The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-21
BOARD OF EDUCA-
TION MEETING.
Teachers Request Increase in
SaIaries-Conditions and
Needs of Schools Out
lined

At a meeting of the City Board Of
Education, held on Thursday after
noon, there was a request from the
teachers for an increase in their pres
ent salaries. They gave emphasis to
the fact that their petition was in no
sense a strike, or even a protest. but
an appeal for living wage. They
stated that it was impossible for them
to live upon the salaries that they
are now receiving. The board dl-
rected the superintendent to ascertain
from the treasurer Of the board the
exact financial status. The chairman
Of the board said that he would call
meeting of the board just as soon as
this informtion had been procured.
The board, upon hearing the report
Of the superintendent, relative to the
conditions and needs of the public
schools of the. city, directed him to
issue the statement which is given be-
low.
'.Our general condition is a crowd
ed one. In the Calhoun school build
ing, it has been necessary to cut up
the assembly hall in order to get two
additional class rooms. We have no
room there for the manual training
department. or for our work in sci
ence. This building is full to over
flowing.
The Girls High School building is
full to overfowing, and we have found
it necessary to put a large class in the
play room Of the basement. Next
year there will be an additional class
in the high school, on account Of the
size Of the rising third year high
school, and not single place to put
this class. The assembly halls in
both the Washington school and the
Hampton school have been divided
into recitation rooms. and there is no
available space in either one Of those
The Lincoln school has had four
class rooms cut off from the assembly
hall and, notwithstanding this fact.
we have had to deny admission to
pupils during the whole year, on &C
count of the fact that all of the grades.
are crowded. We shall need addition
al room next year for both the white
and colorcd schools. We have waited
70 the last minute and have used ev-
cry square foot of space at the sac
rifice cf efficiency.
Detailed recommendation will be
submitted to the board at an early
and ] shall take advantage
Of every opportunity to let the citi-
Of fo,- 1.,, -1,J&
schools do need.
We have been unusually fortunate:
we built a high school building at a
time when labor was very cheap and
abundant. It would COST
one hundred thousand ollars to re
place our Girls High school today.
Florence has just issued bonds for
$3.50, 900 for a high school building
and Spartanburg 100000 for a sim
lar building. BY erecting our build
ing when we did. we saved a great
deal of money, so that the total bond
I'd Indebtedness for all school prop
.rty in the city of Sumter is $4,000.
We have reached q pivotal point il,
the evolution Of our schools. l an
sure that in this respect sumter does
not wish TO take backward step, and
it will give me great pleasure.
through the Board Of Education. to
inform the. people of our needs and
of those things that we should like
to have to make our school-work en-
trely effective
Respectfully submitted.
S. H. EDMUNDS.
Superintendent