A SKETCH OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 4o9 



SCHOOL BUILDINGS. 



Reports in 1881, from all but four counties, give the number of school 

 buildings as 2,989, with a valuation of $435,289. In addition to these, 

 163 buildings were rented for school purposes during the year, at a cost 

 of $2,882.08. Of all these, 698 were owned by school districts, and the 

 remainder b}' other parties. There were 1 ,649 reported as in good con- 

 dition, 813 in fair condition, and 477 in bad condition. 



GRADED SCHOOLS AND LOCAL TAXATION. 



The public schools of Charleston City have always been supported in 

 part by a city tax. The system of local taxation, which existed through- 

 out the State between the years 1868 and 1876, and which was abrogated 

 in 1877, has been renewed in several localities in more recent years under 

 restrictions which protect the property-holders from oppression by pro- 

 viding that they alone shall exercise the right to vote in the district tax 

 meetings. Under the operation of the amended law graded schools for 

 white and colored pupils were established in Winnsboro in 1878. Ches- 

 ter established similar schools the year following. The success of these 

 attempts to secure more ample instruction has induced other towns to 

 follow their example, and it is believed that in a few years graded schools, 

 based on local taxation as supplementing the public fund, will be found 

 in many, if not all, the towns of South Carolina. The privilege of local 

 taxation now exists in Charleston, Columbia, Winnsboro, Chester, Cam- 

 den, Union, Johnston, Varnsville, Monticello and Feasterville. It had 

 not, up to 1882, been put into operation in Columbia, Union and Feaster- 

 ville. An excellent graded school is conducted in Graniteville, by Mr. 

 W. N. Marchant; a large portion of the funds for its support being fur- 

 nished by the Graniteville Manufacturing Company. Other manufac- 

 turing companies, with equal liberality, have established good schools 

 for the instruction of the children of the operatives. Abbeville has had a 

 graded school for some years, under the charge of Mr. D. B. Johnson. 

 The school is supported by tuition fees for seven months, and during the 

 last three is. a public school, free to all. Sumter lias a similar school. 



STATE NORMAL INSTITUTES. 



The late State Superintendent of Education, Hon. Hugh S. Thomp.son,. 

 whose great zeal in the cause was equalled by the ability with which he 

 discharged the duties of his office, at an early day urged upon the Legis- 

 lature the necessity of providing for some special instruction of teacJiers,. 



