The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-03
ABOUT The SCHOOLS.
A Thousand SchooIlouses Built
Since C ampaign Started.

An Educational Review and Outlook
Stated in an Address Issued by the
Campaign Committee.
A very interesting address has
been prepared by the educational
campaign committee OF South Caro-
lima, showing what has been accom-
pl;shed in this State since the cam
paign started and what is yet to be
done.
This committee consists of Gov. NJ.
F. Ansel, chairman; Supt. o. B. Mar
tin, Pres. D. B. Johnson, IL. D.;
Pres. H. N. Snyder, LII. D., and Prof.
w. II. Hand. The field work has
been done largely by Superintendent
Martin, assisted by Mr.. Hand, al
though the other members are dill
gent, tireless and enthusiastic work
ers for education.
The address which they have is
sued is as follows:
On April IL, 1908, a conference
was held in the senate chamber of
South Carolina's capitol. This con-
ference was composed of 65 earnest
men who have devoted much OF their
time and lives to educational endeav-
or. 1t was declared that better schools
in the rural districts are of supreme
importance to the commonwealth.
A committee was appointed to con-
n
interest in education, and certain
lines of work were indicated. This
conference has been enlarged, and it
now asks the interest and co-opera-
ton of the people in order that the
work already begun may be pushed
with greater vigor, and also that ef-
fectiye efforts may be made IN new
fields.
The objects outlined in 1903 were:
more local taxation, better training
and payment Of teachers, expert sup
ervision, longer school terms, better
courses of study, consolidation Of
schools and the improvement Of
schoolhouses and grounds. While
there is much to be done, yet we have
some cause for qualification because
of what has been accomplished thu!
far.
At that time about $50 district:
levied local tax; now the number ap
proaches 500, which is nearly one
third of the districts in the State.
The average annual salary Of Whit
teachers has increased from S203 t.
s253. a gain of $50. Our colleges
summer schools, reading circles ant
teachers associations have don
much to make our teachers more eff
cient.
The average salary of county sup
erintendents has increased from
s574,4O to s6S4.40. Several count
superintendents had their salarie
raised in recognition of their earnest
ness and efficiency in their work.
| The average length of the schoc
term has increased nearly a month
| Consolidation of schools has bee
tried with excellent results IN man
parts of the State.
| Nearly one thousand schoolhouse
have been built during the past fou
Years. Many of these houses ar
livery valuable. At least half mi
lion dollars have been spent in thl
way. This does not take into accoun
the hundreds of Improvements Whlc
have been made in repairs, equip
ment, lbraries, pictures and other es
sentials of better school houses.
1t is worthy of note, also, tha
lment. Libaries, pictures and other es
Itablished in rural schools during tn
Ipast four years. This means at leas
100000 well selected books in place
where few opportunities existed be
fore. There has also been lbrar
movement in the cities and towns.
One of the most helpful agencle
fo South Cardinals good is tn
| School improvement association. Thl
is an, organization, mainly of Womer
which has as it's object the beautify
ing of school houses and grounds
This is noble work, and it is bein
well done, There are more than on
thousand members and the associa
ton is growing. Many schools ar
more attractive because of the labor
of these devoted women, and ye
their work is but fairly begun.
This committee rejoices in the i'm
provements which our people hav'
made, and it also desires to make
few suggestions in regard to the con
tinuation and enlargement of this en-
tire work. There are yet more thai
a thousand school districts where :
local tax would mean better schoo
facilities and more interest on thu
part of the people. There are man!
districts in which it is Impossible tt
maintain good schools with only the
constitutional 3-mill tax. Such dis
tricts must be content with made
quate schools or supplement the
school fund with individual subscrip
generally an unfair sharing o.
expense.
Again, we ought to establish SOC
libaries year for the next few years
One way to make people intelligent is
to train them to read; the surest way
to make reading people is to train
them while young. Some entire coun'
ties have done very little in voting
local taxes or establishing school Ii
DTdTlSS. LtI uS ClOuoC liSSS SOuASAS.
for the sake of the children there.
County High Schools.
ns ought to establish at least one
good high school in each county in
the State within the next twelve
months, and before another four
years shall have passed, there should
be high school within reach of
every ambitious boy and girl in South
Carolina. Scores of townships in the
State are without a single high school
within reach of the pupils there.
Those who go to colleges sadly need
better preparation than they are now
getting. 1t is poor economy to send
off boy to do on some college cam
pus the work he ought to do at home
in the high school. 1t cost from four
to six times as much to have this
work done away from home as to
have it done ct home. We have a
great task also to adapt the courses
of study in the high schools to the
economic needs of our people. Those
who do not 90 to college stand even