The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-01


the legislation relating thereto, w. II.
Hand, State high shool inspector has
the following to say
without doubt no single act Of
school legislation in this State has
ever given greater impetus to educa-
ton or brought fuller results than the
high school law passed by the General
Assembly in February, 1907. Within
just four years the high school en-
rolment Of the State has almost doub-
led, the number of teachers in the
schools almost doubled, high school
salaries increased more than $780,
600, and the course of study improved
In nearly every high school in the
State. All this unprecedented growth
is of less consequence than the gen.
eral progressive educational spirit
that has taken possession of the peo-
pie throughout the State. The bene-
fits coming from the law have by no
means been confined to the high
schools, but have touched every
educational factor in the State. The
possibilities of the high school law
can be greatly enlarged by making the
law applicable to every nook and cor
ner Of the State.
THE present law is radically de-
fective in that it's benefits are with
held from a very large number Of
high school pupils entitled to the best
that the State can give them. Any
such law must be regarded as defect
i've so long as 1t fails to reach any
considerable portion Of the people ca
pable Of receiving benefits therefrom
Last year there were enrolled in
the public schools Of the State 1885
high school pupils. or these 2,s25, or
81 per cent, were enrolled in the high
schools of the twenty-one largest towns
Of the State, which are forbidden by
the law to share in any way it's bene-
fits. The present law and the new
census will be almost certain to cut
off after July 1911, from the bene-
fits of the high school appropriation
the following places:
"Bamberg. Bennettsville, Bishop
Vile, Cheraw, Clinton, Greer, Harts-
vile. Lancaster, Manning. Marion,
Summerville, Walhalla, Walterboro,
Winnsboro and Yorkville-hfteen in
all. In the public high schools Of
these fifteen towns last year were en-
rolled 780 high school pupils. After
this year under the present law. the
pupils of SO places and aggregating
3.6O5 high school pupils, or Al per
cent of the public high school pupils
Of the State, will be debarred from
participation in the States appropri-
alton.
"A bill, with a favorable committee
report, is now pending in the House
Of Representatives to withhold the
privileges of the high school appro-
priation from all places with a popu-
lation of 1000 or more. The pass
age Of this bill would be almost GER
tain to cut off the following places
after June, 1911:
"Allendale, Barnwell. Blackville,
Belton, Batesburg, Branchville.
Blacksburg, Conway, Glover, Denmark,
Dillon, Easley, Fort Mill, Honea Path,
Johnston, Jonesville, Lake City, Latta,
Mullins, McColl North Augusta, Sc
neca, st. Matthews, st. George, Tim
monsville, Willimaston Westminster
and Woodruff-3O in all. Last year
these thirty places enrolled 1919 high
school pupils. With the high school
law thus emasculated, &C places with
high school enrolment of 1924 pu-
pills. or Ga per cent Of the total public
high school enrolment would be cut
off.
The oaly equitable and statcsman-
like view that can be taken of this
high school appropriation is that it
is To foster good high schools for
every child in the state be he a resi-
dent Of a rural district. village, or
crowded city. To De OF the highest
benefit To the State the money must
go whore the high school pupils are,
hc they in town or in country 1t is
the essence of folly TO offer money for
high schools whore there are no high
school pupils; it is the essence Of good
sense ana craftsmanship to offer it
where there are the pupils. Good
high pols are needed everywhere
there pupils To attend them.
II elsewhere discussed the in
justice the discrimination against