would accomplish this purpose, and it would be a very small matter to the taxpayer, and a great blessing to their children. Are the people of this progressive county willing to make the necessary sacrifice in order that their children may be prepared to fill responsible positions in life? This is the burning question. Parents and guardians, look well after the educational interest of those who are committed to your keeping, and then it shall follow that thou shalt not be false to any man. JNO. F. WIDEMAN, Superintendent Education, Greenwood County. Hampton, S. C., Oct. 30, 1908. Hon. O. B. Martin, State Superintendent of Education. Dear Sir: Replying to yours of the 22d inst., I am glad to say that there has been, during recent years, remarkable progress all along educational lines throughout Hampton County. Not only is the numerical attendance larger, and the terms longer, but there is manifestly more proficiency among all of the teachers; and besides this, the class of school buildings is much improved, and the furniture and equipments much more complete. We have high schools and graded schools, all well equipped with competent teachers, and a large majority of the common schools are taught by a high class of young, ambitious and aspiring lady teachers. I note that there is a growing necessity for more co-operative work by the Boards of Education, and that my county really needs that more days than seven should be allowed the members of my Board of Education for each year, and I hereby request that you recommend to the Legislature to pass an Act, at its next approaching session, to increase the number of days from seven, as the law now specifies, to at least fifteen, as this will materially advance the general educational interest in my county by giving me more cooperative assistance in my most important and responsible work. Respectfully submitted, S. J. FITTS, Superintendent of Education, Hampton County. Hon. O. B. Martin, Columbia, S. C. Conway, S. C., Nov. 25, 1908. My Dear Sir: As per your request, I send you report of the progress made along the line of education during the past two years. The schools in Horry have made more progress during the last two years than in eight or ten years before. There have been ten or twelve modern, two-room buildings erected instead of the small, oneroom house. These are being painted and well equipped with patent desks, teachers' desk and chair, blackboards, and good heaters. Other good houses are being painted and furnished with modern equipments. Twenty-five districts have voted a special tax, some as high as four mills, none less than three mills. Libraries are being placed in nearly every school. Better teachers are needed. Two high schools have been voted. A spirit of educational progress seems to be stirring the people of every section. The cry is Better houses, better equipments, longer terms, and trained teachers. The salaries of teachers have been raised, and the salary of the County Superintendent has been raised $200.00 per year. It is still too low, only $600.00. Yours truly, W. A. PRINCE, County Superintendent of Education. Bennettsville, S. C., Oct. 26, 1908. Hon. O. B. Martin, Columbia, S. C. My Dear Sir: The condition of the schools of Marlboro County at present show improvements as follows: (1) Four new school buildings were erected during the past school year. (2) A number of schools have made valuable repairs on their buildings, and added better equipment. (3) Two districts now receive appropriations for high school work-McColl and Willis districts. (4) Brownsville district voted a special levy of four mills this year, and Bennettsvillet and Clio increased their special levy to the limit. (5) Five new libraries for schools during past year and three enlarged. (6) Allen district consolidated with Key district. Some of our Trustees are more diligent in securing the most competent teachers, and in looking after the welfare of the schools. One of our greatest needs is a Board of Trustees that will always show a deep interest in their district school, and don't mind taking time to provide for the school. Some new legislation is needed right here, which might give school trustees a small compensation, and require each Board of Trustees to take time to see that all property, polls and dogs are returned for taxation, and then to provide a more direct way for the collection of delinquent taxes. The income of some of our country schools is too uncertain. The three-mill constitutional appropriated per enrolment is variableaccording to yearly enrolment. The income from polls and dogs is small, and not what it should be. A special levy is needed in nearly every district. A special levy to be apportioned to each district per enrolment voted, by the county, would divide the taxation on railroads, factories, etc., more uniformly. The weaker country districts, without such property, are in need of more school funds. Short school terms and lack of equipment is the result. A general awakening for better country schools is needed. Four town schools of this county have fully one-half of all the school property of this county. Consolidation for better buildings and better equipment is needed. Every school needs some simple devices for manual and industrial training. Our schools have made great progress in the