The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-04-10
CONCERNING HIGH SCHOOLS

State superintendent Of Schools
Martin at Work on Booklet to be
Issued Soon.
Columbia, April 2.-The State su-
ly issue a pamphlet in regard to the
esta tablishment Of high schools under
the recent act Of the general assembly.
This pamphlet will contain copy Of
the high school act itself, copy Of
the school bonding act and a letter
from Superintendent Martin in re-
gard to the methods by which high
act together with the rules and regu-
lations on this subject adopted by the
State board Of education at its meet
ing here last week. This will give
those desirous of establishing high
schools all the possible information
necessary for beginning the work,
and it is expected that there viii be
a number of applications soon fled
for this purpose, as there is evident
ly much interest in the high school
matter throughout the State.
The letter of Mr.. Martin gives the
Information in condensed form, and
is Of interest just at this time. II is
az follows:
.'To the People of South Carolina:
The enactment Of the high school law
at the recent session Of the legisla-
ture will mark an epoch in the his
tory Of education in this State. 1t is
distinct effort to complete the OUT
lines Of an educational system. Con-
siderable interest has already been
manifested throughout the State in
the provisions of this act. There have s
| also been misunderstanding ia re
| gard to what such provisions actually
mean. This pamphlet is issued with
the hope that it may help communi-
ties understand the law, and also that
it may aid them in starting the ope-
rstions of the law in, their midst.
There are four distinct operations
necessary before a high school can
be aided under this act, viz:
"An election, an application, an in
spection and confirmation.
Care should be taken in the be-
ginning to interest epople in a terri
tory large enough to support high
school properly. Section Of the
act allows county, township, or
several townships, an aggregation Of
school districts or an incornorated
town Of less han 1000 population to
form a high school district It will
be seen at a glance that a single dis.
trlct can not become a high school
district, unless It happens to be an
incorporated town OF less than one
thousand poulation, 4 town of that
size viii probably be too weak to
support high school, so a, asgn-
school district will necessarily be
composed Of two or more common
school districts. 1t is matter Of CO.
operation to do this work right.
This Office will furnish the county
superintendent with a petition form
which will aid communities in calling
| elections. After an election is held
and the trustees appointed the clerx
of the board should fill an application
blank which will also be furnished to
the county superintendents by this
department. The county superin-
tendent will verify the application.
keep duplicate in his Office and for
ward copy to the secretary Of the
State high school board When the
high school board receives the appli-
cation it will send an inspector to the
proposed district. This inspector will
| gladly give any aid and advice which
will enable such district to qualify
under the act. When the high school
district qualities the State high school
board will make the appropriations
indicated under the first part OF
Section IA Of the regulations. This
does not mean that the high school
may not receive more than the
amounts specified. There will likely
be a handsome balance at the close
Of the fiscal year which is to be dis
tributed to the schools which have
built up a good attendance.
Inasmuch as his act guarantees
free tuition 20 the boys and girls in
the State-aided high schools, it is just
that school with a large enrolment,
representing considerable territory,
should receive substantial aid.