Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-01-29
SUPERVISOR TATE WAS PIEAsED
With Visit to Some Good
Advice offered.

HugnS Is given puDllcauon In full,
that the people of Oconee may
know not only the sense OF appreci-
alton which Supervisor Tate feels
for the manner OF his recent recep-
tion in the county, but in order that
they may know just what he thinks
regarding our public schools and
our system and methods. The let
ter speaks for itself.
Supervisor Tate's Letter.
Columbia, Jan. 23.-W. G. Hughs,
County Superintendent Of Educa-
tion, Walhalla, S. C.-My Dear Mr..
Hughs: | am taking my first OPP
portnnity of expl essing to you my
appreciation of the courtesy which
l received at your lands and the peo-
pie of Oconee county on the occasion
of my recent visit The hospitable
welcome which is accorded me every
where in the country is one of the
many compensations for the hard
ships incident to the rural school
work.
/ was pleased in every way with
the attendance at the County Teach
ers' Association and with the spirit
with which the trustees entered upon
their important work. You have
certainly succeeded in securing
fine class of men for these important
positions. 1t was a source of disap-
pointment to me that the towns of
the county were not represented in
this Trustees Association. AS said
in my lecture in Walhalla, the pros
perity of town and country alike Is
dependent on the efficiency Of the
country schools. The town trustee
q m RI
in everything which tends to up
build the whole educational system
of the county Is neglecting duty
and an opportunity.
Allow me to congratulate you on
the progress which Oconee county
has made under your administration.
A comparison of the records shows
that in the period of four years the
number of districts levying taxes has
increased from 20 to A, while the
amount collected by special taxes has
risen from $8,886.95 to $13,818.06.
The records also show that during
the four years AZ schools have, un-
der your direction, received from the
State appropriation $7,3O9.90, and
during last year six schools have
received $1,S00 under the Rural
Graded School Act. During your
term of office five State high schools
have received a total sum of $8,598
from the State appropriation, and
from the same source nine new build
ings have received $1,000 in State
aid These figures speak we'll for
your leadership and for the respon-
siveness Of the school districts in
Oconee county They also constitute
an eloquent argument in favor of the
State appropriat. .ons, which have
1or inc 10 tn Oft
lating activity. and for the one-mill
State tax endorsed by your trus-
tees, which will be used in the flu
ture to supply the eunds to continue
the operation OF these laws. Ia
l am much pleased also with the
progress in consolidation in Oconee
county. You have succeeded in con-
solidating eight districts into three
and discontinuing six small schools.
With the limited resources at your
command it is not possible to
maintain an effective school in every
= small community. Such schools as
Blue Ridge, Ebenezer and Keowee
constitute our only hope of securing
for our country boys and girls the
advantages which have been obtain
ed for the children in Walhalla, Sen
eca and Westminster. OF course it
is not possible in every community
to develop such a school, but where
the possibility exists the people
should seize the opportunity
Allow me to emphasize a few of
the recommendations which / made
to you and your people:
l. BY all means a county survey
should be made in Oconee county,
and the school districts should be
definitely determined and a map
made, showing the boundaries. At
present many thousand dollars
worth Of property escapes taxation
because of the Indefinite school dis
trict lines. In my opinion the saw
ing in one year would repay the cost
OF the survey. You have only to look
at your neighbor Dickens county,
to see the beneficial results Of such
a proceeding.
g. The tendency to change teach
ers at the end of every scholastic
year Is one Of the worst evils con-
nected with our school system. No
teacher can do his best work during
his first year in position. When
he accepts a place his professional
pride and regard for his reputation
should make him willing to remain
long enough to bring his efforts to
fruitage. The trustees should en-
Courage the teachers to remain for
period Of years by words Of COM
mendation and by a slight annual
increase in salary.
g. / trust that every district in the
county may, in the near future, con-
slider the advisability Of levying a
special tax, thus securing the bene-
fits Of the State appropriations. Oco-
nee is not rich county; her taxa
BILE values are small A sDecial tax