The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-27
PROUD OF Her SCHOOL
BRANCHVILLE HAS MADE RAPID
STRIDES IN HER
Educational Matters in the Last
Few Years, and She Is Planning
For Greater Things.

Few Years, and She Is planning
For Greater Things.
A letter from Branchville to the
Charleston Post shows the great
progress that town is making in ed
ucational matters. The letter says
in 1901 the people of Branrhvllle
suddenly woke up to the realization
that they were far backward in ed
ucational matters and resolved to
erect an attractive school building,
which would be an inspiration to the
boys and girls of this community.
Without delay and under the direc-
ton of Messrs. ]. B. Williams, &. w.
Reeves and j. N. Byrd, school trus-
tees, they completed splendid build
ing costing the people of Branch
vile practically $500, and for this
purpose they had the people vote
two-mill tax levy to float this amount
of bonds.
Next they determined to estab-
lish a graded school system second
to none in this State. They employ
ed an able corps of teachers with
Prof. w. P. Etchison as principal,
had the people vote an extra mill
for the schools support and were de-
lighted at the success OF this VEN
ture from the beginning. These
people expected great results from
this enterprise and the results have
been amazing even to the most san
guine promoters of the system.
About one year ago the trustees
found that the attendance had so in
creased that it was necessary to
build an annex to the building and
employ two additional teachers.
They found the people enthusiastic
over the school success and without
one dissenting vote, an extra mill
and half were voted to bond the
district for $4,000 with which
amount an auditorium and two class
rooms have been added. At the same
time an additional mill was voted
for the support Of the school and
at this eleotion the people voted
unanimously for a State high school.
After an examination of the ex-
listing conditions the State High
School Inspector, W. H. Hand, re-
ported favorably in behalf of the
school, and the State Board of Edu-
cation had one of these high schools
established in connection with the
graded school department.
The building, pressed brick
structure, of brown stone front, con-
sists of the principals Office and Ii
brary, auditorium and six commo-
dious, we'll ventilated and comfort
able class rooms. The auditorium
has seating capacity of several hun
dred, the recitation rooms seating
from fifty to sixty each, the entire
seating capacity of the building be-
ing, therefore, about 500 to 900.
The average enrolment of the school
in accordance with the annual state
ment of the principal is about 200
with an average attendance of more
than $50. The total expenditures
for 1908 including improvements,
etc., will approximate $500.
To these people the light of new
day is dawning. They have realiz-
ed that IAN ignorant people are ne
cessarily poor people," and can
never be in harmony with progress
sive citizenship. The school is and
will ever be one of the most potent
factors in the development of this
town. The best illustration of what
the school has done for the town
is evidenced by the fact that al
though the original tax levy hotly
contested several years ago, that
now the people are willing at any
time to vote an additional tax for
the Improvement Of their school
without a dissenting voice, and hav-
ing among its warmest supporte RS
those who were originally its most
strenuous opposers.
Less than decade ago the school
of less than 100 children was "hous-
ed in a dilapidated ''shanty," taught
by competent but inadequate teach
ing force. Today we find the at
tendance has doubled-we find in
Face of tie "shanty a handsome
$4,000 modern school building and
teaching force of seven competent
and experienced teachers.
An educational interest has been
arousd in our borders that will per-
petually maintain itself. Under the
able management of the present trus-
tees, Messrs. G. w. Reeves, j. N.
Byrd and j. NJ. Tucker, the school
will be able to run longer term
than ever before and will close
possibly, it's most successful year on
Friday, May 80, to June 2.
On Sunday morning at the Meth
odist church, Rev. H. J. Cauthen, OF
Walterboro, S. c., will deliver the
commencement sermon. Monday
evening, $3.50 o'clock, Col. w. w
Lumpktn, of Columbia, S. c., will
deliver the annual literary address
in the city hall, while Tuesday even
ing will be given up >entirely h
music, dialogues, recitations, etc., by
the pupils of Miss Crowell's music
classes, assisted by pupiles of the