The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-03-29
School Aid Fund Not Sufficient.
IL. ~ ad -

las just SOup1StSO lAS S-A~tl2A@As-~Ao-
approval and payment of the rural
graded school aid appropriated by the
legislature. The item in the approprl-
alton bill carried S120,000 for consoh-
dated and graded schools in country
districts. Schools with an enrolment
Of so pupils, an average attendance
of 30, term of six months, two teach
ers, a four mill tax, two room build
ing and the minimum equipment pre-
scribed by the state board OF educa'
ton, received 5000; schools with an
enrolment of IS pupils, an average Oh
attendance of 40, a term OF seven
months, three teachers, a four mill
tax, term of seven months, three
tax, a three-room building and the min
imum equipment prescribed by the
state board Of education received S3oO.
The standard prescribed in the law
REQUIRES one teacher for each 70 chill
dren. This is exceedingly low, but 1t
was adopted in 1912 in the hope that
a larger number Of the country dis
tricts might be induced to improve
conditions. This hope Of the law
makers has been fully realized. The
appropriation has steadily risen year
by year from $4,000 to $4,000. The
number of state aided schools has in
creased from 5S to $50.
For the scholastic year 1914-15 the
rural graded schools numbered 400;
for the scholastic year 19l5-l6 they
show a net increase Of 15S. This un'
,precedented growth Of nearly 40 per
cent is an index to the rural school
development of the state. Supt. j. e.
Swearinger in commenting on the
figures said that he confidently expect
ed eight or ten be1ated applications
which have been reported, but have
not yet been filed.
"To meet the excessive demands, the
state SUP erintendent was compelled 10
use $4,000 from the contingent fund.-
Mr.. Swearingen said. This course
wae followed because districts voting
a four mill tax and trying to run six
or seven months ought not to be de-
.prived of state aid after trustees have
made their contracts on this basis.
/ hope that the time may soon come
when the patrons Of every school will
vote a local tax for their district and
run a term Of not less than seven
months.
sIf this deficiency had 1t been
made up out Of the contingent fund So
schools would have been compelled to
close prematurely. The legislature
must either increase the appropriation
or raise the requirements for state
aid. Practically cne-third OF the
school districts Of the state have re-
ceived improved facilities through the
law.
"This gratifying growth ought not
to be checked. An intelligent rural
can not be trained in
schools running less than seven
months. At least 500 districts are
preparing to qualify for rural graded
school aid during 1867. To meet
the demand. an appropriation of not
less than s175,OO0 will be necessary
The figures by counties follow, the
number of schools affected being given
and the total amount allowed the
county:
Abbeville, 2 schools, $500; Aiken 6,
$1,000; Anderson SO, $4,000; Bamberg
4, $500; Barnwell s, s1,So0; Berkley
6, $1,000; Calhoun 4, $1,000; Cherokee
9, s21OO; Chester 5, $1,000; Chester
field "A, $4,000; Clarendon II, S2,6OO;
Colleton 13, s3,1OO; Darlington 10,
$4,000; Dillon II, $4,000; Dorchester
7, $1,000; Edgefeld 8, $1,000; Fair
field 1, 5000; Florence %, $500;
Georgetown 3, $500; Greenville 3d.
s12,60O; Greenwood 7, $1,000; Hamp-
ton s, s1,SOO; Horny %, $4,000; Jasper
2, $500; Kershaw IA, $4,000; Lancaster
%, s5,4OO; Laurens 26, $500; Lee 8,
$4,000; Lexington s, $1,000; Marion,
10, $4,000; Marlboro II, s1,7Oo; New
berry s, $1,000; Oconee 81, s5,1oo;
Orangeburg 81, $500; Pickens Is,
$4,000; Richland 9, $4,000; Saluda Is,
$4,000; Spartanburg "a, $1,000; Sum.
ter 7, s1,7OO; Union S, $1,000; Viii
16, $1,000; York IS, $4,000.