The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-06-07


immediate future needs of the city
schools was made by Mr.. r. I. Man
ming. chairman of the City School
Board at the commencement exercises
Thursday night:
AS Chairman Of your Board Of Ed
ucation, l have been deputed to bring
certain matters to your attention.
do not apologize for this Interrupt
ton to the evenings programme, as
1T is a matter which concerns the
schools future growth and useful
ness.
l know that you are interested in
this institution, which is yours, and
of your making. We feel it proper to
present certain facts for your in
formation, 50 that you can vote intelli-
gently on a matter that will be pre-
sented to you.
The growth Of the school has been
steady. When the present superin-
tendent took charge, there was one
school building, which cost twelve
thousand dollars. There were 2S2
pupils, and teachers. Today you
have three buildings, which cost in
the aggregate over $4,000; Ga plant
over four and a half times as large
as in 1880 Today you have an en-
rollment of 500, and twenty-five
teachers.
The pay roll in 1895 was $500
month, the pay roll now is over $2,-
600 month. The special levy in
1895 was 2 mills; the special levy now
is four mills, besides two mills for
interest and sinking fund for the
bonds Out Of the amount raised on
this two mills, thirteen thousand dol
lars Of bonds have been retired, ana
there is now over four thousand dol
lars in bank, to retire that amount Of
bonds.
Tonight and last night. you have
IF the results Of the years work.
You know the large number OF pu-
pills who are being educated. This
number is increasing year by yea~
and Of course, the cost of maintain
ing the school is increasing. The
items of repairs. heating, ventilation.
etc. in the three buildings cost more
than three times as much as it used
to be.
Our revenue is not increasing, and
the voting out of the Dispensary has
reduced the revenue somewhere be-
tween twelve and fifteen hundred dol
lars.
The results in this school testify
to the excellence of its administra-
tion, and ! do not believe thai petter
financial management can be found
anywhere Still, we are now Just
making ends meet. Because Of the
growth and development Of the
schools, We need more money.
There are two Immediate needs:
First \ supervising principal for
primary grades, who will have charge
of the writing and music in these
ten classes. Second \ supervisor Of
drawing and manual training for all
Of these schools.
Of
exhibit at the Hampton school. i'm art
and manual work. That work was
surely most creditabIe to teacher and
pupils. It was a revelation of un-
looked for excellence in lately de-
Neloped field. In the opinion Of your
superintendent and the Board, this
work should be extended
VIII we now rest on our oars. be
satisfied with what We are doing. or.
are YOU going to tell us t. go ahead.
improve the school, meet tho de-
mands of the times and give our girls
and boys the opportunity for acQuir-
ing an education and training and
equip them for life work?
Now, what is it we want you to do
We want YOU to authorize an ad-
ditional levy of one mill. To get II
we have to have n petition signed hv
onc-third Of the frccholdcrs of this
district This includes mon ana wo-
men. Everyone who owns property
and pays taxes. And it must bc sign
ed hy "n"-third of the qualified c}cc-
tors Of the district.
After getting this petition sjencd.
W. Will have an election, aud if the
majority votes for the lcyy of ouc
min il viii give us the money W.
Mood. and We can thcn 60 ahoac
with needed improvements and EN-