Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-12-05
SCHOOL GROWTH
In This State the Past Twenty
Five Years Rapid.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.


Martin Points Out Some of m,
Things That Have Been Accom-
plished In the Last Quarter Of .
Century in Educational Matters b,
Our People.
| During the last TWENTY-FIVE vear,
south Carolina has made marvelou,
progress in all lines, and in no otbe,
line has the advance of this Common.
wealth. been greater than i'm educa.
tion. There is yet much to be done
Inc foundations have merely been
laid for making this Commonwealth
thorough educated and intellieen,
state. where iliiteracy shall no at tbo
minimum, but at the same time on
couragement and hope should he taL
=" .iohi .he record of accomplish
ineht WITHIN quarter of century
In MS fourth coming annual report
state Superintendent of Education
Martin will give some data In the
enort to show the advance within
the period mentioned Twenty
years ago the State Superintendent
Oh Education was Hugh E. Thomn-
son, that splendid gentleman and
educator, who later became Governor
OF South Carolina, went To Wasbino.
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 1t as basis makes some COM
parsons with the conditions OF to-
To-Day. 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-
plish results It was necessary then
Tor him to encounter a great deal
or opposition. The statistics in his
reports OF his last term of office
show marked development contrasted
with conditions when he first assum-
ed the position. This years statis-
tics are very interesting when con-
trasted with those of a quarter of
century ago. The following items
are worthy of attention:
1882
Total Enrolment :. . :. ..145.974
Average attendance. .1O1.S16
Total expenditures .$373.567.
Number of school houses. .2.7S1
Faiue. ..470. 600
Total number of teachers. ..3.4i3
No. of local tax districts. z
Amt raised by local taxation $2S,6OO
Libraries None reported.
No OF books in pub. school. $50 r..
Number of Books in public
school library. None reported
1907
Total enrolment. =. ..314s9e
Average attendance .222.iSs
Total expenditures ..$1,14S,474.11
Number of school houses. ..a,7s6
value. =. =. .2,12O.0OO
Total number of teachers. ..6,O44
Number of local tax districts. sol
Amt raised by local taxa
ton. =. .$326,0729
Libraries So. =. ..1.OO7
Number of Books in Public
school library 200 .OOC
The appropriation, at the last ses
sion OF the Legislature, of $4,000
for State aid to high schools will
mark an epoch in the progress of on,
school system. In addition to the
development which has occurred IN
the public schools the facilities 70,
higher education have been greatl,
improved.
twenty-five years ago the Citade
end the South Carolina College haC
just been reCpened and were gettint
fairly started after the war of recon
struction. The denominationay anc
private colleges were just beginnin,
a new era of prosperity. 1t would b,
a conservative estimate to say tha
at least $1,000,0OO had been added
either in equipment or buildings, {,
the colleges which were furnishin,
higher education to boys and girl
or the state in the early eighties
The increase in endownments woul,
approximate the same amount. Be
sides this. the State of South Caro-
lima during that period erected thre
new State institutions, viz, Clemson
Winthrop and the State Colored Col
lege. The plants of these three in
stitutions are easily worth one an
half million dollars. Private an
denominational enterprises have ais
erected Converse. Lander and Colum
bia Colleges during the same period
These. with the private academic
and high schools which have bee
erected within the last few years
would add at least three-fourths @
million dollars to the total valu
of the educational property in Sout
Carolina. or course. these figures d
not indicate the full development
which has taken place. The grea,
: est improvement of all is found 1
the sentiment which supports tn
: work and in the desire which the pee
pie manifest FOR continued progress.
There are some points In the sts
4 -. Il -