The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-09-18
DEMAND FOR
HIGH SCHOOLS.
Snpi. Martin and Prof. Hand Held Con.
ference Concerning New
School Act.

.L
| School Act.
Columbia. Sept. r. (SpeciaD. State
Superintendent of Education Martin
and Prof. w. III. Hand, who is high
school Inspector under the new law,
were in conference today concerning
the establishment of high schools under
the Act of 1907. Mr.. Hand now has
a list of 43 high school districts which
have qualified under the law, having
held an election and voted a special
tax. These 43 high school districts in
clude $50 common school districts, as in
many cases, several school districts
combine to establish a high school.
There are six or seven other districts
which have partially complied with the
high school regulations and which will
doubtless be able to qualify by the time
the State Board meets on the 20 inst,
to consider these applications. 1t would
held elections and are planning to Sc
cure high schools to send in their APP
plications before that date.
Each of these high schools will re-
ceive from $500 to $780,, the average
being about $500. At this rate only
about n half of the appropriation of
$50, 900 will be utilized this year. The
amount received by each high school
under the act cannot exceed so per
cent. of the amount raised by the high
school districts, through n special tax
or otherwise, and the matter is regula-
ted by a rule adopted by the State
Board, as follows: An approved two
year high school shall receive 5000, an
approved three year high school 500,
and an approved four year high school
$500; provided that in each case the
above amounts shall not be more than
60 per cent. of the annual income of
such high schools; provided, also, that
schools which meet the requirements
of the act and of the Boards regula-
tions in regard to courses Of study and
number of teachers, but do not have
annual incomes double either of the
above amounts, shall receive so per
cent. of this annual income available
for high school purposes; provided,
further, that for each additional fifty
high school students above the first
100 of enrolment a high school shall
receive 500 of additional aid and that
an approved high school having at least
$500 worth of equipment for teaching
industrial and commercial branches
shall receive an additional 500 a year,
provided of course hat the total aid
does not exceed so per cent. of the an
nual income of any high school district.
The State Board has reserved the right
to apportion any un~expended balance
upon the basis of enrolment to the
schools which have not received as
much as so per cent of their annual in
come for high school purposes.
The enrolment of so or more high
schools within one we + in South Caro-
lima, as now seems p4 liable, will be q
very good start indeed towards secur-
ing a high school system to fill the GAP
between the common schools and the
colleges. This step forward is secured
at a very small cost to the State, com
paritively, and the success that has fol
lowed the enactment of the high school
law shows how easy it is with little
effort and organization to induce com
munities to improve their school condi.
tions. While the State makes an ap.
preparation for these high schools the
communities themselves really bear the
burden and in this way the principal OF
self help is impressed upon the pupil.
Mr.. Martin today sent to the county
superintendent of education the fol.
lowing letter in regard to this matter:
To the County Superintendent.
Dear Sirs--We are very anxious tc
get the high school applications into
the best possible shape prior to the
meeting of the State Board of Educa.
ton on September Goth. There are
many places which have voted favor.
ably but have not filed their applica,
tions. The State Board can not take
action unless it gets the information
asked for in that blank. Some places
voted early as single districts and sent
in their applications in accordance with
such elections. Nearly all of these
have since voted as can aggregation OF
districts" and these complied with the
law, but in some cases the amended APP
plication has not been filed. Please use
your influence to get all of these papers
correctly filled and filed at once. The
State Board of Education will probably
make arrangements to receive applica-
tions after the Goth instant, but it is
highly desirable that as many reports
as possible be sent in at once.
Enclosed you will find some blanks
which ask for information up to date.
Please see that one is filled out at once
for each high school district in your
county.
Sincerely yours,
O. B. MARTIN,
State Supt. of Education.