The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-28
STATE AID GRANT TOTALS FIFTY.
FIVE THOUSAND.
warrants Issued for Two Hundred
ana Thirty-One Schools i'm Thirty
Seven Counties.


were forwarded to the several county
treasurers, and the money will be
paid out by the district trustees with
the approval of the county superin-
tendent, as other school funds are
distributed.
In commenting on the educational
situation, John e. Swearinggen, state
superintendent of education, said that
in his opinion the rapid growth Of
these twO-teacher and three teacher
schools in the rural districts is the
most significant educational develop
ment now going on in the State
For the scholastic year 1911-12,
$4,000 was appropriated for the en-
couragement and maintenance of this
type Of school. This appropriation
was increased to $4,000 for 1878.
The legislature at it's recent session
appropriated $4,000 for these schools,
and this first payment for the current
year required all Of this appropria-
ton but $4,000. 1t is certain that
additional applications will come in
from a few Of the seven counties yet
To be heard from.
considerable number of school
districts are planning to vote the
four-mill tax required for participa-
ton in this fund, and these special
tax elections will be held during
April and May. Applications from
all such districts will be filed as soon
as the results of the special tax cleo
tions can be ascertained and the four
mill levies reported to the county
auditors.
Anderson leads with &c schools re-
ceiving $1,000; Greenville is a close
second with 25 schools receiving
$4,000; while Spartanburg comes
thiraFwith IS schools receiving
$4,000. Twelve of the % districts
in Darlington have consolidated their
schools and now receive $4,000. The
rapid progress Of Chesterfield is indi-
Gated by five rural graded schools
receiving $1,000. Lexington is just
beginning its campaign for efficient
schools. The first dis
trict to receive rural graded school
aid is PellOn, and the patrons of this
community are planning modern,
three-room building to be erected dur
ing the summer.
In the three great Piedmont coun-
ties OF Anderson, Greenville and Spar
tanburg, every indication points to the
rapid growth Of these schools. These
three counties enroll more than 81
600 white pupils. Since State aid
may be granted to any school enroll
ing so pupils for six months or rs
pupils for seven months. it is certain
that 40 or 80 districts in each Of
these three Piedmont counties will
soon be participating in the State ap-
preparation.
But the development is in no sense
confined to the Piedmont. Both the
ee Dee counties and the coast coun-
ties show a similar growth, evidenced
by the figures for Horny, Colleton.
Hampton, Georgetown and Berkeley.
This new policy Of state aid to
the public schools seeks to eQualize
educational opportunities in every
section and in every district. The
appropriation is based upon the prin-
ciple of community cooperation as
shown by the local school district tax
Of at least four mills. TIL, mOl.ey
goes to districts where the white chill
dren are enrolled, and is used to give
those pupils an adequate teaching
corps and u longer school term.
At least 500 communities in the
state should have this type of school.
While 231 districts are participating
in the 1913-l4 appropriation, this
number will certainly grow and may
be doubled within the next two years.
The efficient rural school is rapid
ly becoming possession in many
communities. one needs only to visit
the high school at Rome in George
town county or the Antioch Indus
trial school i'm Darlington county TO
understand this movement. From
Oolenoy, at the foot of Table rock in
Pickcns county, to Green Sea in Hor-
ry county from New Bethel in Lam
caster county to Bculan in Aiken
county, the benefits II the rural
graded school appropriation will be
felt.
The spirit OF educational enthu-
sasm is universal. The opportunity
for service afforded the teachers and
school authorities is not merely for
the teacher but is most heartily sup