The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-22
GOV. COOPER
SENDS SPECIAL
MESSAGE
Legislature j T g e q
Not to Cripple the
School System b y
Drastic Cut in Ap-
preparations
proprlatlons

Cooper last. night sent speclai
message TO 10th houses Of the gen
eral assembly, in which he said he
was gravely concerned in the pro-
Sosed appropriations for the pub
lie schools. The governor called
attention TO the advancement OF
the school system and how the -ap-
organizations recommended in the
ways and means committee bill
would seriously cripple the work.
He urged the legislature not to re-
dnce the COMMON school work as
sacrifice for the institutions OF
higher learning.
In the senate the message, upon
motion of Senator Goodwin. was re-
ferred to the finance committee.
The house received it as informa-
ton.
The message follows:
Gentlemen OF the General Assem-
bly,:
+ have not annoyed you with
s6scia.l communications. 1t has
been my policy TO submit 10 you
my views as to- needed leslsla-
tion, in my annual message. AT
the beginning of the present session.
I presented recommendations COW
ering what / conceived to be mat
ters Of pressing importance. con-
graduate You or the progress al
ready made towards modern reve-
hue system. If the bills now pend
ing before the senate, which have
already passed the house. are en-
acted. We have the beginning OF an
mp 10 date and equitable system
of taxation IN the nature Of things
is will require several years TO per
feet any plan on this difficult and
complex subject.
L am constrained to address YOU
on another matter. a careful
study OF the annual appropriation
bill submitted by the committee on
ways and means causes me grave
concern. l refer especially to the
provision for public schools. ] ap-
preciate the difficulty with which
The committee has to contend, and
what / shall say Is not in q spirit
of unfriendly criticism, but IS due
TO my conviction -ts to the best pol
icy TO pursue at this time. 1 would
be unfaithfal TO my trust did I
not state my position to you.
at has been my purpose in hav-
ing the state definitely committed
to program Of education which
will, in few years provide for
every section OF the. state, adequate
educational facilities. The sener-
al assembly has given its approval
to a number Of measures carrying
out this idea / refer TO acts Civ
ing state aid to high schools. the
inspection of rural schools. voca-
tional education. adult and night
schools, term extension, rural
graded schools guaranteeing a
I. seven months term and the erec-
lion of school buildings. In the
budget submitted 10 you I recon-
naended for these purposes appro-
priaIionS, which will enable the
STATE to meet its obligations as ex-
pressed in these various acts. to the
various school districts which have
complied, and which are now ready
10 comply. with these various leg
islative enactments. II is pro-
posed by the appropriation bill as
submitted. to reduce the appropria-
ton for high schools $159.200. If
this is carried out it means that
the high schools Of the state will
be crippled and unable TO function
and the people in the various high
school districts deprived OF the Ser
vice which they have right TO eX-
pect and which they certainly need.
The inspection OF rural schools
and mill schools for which no ap-
preparation is made. Is a matter OF
very serious Importance. Failure
TO provide for this work will lie :,
serious handicap in these fields.
Without adequate supervision and
INSPECTION progress is impossible
and The usefulness OF any eXpen-
diture diminished.
The item Of 500 200 recommend
cd in the bulge, for vocational ed
ucation and eliminated from the
appropriation bill. is 10 match an
appropriation by the federal gov
ernment for this particular class
of work. With this appropriation
we have now established in various
schools of the state about leo
classes in agriculture. My informa-
ton is that the work is satisfac-
tory and growing III favor and ef-
fieiencv 1t is the policy Of the
state to provide, as part OF IT'S
educational system, special train
ing in the professions, and for this
purpose we have 4 law department
in the state university and Il med
zeal college We train teachers at
both the university and Winthrop
College, especial emphasis is given
agriculture at Clemson and domcS-
tic. science at Winthrop. How is
il possible for this particular work
at Clemson and Winthrop college
TO reach the masses who can nev-
err hope TO attend eiti.er OF the coli
lcges unless it he through the To-
cal schools? The farmers son,
who must be denied the benefit Of
n college edCcation, ought not TO
be denied by the state the spccia!
training which can be given him
through these various classes in aS-
rieulture The Importance Of this