The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-22

pe 50 poor as 10 justify us in taking
away from our people the one thin;
most n"ccssary fo" the accumulation
Of wealth. The more difficult We ind
the economic ard social conditions,
the more DO we need education. No,
III! IlendS, We must not hurt the
ScHools. We have started in the right
dnecuon: we should increase the
speed with which we are travelling.
In 'he days To come, blessed will be
'h' name OF the men who. through
sacfliicc on their part gave birth
and Strength to an educational .awak-
cnlhg in this state. Cut somewhere
c'se, If yon must, but touch not with
rcrnurious hands the foundation of
@u'c essful living. .E
Taxation Is nothing more than a
me nod of securing TO all the people
at. the lowest cost by responsible
HE@ncies the dement's Of common ac-
TIC 4 and common institutions Pub
Hc ?Xnonditures for such institutions
are an investment. In democracy
su' n as ours public education is to-
say the chief object OF expenditure
i - publ: school is perhaps the most
distinctive, OF American institutions.
The maintenance OF public education
Is Guaranteed in the constitutions
anl laws of the forty-eight states
The ffty-socond year of South Caro-
lima s educational system, embracing
elementary schools. secondary schools
AMI institutions Of higher learning,
c'o:ed June so, 1920. The progress
achieved during this period not only
p'CIcs the worth OF the system, but
ID" necessity for improving it.
'nring the year 1920 (the first year
or 'inpulsory attendance) school at
r'l ance In this state was increased
=" more than $4,000, making t.e TO-
'2i nrollmcnt approximately 100000
-. =. expenditure for education was
G"cT;er than ever before, and the re-
SO, more satisfactory. Approximate
y NC thousand school districts have
"o ID additional school Ievies since
:" 'Ary. 1890. leaving only q hand
~ # districts which still decline to
" extra ncn-y for schools. Ninety
u per cent. of the districts in the
a. are now paying local school
-. :.
ate appropriations for elementary
m secondary schools in the yea
JNs' closed amounted to approxi-
m2 ely $!,0C0,000.00. For the year
li'V beginning the state appropriation
;Nrit be Approximately $4,000. 900. 90,
Il 2iogress is 10 be maintained as II
3h uld. and if all laws now on the
20 rs are TO be complied with 1t
& # no value to enact a law which
=" v FOR money, and then fail to max o
a appropriation. The laws are good.
TIE demand that they be put into ef-
&c; is based upon interest in the COM
n, veal For every ouar supplied
fror1 The state treasury 10 the schools
,hc local patrons are supplying three
These state subsidies, which fur
nish such great impetus, are regulated
~ thirteen acts of the general assem-
b!f relating to high schools, ovc.-
crowding In elementary grades of sec.
"ndary schools, to the guarantee OF
I seven months term to rural grad.
cd schools, 70 buildings, to Yocationni
raining, to term extension, to schoo.
at,endancc, 10 the teaching of agri-
IL ,ure. industry and homo oconom
- 10 the ccrtitica ion and eXa nina
',"H of tcat hers, to librarirs. to ioca
'rbool Improvement work and to ~;
placement of teachers. Each statut.
Is based on the principle of sc,;
htlp; that is before safe aid is gran.
81, The district must levy local tax
TO Illustrate how favora bly, thes.
avs are reacted to, i cite you to tn.
fact that fOur-flf hs of the high
schools of the state have voted levies
2f ten mills or more, In order to car.
ry out the states part o. the contrac.
under this high school law. at leas,
will be needed in 1927. /
any Of my hearers are astoundcd ct
bat figure, beg that they boar in
Ind the number of boys and girls
'"w being trained in high schools OF
His state. namely, 1900. But that
-. { all OF the picture. Before South
rH(ina reaches the general level OF
the nation in secondary schools, a,
least $4,000 pupils must be enrolled
II nigh schools, sometimes called.
and very properly. the colleges OF
ihe people" And let us reflect that
Sjre sixty per cent Of those who &c
} high school, prusue their studies
no further. We must train them vel.
n these secondary schools, or forever
0Hc our chance. And then let us re.
feet again that less than seven pei
cent, barely half the average for the
United States, Of our total white en-.
roliment enters high schools. So we
mNot train tho great majority as wei,
as We may in the elementary schools,
or forever lose the chance to give
them fair start and fair opportun-
ity TO achieve q successful life.
Scuth Carolina Ia distinctively an
ae lcuiturai State. Our people and
oHr interests are predominantly rural.
and our educational problem is es-
s"n'ially rural For years we strug-
Si"d along without any semblance Of
i standard in rural education, but in
recent years the General Assembly
HAS wisely emphasized and aided rur-