Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-11
Public School TIattors,

The Mcti"y Of The STATE BoaN cr Nrantin-
crs- IVhat riley Did aml What yHcy De-
clincA to DO.
Tho State Board of Examiners closed it's
session yesterday.
During their two days sitting they dis.
cnsScd lully the operations Of the rrcscn,
school law, and decided. after careful lclibc.
ration, not to recommend any changes i'm il
ut this time. it being heir opinion that all
necessary changes in ito operations can be
made under the general authority given 30 the
State Board of Examiners under the schocl
law. Considering that tho present law is
beginning to be understood ,hramghont the
State, and the people becoming fawiur viii,
its provisions. no advantage was to 30 gained
by changing it. Some Of the obstacles in the
way of an efficient public school system are
to be fnnnd in the Constitution Of the State.
These, Of course. cannot be removed by Tie
Legislature, and tho board were Of opinion
That the present school law was wcll adapted
to The present condition Of things.
The board were satisfied, however, ,.,nt
the annual examination Of tho large nun,hcr
Of teachers in the public schools Of Tho Sa,c
requires more labor Of the couniv honrd or
examiners than those gentlemen should be
expected to perform without romncnsnt ton
f. H..
forming those boards and for the purpose nr
retaining their services, it was decided to
make the following order with regard tucxs
aminations
\ 1. That in all cases in which first grade
certificates have been granted to applicants
upon the sccond series Of questions for 1870.
the county boards of examiners shall have
authority to renew said certificates annually
Tor II period of time not to exceed three years
provided that tho holders Of such certificates
shall give to tho county boards Of examiners
satisfactory evidence Of continued good char
acter and efficiency as teachers.
3. In like manner county boards Of cxnm-
ners shall have the authority to renew second
grndc certificates annually for q period of
tlmc not to exceed two years.
3. All applicants for third grade certificates
to he examined annually MS heretofore.
Tho board also yesterday, rs advertised,
held an examination ofnpplicnnts for ,tachers'
State certificates. -Four applicants presented
themselves ono white aud three colorcd--
and after rigid examination, certificates
were granted to them. Tho examination
included algebra, natural philosophy and
physiology. and the board express themselves
as much pleased with tho proficiency cxh,
bitcd by the candidates. The good results
produced by the persistent efforts Of the board
to raise the standard of scholarship among
teachers have already been seen throughout
the State and it is believed that the action of
tho State Board with regard to tho issuing of
certificates will, while it relieves hc county
boards Of much unnecessary work, excite
an increased spirit Of emulation among
tcnchcrs to obtain the higher grades OF ccrtii,
Gates.
~ petition was presented to have the cues
ton of what text books shall be used in The
public schools reorcncd and another book
placed on tho list. Tho board unanimously
decided that it would be contrary to the law
to do so, and that the adoption mado year
ago would have to stand for ivo years from
the timo it was made