The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-03-19
MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
SUPERINTENDENT SWEARlNGEN
WRITES OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Head Of Scnool System Gives ADVICE
as to Cooperation Among
Patrons.

Columbia, March lZ.-Stdte oup-
erintendent of Education J. E. Swear
ingen has written a letter to the
county superintendents of education
throughout the State calling atten-
ton to the money appropriated for
the common and high schools by the
legislature, and that applications for
aid must be through the State board
of education. His letter, which COW
ers the school situation in detail, IS
as follows:
The general assembly made lib
eral provision for the free puDnc
schools. The six appropriations IN
clude: High schools, 100000; rural
graded schools, 100000; weaA
schools for term extension, s6o,ooo;
libraries, $4,000; public school
buildings under the act of 1910, to
he disbursed in order Of applications
fled, $4,000; contingent fund to be
expended by the county boards OF
education under the regulations pro-
yided by the State superintendent OF
education for especially needy rural
school districts, $4,000.
Seven-NIonths Term.
These funds guarantee the con-
tinuance and extension of the educa-
tional activities that have brought
more efficient schools to scores OF
communities during recent years.
State aid based on local taxation
should provide in every district a
school term Of at least seven months.
an up-to-date building and body of
competent teachers. If the people
of any community will cooperate
with public school authorities they
NAV easily secure State aid for a
better building, a longer term and
the establishment of rural graded
school.
All applications for high school
aid will be considered by the State
board of education at its next meet
ing. The money shall be forwarded
to your county treasurer about May
IS. The usual November installment
of high school aid for the scholastic
year 1913-14 could not be paid last
fall pending the collection of the one
mill State school tax, from which the
high school appropriation for 1913
was derived. High school trustees
and principals may rely upon theii
usual apportionment as heretofore.
Rural Graded. Schools.
Rural graded school applications
shall be paid without fail. Under no
conditions should any district main
tanning a two or a three-teacher
school and asking school aid be per-
mitted to close for lack of funds.
The increase from $4,000 to $780,
600 for these schools guarantees the
purpose of the lawmakers to main
tain this policy in every district meet
ing the requirements of the rural
graded school act. No rural COM
munity enrolling fifty children can
now afford to do without two-teach-
er schol, and no such community en-
rolling seventy-fve children should
be content with less than three
teacher school. Under this con-
structive and stimulating policy up
wards of two hundred communities
have voted the required four-mill
tax, and have secured recognition as
State-aided schools. Your co-opera-
tion in extending this policy through
out your county is thoroughly ap-
preciated, for without your cordial
assistance nothing could be accom-
plished by State aid to these schools.
Nearly 600 term extension ap-
plications have already been paid.
But if any weak district levying a
2-mill tax desires to participate in
this appropriation it's application
should be forwarded without delay.
The term extension act applies to
even the smallest school in the most
sparsely settled section. This meas
ure has already brought about a
marked increase in the school term
of half the counties of the State. BY
utilizing it's benefits, the trustees and
patrons of any district should be
able to lengthen their school term.
Where sufficient local tax is voted
to secure the maximum of 500
State aid every public school may
now run at least 40 days.
Library Appropriations.
THE library appropriation has
never been fully used. Schools with
out library should purchase one i'm
mediately; schools having libraries
may enlarge them each year.