The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-09-24
SCHOOL FINANCE IN SOUTH CAR
OLINA.
\ Thoughtful Discussion of a Weigh
ty Problem.


a more efficient system Of supervision
Is the first requisite to material i'm
provement in the rural schools Of
South Carolina. Without some i'm
provements in supervision additional
money spent on the rural schools will
he largely wasted. With better cor
relation of the state and county SUI
pervising agencies, with countw
superintendency removed from poll
tics and provided IA salary suffi-
cient to enable the officer to give his
whole time to the interest OF the
schools. the next question to be con-
sidered Is that Of finance.
The mere existence of a state sys.
tenn of schools Is a recognition Of the
fact that the welfare Of the whole
state Is to be conserved only by pro-
viding schools for all sections. AL
though the taxable wealth Of the
state is largely centered in the cities,
all parts Of the commonwealth have
contributed therefore, to some extent
share In the taxation for the main
tenance OF schools in the poorer Sec
tions. In most states of the United
States this element Is secured by a
state tax levied on all property alike
and distributed among the schools
of the state on the basis Of school
population. In South Carolina there
Is no state tax apportioned among all
the schools but the distribution of
the dispensary profits, and since the
abolition Of the State Dispensary, the
appropriation under the Garris Act
have introduced this desirable ele-
ment into our financial system. The
under the Garris Act
should be continued and increased
until a reasonable school term Is as
sured to every district in the state.
The constitutional basis Of school
support In South Carolina Is the three
mill tax. This is distributed among
the districts Of the county In which
Vt Is raised according to enrolment.
The Constitution leaves to the Legis-
lature the definition Of the term en-
rollment and that body has defined
1t as, IAN attendance Of al least ten
school days during the preceding
scholastic year."
The third element In school SUD-
port Is the special district levy which
Is now becoming almost universal In
South Carolina. The special district
levy Is. dependent on the decision of
the voters and property owners of
the community in which the school
Is located. The money raised by this
special tax Is spent under the direc-
ton OF the local representatives Of
those who pay the tax and for the
support Of their local school. It is,
In consequence. one Of the most pop
ular forms Of taxation In South Car
DINA. Under the laws of the State
a school district may vote as high as
eight mills special tax. and through
special act Of the Legislature at
least one district in the School levies
a tax Of twelve mills.
These three elements-state appro-
priation. county levy. and district
levy will no doubt, continue to be
the basis Of school support In this
state. On the theory that help should
be given only when people are will
ing to help themselves, the State aid
under the Garris Act has been con-
ditional on the voting Of 4 special
tax by the district. This Is a prin-
ciple founded on logic and common
sense.
1t seems to me. however, that the
distribution Of the constitutional
county three mill tax might he modi-
fled to secure better results. Various
modes Of distribution are In effect
in the United States. Many of the
states take a special census each year
Il all children Of school age in the
districts, and appropriate the tax on
this basis. This plan has nothing to
recommend II except ITS simplicity.
The funds which have been raised by
general county taxation should be
distributed In a manner which will
socure the best results in school at
tendance and school efficiency. The
district which makes the best use Of
its appropriation should receive most
consideration. There Is no reason
why funds should be appropriated to
n district simply because IL has In It
children who are not in school. The
Legislature OF South Carolina has to
n certain extent recognized this prin-
ciplc and has fixed ten days atten-
dance as necessary to enrolment. 1t