Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-03-24
Many Schools Get Money
From State.

Rural Srdueu SCliOOl dlo w eiiS
counties was paid to 913 schools on
March 16 and II, warrants being for
warded by ]. E. Swearingen, state
superintendent of education, to each
of the several county treasurers, and
duplicate copies furnished the respec-
tive county auditors for their rec
ords. The total disbursement amount
ed to s249,9OO.
State law groups these consolidat-
ed and graded schools entitled to
state aid in four classes, the state aid
being allowed at the rate of S1OO
uer teacher. Any school having an
enrolment of 40 pupils, an average
attendance of 80, six months term,
a four mill tax, and two teachers IS
entitled to $500. Any school with an
enrolment of rs, an average atten-
dance of 40, term of seven months,
four mill tax, and three teachers is
entitled to $500. Any school with an
enrolment of 100, an average atten-
dance of GO, seven months term, a
four mill tax, and four teachers IS
entitled to $400. Any school having
an enrolment of 125, an average at
tendance of rs, seven months term
a four mill tax and five teachers is en-
titled to $500.
Reaches Many Schools.
Among the 913 schools participat-
ing in state aid, ATT employed two
teachers; 264 employed three teach
ers; lot employed four teachers, and
IS employed five or more teachers.
The total teaching corps in the rural
graded schools numbered 2,49S in
structors, at the lowest calculation.
Scattered schools in many counties
had extra teachers. 1t may be safely
estimated that $500 of the $500
white teachers in the state are teach
ing in these districts.
The initial rural graded school ap-
preparation in 1912 was $4,000, the
legislature authorizing this activity
by taking this sum from the term ex-
tension appropriation that year and
permitting it's use for the encourage
ment of consolidation. The general as
sembly of 1920 appropriated S275,-
900 for this significant work. The
money increase within eight years
has been Is fold, or fraction above
1888 per cent. The local tax require
ment of four mills has also added
thousands of dollars to public school
revenues.
Much Money Raised.
Many of these districts have voted
the maximum of eight mills allowable
for current expenses. Many others
are paying as much as 16 mills, un-
der special acts of the general assem-
bly, allowing increased local levies.
The entire state appropriation, plus
the additional income from local tax
alton, goes into teachers salaries. A
part of the money has been used to
provide much needed additions to the
teaching staff. A much larger part
has enabled trustees to pay better
salaries.
Nearly score of unapproved ap-
plications remain in the Office of the
state superintendent of education.
The technical omissions in these pa
pers will probably be supplied in a
few weeks, trustees and teachers in
these districts having already been
requested to furnish the missing
data.
The influenza situation has again
interfered with the enrolment, at
tendance, teaching corps and term of
a large number of possible graded
schools. Some communities, too, have
been unable to employ teachers. All
these unfortuna districts have been
advised by Superintendent Swearing
en- to take advantage of term extern
sion law.
The two rural school supervisors,
Lueco Gunter and ]. V. McElveen,
have examined nearly 915 applica-
tions and more than $500 class room
schedules during January, February
and March.
.Reestablish High Schools.
Under the stimulus of the rural
graded school Law, considerable
p,,yohar of ctropuar 1Uea1thier and