The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-03-15
AMONG THE SCHOOLS

, 8 81
= AMONG THE SCHOOLS =
90 o @ O o 9 o . O o o o o o 8
The state superintendent of edu-
cation has called a meeting of the
county superintendents to Columbia
for Wednesday evening to talk over
the various state appropriations and
to find out just where we are at IN
the matter of this aid for. the run
ming of the schools. just how we are
going to be able to say how much the
special tax, or any other tax for that
matter, of any Of the districts is go
ing to be so that we may calculate
how much state aid we are entitled
to have to run the school seven
months under the state guarantee, l
do ret know. In some Of the school
districts very small percentage OF
s the tax has been paid while in other
school districts the percentage is
much larger. and to tell how much the
state will be asked for under the law
we viii have to, find out the local in
come. This will be impossible until
the tax books close, because under the,
act extending the time for paying un-
tifSthe middle of May there are a.
great many who are going to wait un-
tilathe last to pay their tax, but we.
can only estimate and by so doing it
win be very difficult to keep from
closing the, school year in some of the
districts without an overdraft. ~ 4
In this county the total collection
Of taxes isSa; little above IS per cent
4 of sthe total tax charged, but in some
Of sthe school, districts there isyposz
sibly less than twenty per cent of the
total tax that has been paid.
went out to Union school on Fri
day afternoon by invitation to talk
over the finances of the district with
tie patrons and trustees. l was sor-.
RI that so few of the patrons found
time to come out so that we might
{ come to an understanding. But sew
eral of them were tkere and some
were detained on account of sickness,
and then this is a very busy time for
the farmer, as he must be plowing
and preparing for the next crop. The
school under the direction of Mrs.
Bessie Pugh is doing a fine work this
year, and even at this busy time with
: the farmer the present month shows
an average attendance of "a out of
4 total enrolment Of u. That is
good and the children are making
good progress but there is need OF
money to have any sort of term for
the school to finish up the good work.
And then there is need Of a new
building and some modern furniture.
In the first place the district should
vote an eight mill tax so as to get the
state aid and also to have school
term of at least seven months. This
will probably be done right away as
most of the patrons favor it. For
this school year an effort is being
made to raise enough money by pri-
vate subscription to give at least
six months term this year. And the
few who were present on Friday sub
scribed very near one third the
amount. That is not the right way
to raise money, but being in the con-
dition in which the school is that IS
better than to let it stop and at the
same time to lose the school spirit.
On my way home drove around
to see Mr. E. L. Strauss and Mr.. M.
1. Strauss who live near by and who
were sick and not able to be at the
meeting These two brothers have
prospered in this worlds goods and
have lived all their lives in this COM
munity. In fact were born right at
the place where they now live. Mr..
E. Z. Strauss owns the land which
adioins the lot upon which the present
school house is located. Mr.. NJ. l..
Strauss has family coming on and
will soon have several children OF
school age. Mr.. E. L. Strauss is a
bachelor, but is live, patriotic citizen
..4ol =, ,,bo+avar &c, for the