Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-07-31
THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL LAW
The Hon. j. w. Nash Talks to the
Teachers About 1t.

THE New High School Law" was
the subject of an able address by
the Hon. j. Wright Nash, of Spar
|tanburg. before the State Teachers
Association held at Chick Springs.
In his address he referred to the
early efforts at high school work in
South Carolina and gave some facts
not generally known.
He reviewed educational conditions
In this State before and after the war
and commented on the painstaking
care employed in the preparation of
the high school bill before it was in
troduced in the General Assembly. He
then said that the act still has i'm
perfections and in this connection
said:
No matter how skilful the tailor,
nor how careful the cut and the
make, no man ever knows whether
MS suit is going to fit until he tries
1t on. The weak places and imper-
fect1ons In this law aid not exhibit
themselves until the State Board.
tried to put 1t into execution. The
rural trustee, In attempting to make
1t f[ the community and adant 1t to
his peculiar needs and circumstances,
mas brought out more impcrfections
than the wise men ever dreamed ex-
listed. The great point was won,
however, when the law was put on
the books, because its wrinkles and
Iimperfections can be ironed out and
amended at succeeding sessions OF
the General Assembly. It's final per-
fection must be the experience and
work Of years.
The following are some of the
limperfections | have noted:
Il. No single common school dis
|trict, unless it be co-extensive with
an incorporated town Of less than
one thousand Inhabitants, can estab-
lish high school.
y. Is 1t not clear that two adjoin-
ing school districts in different coun-
ties may form high school district?
3. While an Incorporated town or
city Of more than one thousand in
habitants may not of itself create q
high school, If such town or CITY han
pens to be within the area of seye-
raj adjoining common school dis
tricts forming a high school district.
high school may be placed in such
city or town. J..
4. The chairman of each school
district board within the high school
territory Is ex-officio a member Of the
high school board. Under this regu-
lation. IL a whole county were to
form high school unit, the chair
man Of each common school board
In such county would become a mem
Der OF the high school board, even If
there be half hundred.
'5. doubt very seriously now the
the wisdom of limiting the number
OF inhabitants in cities and towns to
one thousand, where a high school
may be established. Some Of the
best communities in this State, de-
sirous Of establishing high schools,
and deserving the same, have been
cut out By this limitation.
Good Features OF the Law.
THE good features Of the law are
easily recognized. 1t Is simple and
easy to put into operation, and the
high school board, with the superin-
tendent or education at its head, has
simpl1fied matters very much by
sending out broadcast printed infor-
nation and regulations. First comes
the election, which Is held in exactly
the same manner as other elections
are held, every qualified elector being
given the privilege of expressing
himself. Let me say in parenthesis,
as little remarkable, that In these
local elections, which will probably
require little money, 1t Is usually
the fellow who pays only a poll tax
and fifty cents on a hound pup, and
ffteen cents on personal property,
who goes to the, polls and registers
his protest, while the man Of large
means, and possibly heavy taxation,
Is usually the man in the community
to lead a forward movement of this
kind.
After the election has been de-
c11nd In the off
application to the State Board, and
blanks for this will be furnished at
cost of two~cent stamp. The in
spection Is then made by the State
Inspector, and If all the requirements
or the law have been complied with,
and the State Board considers that
the State vii. be justifie in extend
ing the aid, the school is established.
The trainers Of the law kept be-
fore them constantly the present
common school system of the State
and strove laboriously not to inter
fere in particle with it, | do not
believe that the operation Of the law
Will Interfere adversely with any
common school in South Carolina.
On the other hand, it will relieve the
common school Of all pupils above
the seventh grade, and it will eventu-
ally, when young men and women
are turned out, supply these schools
with the teachers they have so long
cried for in vain.
Law Hailed with Enthusiasm.
The instructors Of the universi-
ties and colleges OF this State have
been made kind of advisory counsel
and, as matter Of fact, almost with
out exception the higher institutions
OF learning have hailed the high
school law with great enthusiasm.
TheY have seen In It's fntnrn nnnrn