The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-07
SUPERINTENDENT SWEARINGEN
writes Letter to the Editor and
Explains Your School Fund.

Newberry, S S.
Dead Sir:
Through the courtesy OF Gre of my
friends, your editorial entitled ga
Unique Decision" printed in The Her
aid and News of Tuesday, November
S0th, was today brought 70 my atten-
tion. This editorial relates to Zion
school distric, No sc Of Newberry
county
The editorial is willful misrepre-
sentation of tie record, because the
writer was himself familiar with some
of the facts, and could have easily Sc
cured all the facts from the offices of
the county superintendent and the
county treasurer in NeWberry court
house.
This editorial charges the state Su-
perintendent with autocratic and un-
fair methods. For the benefit of your
readers, hope you will print the facts
as shown by the records here. If any
reader questions these facts, he can
verify them from the Office of the
state treasurer, the Office of the comp
troller general, the Office of the county
superintendent, or the Office of the
county treasurer.
For the scholastic year beginning
July l, 1912, and ending June 80, 1913,
Zion school district received on Novem-
Der 26 1912 term extension aid in the
sum of S8212 This aid was granted
upon the application filed by the trus-
tees and appro:Ted by the county super
intendent The district was entitled to
the money because it mad levied two
mill tax, and because lis regular school
funds would not support five months
term.
For the scholastic year beginning
July 1, 1913, and ending June 80, 1914,
Zion school district received $500 ru-
raj graded school aid. Payment was
made March 19, 1914, Upon the re-
quest of the county superintendent,
the state superintendent waited until
the ninth month Of the scholastic year
in the hope of being able to pay the
district this money The application
was fled, as usual, b. he trustees
with the approval of the county su-
perintendent
The enrolment for 1914 was 54,
With an average attendance of 81 during
term Of eight months, or 100 days.
During this year the voters. of Zion
school district raised their tax from
<wo mills to four mills in order to be-
come eligible for rural graded school
aid.
During the scholastic year 1914-15
Zion school district recejred 500 term
extension aid Payment was made De-
cember Z, 1914. The application for
state aid was filed by the trustees with
the approval of the county superinten-
dent as in the two former cases.
In accordance with law, the district
received 500 state aid because of its
local tax CT four mills which produced
lore than 800, and because its regular
runds would not run the term FIVE
months.
The Zion school reported Tor the
scholastic year 1914-15 an enrollmen.
of 42 with an average attendance of
S3 during term of eight months, or
$50 days.
1ne rural graded school law requires
an enrolment of fifty pupils before any
district can receive state aid under
It's terms. do not knoy what caused
the falling off of the enrolment at
Zion. No man regretted the loss more
than the state superintendent.
In order, however, to help the dis
'iic- the state superintendent On May
i 1915, allotted to the Zion school $50
fFSm the state contingent appropria-
tion for needy districts. This addition
al allotment was made upon the ap-
plication of the district trustees, ap-
proved by the county superintendent.
It was genuine pleasure to send the
money in order to maintain the school
for the usual term of eight months.
y For the present scholastic year 1915
16, Zion school district receives $1OO,
which was paid November 18Th, ultimo.
The application asking for this money
was signed by Messrs. NJ. H. Folk, J. J.
Kinard and G. L. Long. trustees, and
approved by Chas. P. Barre, county
superintendent.
The state superintendent discussed