The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-04-08
HIeH SCHOOL Law,
STATE SUPT. MARTIN ADVISES
THE PATRONS.
Tells HOW School Districts May Pro
ceed to Become Bcneftiaries of tn,
Appropriation.

Tells How School Districts Nav Pro
cecd to Become Bcnefitiaries of tn,
Appropriation.
Columbia, April 3.-Hon. .. |.
Martin. StatA superintendent Of edu.
cation, yesterday issued a statement
with reference to the Improvement.
made recently In tie high school act
He says that the most striking fea.
lures Of the law, as 1t now is, are a.
|'follows:
"A single district may establish a
high school.
Trustees of the common school
Will be trustees cf the high school
In all districts under the amended
act.
I'm rural high school districts aid
may be given where there are only Is
rupils and one teacher in the high
school department.
High school taxes must be voted
by the people just as other special
taxes are voted.
THE basis Of aid will be the char
acter of the work and enrolment OF
Lupils rather than the financial basis.
Of course there IS 4 financial limit. Il
will be impossible fer community to
get aid unless 1t makes improve
ments. Aid may be given to a high
school district which does not con-
tain an incorporated town of more
than 2.50O people. There ar, other
details In the act and regulations
which ] believe will conduce to a bet
ter understanding and a better work.
ing Of the high school law.
Naturally 1t takes time and
thought to work out a high school
system which is IN itself a component
r'art Of State public school system.
I believe that within the next fcw
years We shall go a long way towar ds
putting a high school within the reach
cf every boy and girl in every county.
The lower grades as welt as the col
lcges and universities, will very soon
feel the behcial effects of this
work.
"The procedure In securing a high
school Is not. difficult. This office has
furnished to the county superintend-
tnts some petition forms It is nec-
tssery to pass these arourd in the
proposed territory and get the sigma
lures Of at least 40 per cent. of the
frceholders. As a rule. this not only
gets their consent but It secures thci.
interest. After the petition is signed
II sh,MlL be sent to the county boar
Of education.
'"This board will designate dav
for an election. The public school
trustees will be the election managers
The question OF a high school tax
may be voted upon In the same way,
ana ut tho samc time or 1t may he
voted upon at different time. Il a
hNJoAASy W tuC NOC'IS IdNOI Iup NIKy
school, m application should be wade
ut and addressed to the State boar 4
Gf education. This applicati u. must
first Re fiicd with the county sup.rin.
tendent OF education ard plpr.,vetl
ty him. Forms for this application
may be obtained from county SUPER
intendents or from this office. When
the application Is received by the
high school board. the school will be
Inspected by an Inspector representing
the said beard. II 1t IL found that
the school has compiled with the law
and regulations. the aid will be lisburs-
ed through the county treasury, as
provided by tie act.
There are great many commu-
1 tiles throughout the State where tho
advantages Of this act ought to be Sc
cured as carly as possible. believe
that a great many schools will qualify
ty the time the session opens in Sep