The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-09-11
PUBLIC SCHOOL MATTERS.
The Meeting of the State Board Of Exam
iners-What they Did and what they
Declined to Do.
Columbia Register, September 4.

Columbia hcgiStcr, september 4.
The State Board of Examiners closed
its session yesterday.
During their two days sitting they dis
cussed fully the operations Of the present
school law, and decided, after careful de-
liberation, not to recommend any
changes in it at this time, it being their
opinion that all necessary changes in its
operations can be made under tho gener-
al authority given to the State Board Of
Examiners under the school law. Con-
sidering that the present law is begin
ming to be understood throughout the
State, and tho people becoming familiar
with its provisions, no advantage was to
be gained by changing it. Some OF the
obstacles in the way Of an efficient pub
lie school system are to be found in the
Constitution Of the State. These, of
course, cannot be removed by the Legis-
lature, and the board wero Of opinion
that the present school law was well
adapted to the present condition OF things.
The board were satisfied, however,
that the annual examination of tho large
number of teachers in the public schools
of the State requires more labor of the
county board of examiners than those
gentlemen should be expected to per-
form without compensation. In view of
the high character of the gentlemen
forming those boards and for the pur-
pose of retaining their services, it was
decided to make the following order with
regard to examinations:
l, That i'll all cases in which first grade
certificates have been granted to appH-
cants upon the second series of questions
for 1879, tho county boards of examiners
shall have authority to renew said certlfi-
Gates annually for poriod OF time not
to exceed three years, provided that the
holders of such certificates shall give to
the county boards of examiners satisfac-
tory evidence Of continued good charac-
ter and efficiency as teachers.
.. In like manner countyiboards of ex-
aminers shall have authority to renew
second grade certificates annually for
period Of time not to exceed two years.
5. All applicants for third grade certifi-
Gates to be examined annually as here
tofore.
The board also yesterday, as advertis
ed, held an examination OF applicants
for teachers State certificates. -Four ap-
plicantsipresented themseives-one white
and three colored-and after rigid eX-
animation, certificates were granted to
them. The examination included alge-
bra, natural philosophy and physiology,
and the board express themselves as
much pleased with the proficiency exhib-
tied by the candidates. The good results
produced by the persistent efforts of the
board to raise the standard Of scholar
ship among teachers have already been
seen throughout the State, and it is be-
lieved that the action of tho State Board
with regard to tho issuing of certificates
will, while it relieves the. County Boards
of much unnecessary work, excite al in
creased spirit of emulation among teach
ers to obtain the higher grades OF certli-
Gates.
A petition was presented to have the
question of what text books shall be
used in the public schools reopened and
another book placed on the list. Tho
board unanimously decided that it would
be contrary TO tho law to do so, and that
the adoption made year ago would have
to stand for five years from tho time 1t
was made.