The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-12-02

CarOiln2 III 1SAO. AS Sifo"o
more than 62 per cent of the people
of school age attend school, being a
net gain of IA per cent during. the
past ten years, which is the best rec
ord for any of the 4S states. Other
figures of interest are drawn from
the census by Mr.. Swearingen.
His statement follows:
According to the census OF l92O
South Carolina outranks IA states IN
the percentage of her population be-
tween FIVE and 20 years of age attend
ing school. The number of the states
inhabitants between 5 and 20 years OF
age when the census was taken IN
January, 1920, was 675,152. The
number attending school in this group
was 423, ,74O, or 62.s per cent.
This is in striking contrast with
the corresponding percentage as
shown by the census ten years ago.
In 1910 only 4s.6 per cent OF the
states population between i've and
20 wears of age was attending school.
This means a net gain of 14.2 per
cent during the decade. This is the
hest record shown for any Of the AZ
states, the next being 12.4 per cent
in Louisiana.
This group practically presents the
number of children to be taught IN
the commonwealth. The school age
under our constitution begins on the
sixth birthday and runs to the 21ss
birthday. The census group includes
bows and girls between five and SIX
wears of age. These tots ought to be
in kindergarten and many OF them
would be receiving kindergarten
training but for the age restrictions
Of the constitution of 1895.
AS to Attendance Law
The census figures also show the
population between seven and IL
wears of age. This group embraces
the bows and girls affected by the
compulsory attendance laws in most
of the states. South Carolina's local
ontion attendance law was enacted IN
1917. This was followed by the state
wide attendance law of 1919.
In 1920 the state had 315,O6s boys
and girls in this group. Of this num-
her 274,429-87.1 per eent-were at
tending school. Here again, South
Carolina outranks IL states. This per
centage, stands in striking CONTRAST
with the corresponding figures ten
wears ago-67.6 per cent. The gam
during the decade was, therefore
1915 per cent, or 1875 per thousand
Here, again, South Carolina made the
best record of any of the 4S states.
Legislators, taxpayers, teachers ano
patrons have every reason to aoe graf
ifed over South Cardinals achleVe-
ment in outstripping every other state
in her gain of school attendance
among children between. the ages OF
5 and 20 years as well as in her gair
Of school attendance under the com
pulsory education law between the
ages OFT and 13. To make this rec
ord in either respect would be sig
nifcant accomplishment, but to leac
the nation in both respects points EN-
phat;cally to the educational spirit OF
our folk. The continuance of our ed
ucational efforts during the decade
from 1920 to 1890 ought to bring
still better results.
Leads the South
The state now leads the South II
both of these groups. However,.lt i
still behind the average for the ma
ton. For the country as whole tn
percentage of children between th'
ages of 5 and 20 years attendin:
school is 64.3 and the percentage Q:
children between the ages of Z lan'
13 attending school is 90.6. For tn
South Atlantic seaboard these percen
tages are 60.2 and $50.
Stated in another way the figure
mean that now 628 persons betwee1
the ages of and 20 years are at
tending school, whereas only 1876 o
such persons were attending schoo
ten years ago.
Among children between AID l
wears of age the figures mean tha
a71 hn,rs and girls are ATTENDING