Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-08-06

Uperintendent of Education J. E.
Swearingen with reference to Oconee
schools is self-explanatory:
Columbia, S. c., July 80, 1913.
Supt. w. C. Hughs, Walhalla. S.
C.-Dear Sir: The checking over of
your annual report for the schol astic
year ending June goth, 1913, in
duces me to make a few ccmments
and suggestions regarding school af-
fairs in Oconee.
In the first place, thank you most
cordially for your diligence and
promptness in preparing and for
warding the report on time. Your
cooperation in this matter enables
this office to handle it's statistical
work with much greater ease and
convenience. | thank you also for
your usual neatness and accuracy in
furnishing all available information
required by law. The sitting Of these
facts from the annual reports OF
teachers, and sometimes from the
pay warrants Of a few who neglect
to file their annual reports, is diff
cult task, but your interest in the
educational problems of the county,
and your acquaintance with school
conditions, have enabled you to fur
nish as full and as clear report as
| expected to secure.
Our work for the schools began in
January, 1909. Your report for the
scholastic year ending June 30th,
1909, presents some interesting
points Of comparison with the facts
for 1913:
Four years ago school receipts in
Oconee amounted to SAL, ,84O.22; this
This means net gain of $12, ,6Oi.04,
or 80 per cent during your admins
tration. Since the proceed Of
3-mill tax have been ain ost 81.
tionary, this increase is due suiely n.
the growth in local taxatio Lo,
taxes in 1909 yielded SS,a86,S ..
while in 1913 the levies for ordiaa
purposes raised 5,362.62, and tfe
levies for bonds $3,423.69. The ~ .
in local taxation, therefore t- n
than 100 per cent during tre past
four years. y
In 1909 the county con a.uea II
school districts, and 27 of hes had
a local tax. In 1913 there AZ, 13
districts, of which 43 havc vot.d 3
local levy. This comparis0n ..ows
that four districts have beoU O.. IN
tinued or consolidated, while 16
districts have shown determination
to improve their schools with the en-
dorsement of the resident taX-pay-
ers. During the last twelve months
eight districts have either voted a
tax or increased an existing levy. If
this development continues it should
not be many years before Oconee
can boast a school tax in every dis
trict. Darlington and Dorchester
have already set this standard, and
hope soon to see some strong Pied
mont county with a large white pop
ulation follow their example.
Westminster now collects a 7-mill
school tax for current expenses and
one mill for bonds. Walhalla has 6
mills for running expenses and 81
mills for bonds. Seneca has 8 mills
for current expenses and 2 mills for
bonds. Townville and Oakway have
each voted 6 mills for school pur-
poses. The trustees of every dis
trict should consider the advisable
ity Of securing the State aid availa-
Bile only for special tax districts.
A good school is desirable in every
community, but it is not wise for the
State to try to build up the educa-
tiOnal interests OF district unless
the resident Taxpayers and patrons
are also interested in school improve
ment. You have always made the
greatest possible use Of the term ex-
tension act and the rural graded
school act. The benefits of this pol
icy are clearly shown by your report,
and | sincerely trust that every board
of trustees in Oconee will continue
to take advantage Of these two con-
structiVe measures in the future. If
the 80 districts now without local
tax would follow the example OF their
neighbors they would soon secure
more efficient school, running for a
longer term.
The 1913 report shows white
town and 65 white country schools,
enrolling 5 1892 pupils, taught by 116