The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-09-28

the tn~X-paycr;' and asserts that "the
meeting at which that officer appears
seems to be for the sole purpose OF FORMING as
and combinations for further legiS-
lative enactmcntS in the iutercsts OF the
Schools" This IS somewhat vague. TO what
meeting Is reference made? To the State Nor
nal Institute? Ask such learned educators
Ms Or. Carlisle, DR.. Furman. Dr. Miles, DR..
Gricr, Professors Judson and Hood-all OF
have Witnessed the workings OF the In
<,itutc-or such distinguished strangers as
General Eaton. DR.. Harris and DR.. Curry
who also honOred IT with their presence
the sole object" Of tho institute was
TO form associations to further legislative en-.
even admitting that to be a hcin-
GUS crime
We will answer q few questions by asking
others: Did tho Neus and Herald read the
Registers account Of the Superintendent
grand appearance before the Co!orcd Institute
in Columbia, accompanied by various Off
cial dignitarieS? Was there nothing quoted
speeches which did not refer to my Of the
or desirable improvements in the
and instruction" OF the children
OF the public schools? Did those speeches
look anything like a Qualification OF some i'll
di vidual, or did the speakers apply them
selves to the business which should have been
in the minds Of the congregated
teachers?
AS to tho matter Of combinations for leg.
enactmcnts," We would say our only
objection to the Teachers Institute comes
from o fear that under the oratory OF some
Jealous partisan in caucus, or otherwise,
by a mutual development Of some idea
of which the public shall not have had
due notice, they may be unduly innu
enccd TO seek to control legislation. Did
not some Of the learned Professors just named
the .Nc1cs aud Herald two or three, or four
ago meet In private caucus In the city
of Greenvillc. for the express purpose of max
ing a combined ana q united effort to in!lu-
strange the best institution Of learning
which has ever existed on our State: Have NO
the County Institutes or Associations talkcd
OF legislation? AS long as the Teachers meet
for the legitimate business OF being instruct
and Of imparting information to the men,
Eers Of their profession, we have not words to
express properly our high estimate OF the
benefits to be derived from their meetings.
Tie State Board of Examiners, by It's sue
ccssful inauguration or state Institutes has
brought South Carolina into prominent no
tice. Tennessee, Alabama and other South
crO St1 les nave lOllp"eu III ucT WAN Will
their Institutes; while the selection of Profes-
sor Sedan was proved so iudicioas, that 9TH
or Superintendents have bid for his services
In the same capacity. For all this, the f1cSs
aud Banner has nothing but ccnsure."
We are unable to account for this last asscr-
ton, and would like TO know what sentence
we ever uttered which could b distorted into
n form that could In any way Justify it. Ger
tain 1t IS, that the general tenor Of the Press
Banner has been favorable to both the
State and the County organizations Of the
teachers.
"The following advice is given: 1T should
be his aim TO discharge the duties of his Of
fec, and not TO canvass the State In the Inter.
est OF his pet schemes"
"Has the writer ever looked carefully into
what are the duties OF his Officer" Here they
are:
ale shall have general supervision over all the com
mon and public schools Of the State. And 1t slisll be
bis duty to visit every county In the State for the p''r.
pose of inspecting the schools, awakening nm interest
to the cause Of education, and difnsing az
for as possible by public addresses and personal coin
lnuniration with school officers. teachers and ptrents, a
knowledge OF existing defects and OF desirable i'm
In the government and instruction oi Inc
[Gen. Stats, Section 4, Fage 2S9.J
Again:
"He shall make o report, with such
y dUo NC iC AloN tihFS o"f Wv ''o'> ''"H -
Examiners may have recommended for the manage
Inent and improvement OF the school fund, and for the
more perfect organization and efficiency OF The con-
mon schools
ut will be seen that the duties Of his Office
require him, in the words Of the PreSs aud
Banner, to canvass the State and the charge
thus brought against him Is the most cOnvin-
cling proof that he Is e~ndeavorinS TO discharge
The duties of his office TO the best OF his ahtli-
ty-and for the best Interests of the public
school system"
The quotation credited TO the General Stat
utes, Section 4. page $50, proves our point to
the letter. but the 2arblcd extract below. to-
gcther with the Interpretation OF The FeU'
and Herald would lead the unwary reader to
a wrong conclusion.
We wish the reader to note what we said, ms
follows: at should be his aim to discharge
1.-The duties OF his Office, and not To canvass
'the State in the interest Of his pet Schemes
nnd then note wherein the Ncps and UernLd
misquotcd the law. Chapter XXXEIII, Sec
ton 5, in defining the duties Of the School
Commissioner, says:
"He shall, on or before the first day OF Octo-
Der, each year, forward to the State Supc, IN.
tendcnt Of Education an extended report, con.
tanning an abstract OF the reports made to
him by the various school officers and teach
ers in his county, and showing the condition
OF the schools under his charge, suggesting
such improvements in the school system n
he may deem useful, and giving such other
information in regard TO- the practical opera
ton OF the common schools, and laws rela
ting thereto. MS may be deemed of public in
terest. He shall also include, in his report
such other matters as he shall be directed &c
report BY the StIle Superintendent OF Edcau
ton"
Now, read Section 4 OF the General Statutes
page go, defining the duties of State Supcrin'
tendent of Education:
"He shall nave general supervision over al
the common and public schools of the State
And II shall be his duty to visit every county
in the State for the purpose of inspecting the
schools. awakening an interest favorable &c
possible by public addresses and personal
communication with school officers, teachers ana
parents, a knowledge Of eristino detects and o.
desirabte improvements in the government and IN
Sk17tction Of tie schools"
Section Q OF the same act reads:
THAT he shall make a report, through the
Governor. 10 the General assembly, at each regu.
Tar session thereof showing" the statistics and
facts enumerated together with such plans
as he may have maturcd, and the Stale Board
management and improvement o.. the schoo. fund,
and for the more perfect organization and et
ficicncy Of the common schools"
The reader will readily perceive that the
law does not expect the State Superintendent
of Education to make speeches except to cor.
rect "existing defects" in the manner of gov
erning or instructing schools, or to make
such improvements" as he may deem best.
1t will be seen that the County School Com
missioner shall make his suggestion TO the
State Superintendent OF Education. and that
the State Superintendent Of Education In
turn, shall report through the Governor, to
the Legislature, and not TO The people. He is re-
quired to conine his remarks to the "school
officers, teachers and parents to the business
Of teaching and conducting schools. Correct
ing any defects which he may discover In
the management of the schools, and 10 rec
ommend such improvements in the govern
ment OF the chool as he may deem best. BY
NO strained construction could even the Neus
ana Herald maintain that the State Superin.
tendent Is directed toagitate the minds OF the
people on needed legislation. He is instruct
ed to report through the Governor to the
General Assembly," when legislation Is need
ed.
The only question that can exist Is, has the
State superintendent OF Education gone aside
from his official duties to create public favor
for legislation OF any kind? II he has, he is
subject to criticism. If he has not, then he IL