The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-02-06
The Spartanburg School Standard.

L W Spl
In the S~partanJury Herald of the 2Sd
inst. we find nearly a column of "lmpor-
tlnt information to teachers and the pub
lie" furnished by the School Commits
sionor of ~Spartanburg County. Part OF
said information is the following:
For third grade certificate applicants
will be examined on GOOD moral cflaiac-
ter, photography, reading, writing, arlth-
nlctic, geography.
For second grade all Of third together
with English grammar, history, pooN
Keeping. 49,.
For first grade all Of second II third
together with algebra, physiology, hatu-
ral philosophy.
bookkeeping, algebra, physiology
natural philosophy! Why not add Greek
Latin, Hebrew, Chinese, and Undo
stance? II an impossible standard Is to
be established why not make it rs iinpos-
sible as possible? The public school
system as generally understood Is cN-
pected to provide instruction in what arc
usually called the common Ehg!ish
branches. 1t is not expected that zach
nublic school shall be i college, or even n
high school.
The greatest objection to the Spartan
burg standard however is that while a
few of the white candidates may be able
to stand 4 good examination, il will act as
Il prohibitive barrier III the way Of the
negro teacher. If the law requires book
Keeping, algebra, physiology and natural
philosophy, the Commissioner hasa right
to include these subjects III his standards;
but if not, and il does not, it will he wei!
for him to put no obstacles in the way OF
the negro. To establish such i standard
and invite candidates to he examined re-
minds one of the st0rk that invited the
.ox to dinner, but put the meat in Il long
nccked pitcher SO that reynard could not
reach it.
"Tne State superintendent says the
School Commissioner, "haue O. devised a
systcm'' &c. We have carefully eXamin-
ed said system and heartily comlu"nd the
wise suggestions OF Mr.. Hugh s.. Thomp-
sou; but VIC fail to find any mention made
therein of algebra, or any Of the "olo-
GIGS" He is right in understanding that
free public school instruction is limited
to primary education Us explained by
Thomas Jefferson.
Not only is the Spartanburg standard
too high, but the mode of examination is
impracticable. If the examination is to
be conducted principally at the black
board,' and if applicants are to be "exain-
med separately we pity the Board of
Examiners. 1t will take at least an hour
and "a half to subject each applicant to an
examination that would even then he far
f. ON thorough; at least 10 ap 'licants
will present themselves (the number OF
public school teachers in ~Spartanburg last
years the Examiners, an unpaid body,
working five hours a day will have two
months hard work before they end laborS.
Fortunately for them the opening of the
schools in their county has boon liked for
the 18th July.
We humbly suggest to ourSpartanburg
friends the lowering Of the standard to
the requirements Of a plain, substantial,
English education; and the adoption Of
the plan of written examination from
printed questions, by which all applicants
NAV be simultaneously and successfully
examined in four hours, while the Exam
iners will be able to report upon their pa
pers in a few days. In this way more
and better work will be done, and the
needs of the free public school system
satisfactorily attended to.