The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-12-04
SCHOOL GROWTH
In This State the Past Twenty
Five Years Rapid.
what HAS BEEN DONE.

WHAg faAS 5EEN UUNG.
State Superintendent of Education
Martin Points Ont Some of the
Things That Have Been Accom-
pished in the Last Quarter OF a
Century in Educational Matters By
Our People.
During the last twenty-five years
South Carolina has made marvellous
progress in all lines, and in no other
line has the advance of this Common
wealth been greater than in educa-
ton. There is yet much to be done
The foundations have merely been
laid for making this Commonwealth
thorough educated and intelligent
State, where iliiteracy shall be at the
minimum, but at the same time en-
couragement and hope should be TAX
en- from the record of accomplish
ment within quarter of a century.
In his fourth coming annual report
State superintendent of Education
Martin will give some data in the
effort to show the advance within
the period mentioned. twenty-five
years ago the State Superintendent
of Education was Hugh E. Thomp-
son, that splendid gentleman and
educator, who later became Governor
of South Carolina, went to Washing
ton in the administration of Grover
Cleveland, and wound up his career
with honor as an official of the great
insurance companies in New York.
Mr.. Martin has taken the last re-
port of Superintendent Thompson and
with it as a basis makes some CON-
parsons with the conditions of to-
today. He points out that twenty
five years ago State Superintendent
Thompson was closing his term Of
Office, after having done some very
successful foundation and building
work for public school sytem in
South Carolina. In order to accom-
pIish results it was necessary tnen
for him to encounter great deal
of opposition. The statistics in mis-
reports of his last term OF Office
show marked development contrasted
with conditions when he first assurl-
ed the position This years statls-
tics are very interesting when con-
trasted with those of quarter of
century ago. The following items
are worthy Of attention:
1892 :.
| Total Enrolment .1t3,9t4
Average attendance. .lOl,Slo
Total expenditures .s3I3,e61.92
Number of school houses. ..2,78l
Value. ..470.600
Total number Of teachers. .3.413
No. of local tax districts. u
Amt raised by local taxation s28,6OO
Libraries none repoiteo'
No. of books in pub. school. $50.
Number of Books in public
school library. None reported.
1907
| Average attendance ..22Z. lS9
Total expenditures ..s1.14S,474.ll
Number of school houses. ..",lS 50
Value. 10000
Total number of teachers. ..6, 044
Number of local tax districts SCI
Amt raised by local taxa
ton. $685. ,072.S6
Libraries 800. :. l,ooi
Number of Books in Public
school library .20o,ooV
The appropriation. at the last ses
sion of the Legislature, of soO,oOl
for State aid to high schools VII
, mark an epoch in the progress OF oul
school system In addition to tn'
DEVELOPMENT which has occurred II
the public schools the facilities TO
: higher education have been great!
5 improved.
Twenty-Five years ago the Cltade
!. and the South Carolina College ha'
t inst been reopened and were gettln
: fairly started after the war OF recon
o struction. The denomiRational an
o private colleges were just beglnnln
T a new era of prosperity. 1t would D
a conservative estimate to say ina
d at least s1,O00,OO0 had been added
l. either in equipment or buildings,
l. the colleges which were furnlshln
higher education to boys and glr
of the state in the early elghtle
The increase in endownments Toul
annroximate the same amount. b
v sides this, the State of South Care
lima during that period erected thre
new State institutions, viz, Clemso
Winthrop and the State Colored 20
lege The plants of these three
III stitutions are easily worth one al
l. half million dollars. Private al
l.. denominationa enterprises nave al
erected Converse. Lander and Colul
ne bia Colleges during the same perlo
ey These, with the private academl
and high schools which nave De-
III erected within the last few yea'
ev would add at least three-fourths
in million dollars to the total val
of the educational property, III Sou
ir Carolina. OF course, these figures
ii. not indicate the full developme
of which has taken place. the gre
W est Improvement of all is found
TO- the sentiment which supports
work and in the desire which the p
ID nile manifest for continued progre
,rs There are some points in the $
,ut tistics of this year in contrast W
ed last year which are favorable
RI. some which are not" says Super