Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-08-26
swEARINGEN PRAISES oCoNEE.
Resume of School Work in County.
Still Need for Improvement.

me annual report of Superintend-
ent Thomas A. Smith for the public
schools Of Oconee county during the
scholastic year 1913-14 has been filed
with the State superintendent Of Ed
ucation, who, in commenting upon
the hgures given, announces that the
report shows gratifying progress.
He makes the following resume Of
the report:
There were ten town and 65
country schools, enrolling 5,749 pu-
pills, an increase of 457 over the pre-
ceding year
The enrolment in town was SS7
boys and go girls, making a total
OF 1857 of these. Five hundred and
hfty-four boys and 651 girls, a total
OF 1,2O5, were in regular attendance.
The enrolment in the country
schools was 3,892-1,9SS boys and
l,904 girls. In town schools 65 per
cent Of the enrolment attended regu-
larly during the session Of I'll days.
In the country schools only Sc per
cent of the enrolment attended regu-
larly during the session of 100 days.
The average for the county was SO
per cent, gain Of l per cent over
las. year. These figures indicate the
seriousness of the problem Of school
attendance in the rural districts.
With only Sc per cent Of the boys and
girls in the class-rooms regularly for
an average session Of but little more
than five months, it is wrose than
wasteful for the remaining Al per
cent to be allowed to remain with
out instruction.
''The average length Of the session
was increased almost two weeks.
This feature of the report indicates
that the county may reasonably hope
to secure six months term in every
school next year. Considerable work,
however, must be done to lengthen
the session. Among the schools 3
ran less than 3 months, 7 less than
4 months, II less than months, and
8 less than months.
"The report shows that only six
schools enrolled as few as 30 pupils.
while only Ia had an average at
tendance less than 20. The teaching
corps was composed Of "a men and
104 women. The estimated value of
school property amounted to $92,-
053.75, almost SIG per child. In
many communities this investment
should be increased by the erection
of larger and better buildings.
The first grade enrolment OF
1,4S0 shows that Is per cent of The
boys and girls of the county are Just
beginning to read. The total enroll
ment above the fifth grade was
1925, while only 324 are reported
in the high school. With the growth
of rural schools employing two, three
or four teachers, this situation is rap
idly improving.
''The county is divided into IA
districts, 55 of which have voted
local school tax. During the last
twelve months 90 special tax cleo
tions have placed 20 additional levies
on the tax books. This active CO.
operation on the part Of the tax-pay-
ers helps to raise the per capita ex-
pendtiure from $S.05 to $S.75. Since
the average for the State last year
was S13.39 per child, the schools of
Oconee still have need to increase
their local taxation and to make use
Of every form of State aid.
the school fund for the year
amounted to $61,SS3.95. The con-
stitutional three-mill tax raised $14,-
356.20. Local taxation yielded $1S,-
67O.31, or $4,314.11 more than the
three-mill tax. The trustees and the
county uperintendent could not have
done better with the resources at
their command"