The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-11-25
RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS
Passed by the Baptist Southeast
Observation-Disclosures Williams
burg Delegation

To our deep humiliation we learn
from reliable sources both State and
Federal that South Carolina ranks
lower than any other state in the
United States and even below Hawaii
the Philippines and Porto Rico in the
matter of education. Judged by the
standard of efficiency our state
school system ranks below that OF
any other state and judged by the
standard of literacy, we are at the
bottom of the list, with twenty-five
per cent of our population over ten
years of age unable to read or to
write. A careful study Of the facts
in the case indicates that the weak
est place in our educational system
is in the realm of the common
schools. 1t has come to public rotice
that the legislature does not seem to
be giving to the common schools the
consideration that their vast import
ance would warrant. For example, II
is reported that the last legislature
appropriated from the public treasury
more than twice as much mooney for
the state institutions of higher edu-
cation that serves less than four per-
cent of our pupils than it did for the
common schools which are the sole
dependence of more than ninety-six
percent of our pupils for even the
rudiments of an education.
Now, whereas, we are deeply in
terested in the cause of education and
are panied to know the low education
al status of our beloved State.
Therefore, be it resolved that the
Southeast Association of Baptist
churches, consecrated to the Word OF
God and the enlightenment Of souls
hereby exercise the time-honol ed
right of petition in public matters
which affect the vital, moral and
spiritual welfare of the people, does
petition the legislature of South
Carolina through the Williamsburg
County delegation:
First: That our problem of litter
acy aand the needs of our public
free schools shall be placed po3:tively
before every other educational inter
est in the appropriation of public
money.
Second: That the Legislature shall
directly give greater authority and
pressure to a general campaign which
shall seek to enlist all educational
forces and agencies and the enthusi-
asm of all citizens in determined
effort to lift South Carolina from
it's position under the pail Of illiteracy
Third: That in submitting this
petition respectfully through them to
the legislature, we prefer the request
to the Williamsburg County delegat-
ion that it shall devote itself to the
support of such a movement and
especially for all possible measures OF
educational advancement affecting
the public schools of williamsburg
County.
Fourth: That we futher and
finally confirm our earnest good faith
as body, devoted to the increase OF
intelligent Bible readers and church
members and to all that make mer
and women stronger, better and hap
pier in the service of God and man
do herewith pledge ourselves to pro,
mote in every possible and proper way
all afforts in State and county te
secure the improvement Of our ed
ucational status as rapidly as pos
sible . And in view of the efforts
now being put forth by the State ane
philanthropic Institutes to rid oul
State of adult illiteracy, we call up
on our people who are able to do so
to discover and to teach the adult
illiterates in their communities.
Fifth: That we appoint a com
mite of five to present these re-
solutions to the county delegation.
The committee called for in the
above resolutions was appointed by
the Moderator as follows: Rev. f. A
Mcdowell, Hon. J. G. Mccullough
DR.. Leroy Gates, ]. B. Gamble, A. c
Swails and J. NJ. Brown.