The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-21
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE LESS.
WHITE PUPILS PER CENT
LOSS, NEGROES 10 PER CENT.
Report of State Superintendent of
Education, j. e. Swearingen,
Shows DiscOuraging Conditions -
Several Explanations of Figures
Difficulty of Securing Accurate Re-
|. ports from COunties-Other Points
OF Interest Regarding Schools.


Columbia, Dec. 15.-"These fig
ures show a loss during the year of
6,S62 white pupils in 81 counties and
parallel loss Of 1850 negro pupils
in 81 counties. Fourteen counties re-
port loss Of more than 10 per cent
from the negro enrolment Of last
year Twelve counties report an ag-
gregate white gain Of 1915 ranging
from to per cent. Eleven counties
report an aggregate negro gain Of g.
343, ranging from to % per cent"
is the startling statement made by
State Superintendent Of Education in
his annual report. which he has pre-
pared for submission to the General
| Assembly, in which he reviews the
school system of South Carolina, it's
| needs and its present system.
The report shows that there was a
loss last year over the preceding year
of per cent in the enrolment Of white
children and loss for the same Pc
riod Of 10 per cent in the enrolment
Of the negro children. The enroll
ment of white children for the year
just closed was 156,302, and the negro
children 1859. making a total Of
331.5ss. The decrease Of 3 per cent
in the enrolment Of white children
and decrease Of 10 per cent In the
enrolment Of negro children is the
startling feature Of the annual report
Of the State Superintendent Of Edu-
cation ]. e. Swearingen. 1t is noted
that In Charleston County there are
reported 4,261 white pupils, de-
crease Of 43 under last year, and 1887
negroes. an increase Of 739 over last
year.
Six possible reasons are suggested
for this decrease in enrolment; First
previous experience Of the greater ma
Jority Of the county superintendent
Of education, enabling them to get
at the facts better; second, the in
stallation Of a school ledger by the
State Superintendent in every county
suerintendent's office, securing uni
| formity in school bookkeeping and
school reports: third, the detailed re-
port on school statistics printed one
year ago by the State Superintendent,
promoting the efficiency and diligence
OF the school officers; fourth. the Sc
verify Of the last winter, keeping pu-
pills from distance away from the
schools; fifth, the bumper cotton crop
OF the last year causing many people
to keep their children away from the
schools to gather the crop; sixth, the
text book changes Of last year, pre-
venting many Of the poorer people
from paying for the change in the
school books and thus keeping the
children at home and cutting down
the attendance. Nevertheless, the
disagreeable fact remains that nor
NAL increase Of 5000 whites and A.
600 negroes turned last year into a net
loss of 1850 whites and 1888 me-
groes." says the report
The difficulty in getting prompt re-
ports from teachers leads the Super
intendent to suggest that any teacher
VINO does not make out a complete
and full report within two weeks af-
ter the close Of the school term be
subject to fine Of $25 and forfeiture
of his teachers certificate. The i'm
portance of making prompt reports
is emphasized in order to enable the
state superintendent to get full in
formation and prepare his annual re-
port promptly.
| The differences and disparites be-
be lessened if there was state tax
| for schools, in the opinion Of the Su-
pcrintendent Swcaringen There is a
3-mill constitutional tax amounting to
about s1.00O.000, apportioned among
the schools according to enrolment
| Speaking of the trouble of the
| school with one teacher to keep aC-
rurate statistics Superintendent Swear
! fngcn says: COZ the 2,G35 white
schools in the State, 1910 employ
enc teacher, 353 two teachers. 90
three teachers and 1917 more than
three teachers The situation in the
2,441 negro schools is even worse.
Two thousand. two hundred and sew
enty-two of these schools have one