The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-04-15
ABOUT PICKENS COUNTY SCHOOLS
Letter From State Superintendent of Education
J. E. Swearngen to x. +. Halum, Superntend-
ent of Education of Pckens County
Superintendent R. II. Hallum,
Pickens, s. G.

the work you are doing in the
public schools of Pickens coun
ty. 1t was my good fortune tC
spend March 18, - and 20 in
visiting your schools and meet
ing your trustees and teachers.
Since some Of these localities
had been visited by me less than
a year ago, [ was in position to
measure the development of the
last twelve months.
The Martin district illustrates
the value of a strong rural school
in your territory. The interest
and enthusiasm Of these people
brought them modern and
model school building. This
house was built and equipped to
accommodate 100 pupils. Th e
first session after its erection
brought an enrolment of 141
pupils. The appreciation Of the
patrons, the interest of the chill
dren and the earnestness of the
teachers explain the growth.
The leadership Of the County
SUPERINTENDENT in selecting this
community for such a public
school demonstration was ad-
mirable. Your judgement has
been more than vindicated by
yourcpmplete success. My only
regret is that neither the County
superintendent, the State Super
intendent nor the trustees an
tlcipated this SO per cent increase
in enrolment during the first
year.
1t was fortunate for the school
that the trustees retained the
old one-room building. The
problem now is the securing of
enough money to employ three
teachers for the session 1856.
The people Of Martin district
should raise their local tax to
eight mills by adding four mills
to their local levy. If this tax
is secured in May, the State De-
partment Of Education will be
glad to cooperate in securing
three teachers For a session of
seven months next year.
The outlying districts around
the Martin school are not giving
their children fair chance.
| olfe's Creek, Prater and
Twelve Mile all need new school
houses. Each of these three
districts should erect buildings
con tanning two classrooms,
cloakrooms, teachers rooms and
a workroom. Design ID" of the
State plans prepared by Prof. r.
II. Lee OF Clemson College will
give adequate Accommodations
Tor present needs. The cost of
the building in each case will be
at least $500.
If the erection of new school
houses in these three districts
should lead to such development
as has resulted in the, Martin
district, | should, of course, pre-
fer TO recommend buildings con
tanning three classrooms and en-
ploying three teachers. Your
new building at Zion is an illus
.tI1ftd1GClon Of what I mean. PICK
ems county has the children, and
| hope the County Superintend-
ent will soon be given the money
for their education. The op-
portunity for reproducing the
Martin situation in a score of
your districts is most inyiting.
The Mile Creek school illus
trates the advantages of a new
building, a four-mill local tax,
two teachers and the rural
graded school law. The progress
Of Mile Creek during the last
twelve months is most striking.
shall await with interest the
report Of the teachers and the
trustees on their six months
session. If this district finds il
helpful to employ two teachers
and to run at least six months
every other district in Pickens
county might also enjoy these
advantages by giving proper
support to its school.
The high school at the court
house is doing good work. The
limited territory embraced in
the Pickens district is a handi-
cap to this school. L know the
sacrifices already made by the
courthouse community in order
to erect a new building and to
pay the salaries of the teachers.
1t would, however, be a great
step forward if the Pickens High
school could be thrown open to
children from the outlying dis
tricts, enrolling in your fifth,
sixth and seventh grades as well
as in the High school depart
ment. Such course would re.
lieve the congestion in the out
lying schools. It would, how
ever, make necessary the en-
ployment OF additional teachers
in the Pickens district, but these
teachers would n. ore than repav