The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-15
NOTES OF CITY SCHOOLS

The public schools of the city
have been running for about slX
weeks under most propitlous con-
ditions, as far as health and the
consequent regularity and punctu-
ality of attendance are concerned
The only drawback is the crowded
conditions of class rooms. Owing
to the precedented cost Of build
ing operations during the past few
years, the board Of education has
done only such building as was
absolutely imperative. using the
current funds for such additions
and improvements as have been
necessary. Two results have fol-
lowed: Crowded rooms; 2-The
fact that Sumter has the smallest
bonded Indebtedness for school
purposes and more to show for it
than any other city in the state.
In spite of the additions that
were made to the Washington
school most Of the rooms in this
building are filed to overfiowins.
The Lincoln school building is very
much crowded. In the Girls High
School building it has beec found
necessary to convert the girls
gymnasium into class room. This
year room of that size is essen
tial because there are 46 girls IN
the Fourth Year High School who
sit in that class room. This num-
Der. with the 36 boys in the Fourth
Year High School, makes a record
breaking class for the last year Of
the High School. 1t has not been
lonS when it was considered a real
achievement to have as many as
two dozen boys and girls in the last
year Of the High School the size Of
Sumter's. 1t may be remembered
that in 1911 a class Of 53 was grad
uated. and that the Sumter High
School had the United States rec
erd for. holding boys and girls in
the High School. At that time bull
letinS were sent over this whole
county. as we'll as into the United
States territorial possessions. Civ
| ing the attendance records for the
Sumter High School. 1t is graft
fying to note that there has been
steady increase since that time, and
it is truly a remarkable record to
have as many as so pupils in the
last year of the High School whose
enrollemtn is no larger than Sum-
ter's.
In the Boys High School one
half of the basement has been con-
verted into class rooms and labo-
ratories. for the Science depart
ment Of the High School and two
rooms have been cut off from the
auditorium cf that building in or
der to make room for two classes
of Seventh Grade boys who can
not be accommodated for lack of
room at the Hampton school build
ing. which is the regular building
for the Grammar School of the
system.
The Board of Education has
deemed it to be the wiSe@t policy to
use every square foot of space avail
able. because the cost of building
operations for the past several
years has been practically pro-
hibitive To illustrate this: a
neighboring city i. our own state
has erected high school building
that is really magnificent in its
proportions and s:lendidly equip
ped for all its purposes. 1t is in all
its appointments one of the best
high school buildings in the whole
south. and it is a tribute to the es-
TEEN in which educational progress
is held by the citizens Of that
community If, however. our board
of education had had the amount
of money in 1915 that was spent
have been able to erect twelve
buildings the duplicate of our
girls high school building. Of
course. in 1915 labor and material
were very cheap and very abund-
ant: but it appeared to the board
that it would be unwise to carry on
any extensive building operations in
1920, when labor and material were
so scarce and so expensive.
In spite Of the crowded condi-
tons. the work is effective. owing
to the avowed policy Of the city
board OF education to employ only
teachers of experience and ability
and the greatest care is exercised
in their selection.
Frequently, from now on. there
Will appear in this column. notes
that Will furnish the people of this
city information about their
schools. because it is believed that
there is no question in which the
people of our community are more
deeply Interested than in the well
fare of their children.
Honor Roll of Aftculance