The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-22
During the scholastic year 1SS9-9O !

OF 3S9 from the preceding year, while
The negro enrolment showed gain
Of I 3S5. The net increase during the
year for both races was 1896. In
1915 the white enrolment showed
gain Of 5,019 over the preceding year,
while the negro enrollmnt showd a
loss of 10,S47. In 1915 the total en-
rol.ment for both races declined 5.S2S
from the corresponding figures for
1914. These annual fluctuations
are interesting, but they do not ap-
proach in Importance the figures
indicating the trend of the 25 year
period.
The growth of recent years is further
emphasized by the increase in teacn-
ers' salaries from $3e4,405.43 to ST.
281, ,249.13, and in the lengthening of
the average school term from 10
days to 1873 days The number Of
scnool houses has increased from g.
264, valued at $447,35258, 10 5051,
valued at $5,954,3O992.
The development in higher educa-
tionh been no less significant.
State. church and private college are
stronger and more efficient today than
ever before. In 1890 Clemson was
planning 20 open in 1892; Winthrop
was only small training school con-
Quoted as an experimental adjunct to
the public school system Of the city
of Columbia. There are today few
farms, schools or homes in the State
that have not felt the influence of
these TWO colleges. The university
and the Citadel have maintained their
long record of historic service, and
the class rooms of both these colleges
show more students than ever before.
The new medical college at Charles
ton holds the promise of better health
for the whole people, while the State
negro college at Orangeburg is
teaching intelligence and industry to
its patrons and students. Almost a
score of church and private colleges
are continuing to render the service
that inspired them in more stressful
days. The number and cost of COL
leges are out of proportion to our
population, wealth and public schools.
But as soon as these public schools
can be made thoroughly efficient
every college dormitory and class
room will be speedily filled.
Unsupplied Needs.
With all the progress of the quar-
ter century some fundamental needs
yet remain unsupplied. School finances
rest on the basis of the county unit
and the district unit. The common
wealth needs a State tax for schools.
IA. white boy educated in BarnWel at
a cost of $39.O5 a year has too gr, at
an advantage over a white boy edu,
Gated in Horny at cost $3.50 year.
A negro child in Charleston is allow
ed STA, while the same child IN Sa-
luda would receive $1.04. A new def
milton of enrolment IN connection
with a State tax would correct these
disparities.
The number of trained teachers is
sill TOO small. With all that the COL
leges are doing, and have done, they
need to emphasize still more strongly
the responsibility of their graduates
to do service in the State and in the
schools. Until this body of trained
workers has been supplied the educa-
tional progress of the State must
lag.
Little or nothing has been done in
the way of industrial education. Cul-
tured leisure has been held up as an
ideal for boys and girls who never
nave the money to possess or to en-
Joy it. Work is worship, and the peo-
pie who learn to do and to enjoy hon.
est work may hope some day to pos
sess and to enjoy cultured leisure.
Gratifying beginnings have been
made in the field of agricultural and
industrial training, but these expert
ments ought speedily to become fixed
principles and policies.
IThe man to solve these problems is
the county superintendent Of educa
ton. This office is the keystone OF
our educational arts. The man hold
ing the position is merely the tenn
porary instrument of public service.
The county superintendent office
must be dignifed, supported and Or
ganized for the task it has to do. The
man in this position should be an edu-
cationa1 anoinaer with capacitiy train