The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-08-07
SCHOOL AFFAIRS IN
BAMBERG COUNTY.
Report of the Various Scoools Throughout the
County Which Will be Interesting
Reading to the Tax Payers.

certained. The estimated value of
negro schoolhouses is $3.50, or
nearly 5000 apiece.
The increase in negro enrolment
is striking. The report shows 1866
negro pupils, a gain of 995 over last
year. This unusual increase of 3S
per cent must be due to some causes
which would be interesting to study.
The average attendance of negroes,
however, was only SO per cent, or
10 per cent. less than the average
attendance in white schools.
My examination of these statistics
forces me to conclude that the rural
districts of Bamberg county are be-
ing left largely to negroes. Forty
two per cent. of your white pupils
are enrolled in the country, although
73 per cent. of the negro enrolment
belongs to negro country schools This
wide difference is far above the aver
age for the State.
AS usual the admirable handling
Of your finances could hardly be i'm
proved. Not only is every district
out of debt, but each district carries
forward a reasonable working bal
ance. twenty-five districts levy a
local tax for current expenses, while
four carry local tax for bonds. The
people have shown their faith in edu-
cation by paying 25 per cent. more
from voluntary levies than from the
three-mill constitutional tax. The
Court House pays six mills for cur
rent expenses and three mills for
bonds, while Ehrhardt pays four
mills for current expenses and five
mills for bonds. If Olar could be in
duced to adopt this course, it's much
needed new school building could
soon be occupied.
The total school receipts for the
county were in round numbers S3,-
900 above those of last year,
the figures for 1911-12J being
S43,195.04, and those for 1912
13, S46,116.99. The average ex-
penditure per pupil was s19.-
80 for whites, and s1.14 for negroes.
This shows a gain of CSC for whites,
and loss of SIC for negroes. The
average for both races for 1912
1s was s6.7s, or CSC lower than the
same average for 1911-12. This loss
is doubtless due to the heavy increase
in enrolment.
1t is to be regretted that Bamberg
county persists in its policy of under
rating the work and the Office of
County Superintendent of Education.
This position is one of the construc-
tive agencies for building up every
worthy activity. The county super
intendent should be in position to or
ganize his teachers and trustees, to
promote boys corn clubs, and girls
tomato clubs, to visit every school
house, and to gain first-hand know
ledge of the classroom work of every
teacher. You are required by law to
keep school accounts for "a districts,
and to do accurate bookkeeping an
nually for more than $4,000 of ex-
penditures. For all this work you
receive the munificent salary of S.
a year.
Besides, you are held in the office
by your duties as Auditor so that the
patrons and taxpayers of the county
should not complain when their boys
and girls at college are called on to
do makeup work by way of prepara-
ton. Bamberg is the only remaining
county in the State where this con-
dition exists. It will be great-pleas-
ure to see the county make provision
for a county superintendent at an an
nual salary of $500. If Bamberg
Court House is willing to pay its To-
cal school superintendent $500 a
year, and Denmark is likewise will
ing to pay it's superintendent s11O0,
surely the remaining 26 white schools
deserve a superintendent at no less a
figure. In our system of free public
education, the county superintend-
ent occupies the strategic position,
but he cannot perform his duties ade-
quately unless the Office is made
worthy of competent man, devoting
all his time to his task.
I thank you for the uniformly
prompt and courteous cooperation
you have at all times given the State
Department of Education. Though
you are a busy man, doing double
duty, your report is the second to
come to hand. Yours respectfully,
J. E. SWEARINGEN,
State Supt. of Education.