two last decades. Shall we stop short of our highest achievements? A. L. EASTERLING, County Superintendent of Education. Orangeburg, S. C., Nov. 19, 1908. Hon. O. B. Martin, Colubia, S. C.: There is a decidedly increasing interest in education in Orangeburg County. In the past four years the schools establishing libraries have almost doubled in number, and there has been a marked increase in the number of school districts that have levied special taxes in order to supplement the regular school funds. Under the inspiration of the school building law, enacted about three years ago, twenty, or more, very creditable school-houses have been erected in the county, a majority of them being in the rural districts; and, besides these, there have been other buildings and improvements independent of this law. One building has just been completed at a cost of about $4,000.00. I think the great need of our schools is more money, in order that we may have better teaching and closer and better school supervision; and, if a direct appropriation cannot be made, I know of no better way of increasing the school fund than by inspiring the various school districts of the state to levy special taxes in the interest of home improvement. Very respectfully, STILES R. MELLICHAMP, Superintendent of Education of Orangeburg County, S. C. Hon. O. B. Martin, Columbia, S. C. Pickens, S. C., Nov. 11, 1908. My Dear Sir: The schools of Pickens County are progressing very nicely, and much interest is manifest all over the county for better schools. New school-houses have been built and old ones improved. Teachers have become plentiful, especially ladies, but men teachers are few. Salaries of the teachers have been raised and the efficiency of the teachers has increased in like proportion. There are four high schools in this county, and all of them are doing good work. The State's appropriation is being well spent and is greatly needed. The greatest need of the schools is more money. Many of the districts have voted a special tax. Very respectfully, R. T. HALLUM, County Superintendent of Education. SALUDA COUNTY. Superintendent Martin, Columbia, S. C.: In reply to your request as to the most urgent needs of the schools of our County, will say: First, we need longer terms, and then there is some scarcity of efficient teachers, while I think we are improving in this respect. About one-seventh of the districts pay special tax. About the same number have libraries. I think about 5 per cent. of the children do not attend school. J. N. DELOACH, County Superintendent of Education. SPARTANBURG COUNTY. Spartanburg, S. C., Nov. 23, 1908. Hon. O. B. Martin, State Superintendent of Education, Columbia, S. C. My Dear Sir: In response to your request for a brief special report, I beg to state that educational conditions have been considerably improved in Spartanburg County during the past year. Several new school buildings have been erected; notably, at Woodruff, where a very handsome fifteen thousand dollar school has been built. At Glenn Springs a handsome, modern school-house is being built, the result of consolidation and voting a special. tax. At another point in the county the consolidation of two districts has resulted in the establishment of a centrally located school, which takes the place of two small schools. This building, which is nearly completed, cost about one thousand dollars, is modern and well planned, and the equipment everything that it should be. Considerable interest is being manifested in voting a special tax and establishing libraries. The outlook is in every way encouraging. Very truly yours, E. C. ELMORE, County Superintendent of Education. Kingstree, S. C., Nov. 11, 1908. Mr. O. B. Martin, State Superintendent of Education, Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: Financially we are in better shape than ever before, but even the present funds are not more than half enough to give us the best schools. The average monthly salary of our country teachers is about $35.00, certainly not enough to induce the best teachers to come to us, although considerably better than two or three years ago when the average pay was about $26.00 per month. The average length of term for whites is now nearly six months, whereas, a few years ago it was less than four months. Indeed, it is difficult in many instances to get the people to send their children the full term, many schools closing before time for this reason alone. This is not the rule, however, for many sections are wide-awake and are making some of the best country schools to be found anywhere. Four or five years ago Kingstree was the only district in the County levying a special tax for schools. Now, more than half the school districts of the county have special levies ranging from two mills to twelve mills, the majority imposing four mills, the constitutional limit. During the last two or three years many excellent buildings have gone up. Three years ago Kingstree was the only district that boasted of a school-house worth more than $1,000.00. At this writing there are ten completed buildings costing from $1,000.00 upward to $23,000.00. Besides this, many smaller buildings, ranging in cost from $350.00 to $800.00, have gone up. The total value of all school buildings in the county three years ago was about $22,000.00; |