conditions are being more
realized by our people year by year, and that there is a determine
ton to improve Our common schools. In April last many of our
leading educators held a conference in Columbia, and it was then
determined to organize and conduct an educational campaign for
improving school conditions. This plan was carried out BY the
appointment OF a committee consisting of State Superintendent of
Education 0. B. Martin, President d. B. Johnson, of Winthrop
College, and myself, to take active charge Of this work. A number
or meetings were held at various places throughout the State, many
speakers interested in education spoke at these gatherings, and. bv
awakening decided interest among the people, | believe that much
good has been accomplished.
AT these meetings great stress was laid upon the necessity for
the improvement of school buildings and grounds. and several ladies
were employed by the committee to prosecute this work. In ac-
cordance with this move, these ladies visited a number of counties
held meetings among the patrons and formed organizations among
parents and children for further labors in this line. In conducting
the educational campaign and in defraying its expenses the COM
mttee was financially assisted by the Southern Educational Board.
to which Board wish to render thanks for this valuable aid.
RURAL SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
There are entire counties in our State in which not a single county
school library is to be found. The proper training Of a people is
hndered by this lack, the school work is not as complete as it should
BE- and L concur in the recommendation of the State Superintendent
OF Education that a part-if this be only a small portion-of the