The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-05-31
The Public Schools.


The Public Schools.
An Important Circular from the State Supefin-
tendent of Public Education.
The following circular has been sent to the
School Commissioners of the several counties
The first regular meeting of the State Board
of Examiners was held May lst and I'd. The
following resolutions are taken from the minutes
Resolved, That in those localities in which the
number of children desiring to attend school is
less than the minimum number prescribed by
the various boards of trustees for the establish
.ment of schools, teachers should if possible be
procured, the compensation in such cases TO be
less than that usually allowed to the grade OF
certificate held by the teacher.
Resofced, That the various school officers OF
this State be urged to secure the services of the
most competent teachers to instruct the colored
children, and that this board heartily commends
the white teachers who have heretofore engaged
In their instruction.
Resofced That this board has received with
qualification the encouraging reports Of the
progress in education made by the colored chill
dren in certain portions of the State, especially
in Charleston.
Tho following rules, for the examination of
applicants for the position of teacher, in the
public schools were adopted under the authority
given to the State Board Of Examiners in sub
divisions 2 and 3 of section of can net to al.
ter and amend the school law of South Carolina"
nss 81 81 In Wiling e1aSiba,ion, in
reading, Snd must be conducted on Questions
to be pref arsd for each of the three grades.
z. The number 10 to be the maximum mark,
and no applicant whose average at An examina-
tion is less than on all branches TO receive q
certificate.
3. That at oil examinations before County
Boards, at least two members of the board must
be present.
4. That applicants before county boards shall
be examined in orthSgraphy, reading, writing,
arithmstic, geography, English grammar, history
Of the United States and Of this State.
o. That applicants for teachers State csrti6-
cate must appear before the State Board of Ex-
sminers at the regular meetings, which will be
held IN Columbia during the first week in May
and the first week in September Of each year !;
and that, in addition to the branches of study
mentioned in the foregoing rules, said applicants
must be examined in algebra, natural philoso-
phy and physiology.
In accordance with the provisions of Rule l.,
School Commissioners will be furnished with
Questions, before each examination, on applioa-
tion to this office. These questions will be sent
in sealed envelopes, which should be opened on
the day Of examination in the presence of the
County Board of Examiners. Each applicant
sheuld be required to state in writing at the
close Of the examination, that no assistance has
bsen received from any source whatever. These
precautions should be observed to prevent ap-
plicants from obtaining copies Of the questions
before the examination, and also from receiving
assistance after the examination begins.
The great want in our public schools is for
better teachers. Until training schools for
teachers can be established, the State Board and
the county boards must be relied on to secure
competent instruction, and for this reason great
care should be exercised in the eIaminations.-
L would especially urge thst person be gran
ted . certificate who, in addition to other re-
quirements, has not the high moral quali6ca-
tions which should be possessed by every one
whs 10 entrusted with the important work Of
teaching the youth Of our State.
The scheol law gives to the State Board q
Examiners authority to select uniform series
Of text books to be used in the public schools
The books will be selected at the next meeting
Of the board, which will be held during the first
week in September, and it is hoped that by the
beginning of the next school year there will be
IN use in all counties Of the State books we'll
adapted to the assistance of teachers and the in.
struction Of pupils. HU0H s. THoNrsoN,
State Superintendent Education.