The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-12-20
Tuesday, December 20, 1910.
SCHOLARSHIPS.


ared and sixty-seven free scholarships
in Clemson, one hundred and twenty
four in Winthrop, sixty-eight in the
Citadel and forty-three in the UnlVer-
yity. This policy has the sanction Of
long continued usage, and is generally
considered a part of the educational
system of the State. It has stimulated
many competent and ambitious stu
dents to secure a college education,
and at the same time has brought col
legiate training within reach OF scores
otherwise unable to secure its advan-
tages. It emphasizes the democracy
of free public education by affording
10 all an opportunity to possess the
finest culture obtainable in any Of the
States institutions of higher learning,
but the elements of the present s.-s: OH
of scholarships have not been harmon
iously adjusted.
The above is given out by State Su-
perintendent of Education J. E. Swear
fngen. He goes on to give the money
value of the scholarships in the four
State colleges.
The Citaiel is really supported by
the scholarship system, each being
worth about $500. In Clemson and the
University each scholarship is worth
about s100. And at Winthrop about
the same. There are two scholarships
ior each county at the Citadel, which
would now make eighty-six instead Of
Bixty-eight. In addition to supporting
the colleges literally these scholar
ships cali for an annual appropriation
Of about $4,000.
Mr.. Swearingen says the acts Of the
legislature were not passed at the
same time and therefore are necessar-
lily inharinonious. In some instances
The scholarships are not sought and
we believe ali of them have never been
aaken at the University:
The fact is the scholarship system
for the State colleges is altogether
wrong. VIE are not now opposing any
Of the State colleges, and believe all
Of them should be literally, but not
,sxtravagantly, supported and that all
of them should furnish tuition free,
and any boy or girl who lives in South
Carolina should have the doors thrown
open to him or to her without any cost
except board and clothing, but there
should be no scholarship given to any
one.
The matter of pretending to charge
tuition is a great farce and that law
should also be repealed.
Mr.. Swearingen says:
"The State is now spending $4,000
a, year to maintain free college schol-
arships. The four hundred and two
scholarship students constitute 2l per
cent. of the enrolment in her colleges.
But their present status is unsatisfac-
tory, both to the college and to the
State board of education. The present
confusion will destroy the usefulness
of the scholarship system by fostering
unseemly rivalries and by condonlng
Questionable practices. These abuses
can be renedied without expense TO
the State or injury to State 1nstltu-
Mons."
The best and most sensible way for
the State to remedy the confusion Is
TO abolish the scholarships altogether
and to make tuition free.
We firmly believe that any boy or
girl in South Carolina who wants a
college education and is prepared TO
enter the, Freshman class and has the
capacity to take an education can Sc
cure one. And in many cases the schol-
arships 90 to those most able to edu-
cate themselves.
Tho Columbia State on Sunday, the