Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-30
Misfellaueuns 8eaaiua.
From the Carolina Teacher.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.

From the Carolina Teacher.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONER.
Mr.. Editor School offices should be filled
by school men. This proposition seems rea-
sonable. Only lawyers are elected, or ap-
pointed, attorney-generals or solicitors. If
| we had any such Office aS county physician,
we should elect doctors to discharge its du-
ties. Were we called upon every two years
to choose a county commissioner of agricul-
ture, we would likely select practical and
progressive, a Wide-awake and up-to-the-
times farmer. Manufacturers appoint none
but experienced workmen to oversee the diff
ferent departments of their factories. None
but railroad men are elected superintend-
ents of railroads. To multiply examples is
needless. The unbiased reader will admit
| the truth of our proposition that the man
who holds any school office should be famil-
lar with the details of school work.
If this be true of school officers in general
it is especially true of County School Com
missioners in South Carolina. Turn to the
school law of the State and read this officers
duties as therein laid down. Weselecta few
He should visit the schools as often as prac-
ticable, and note the course and method OF
instruction and the branches taught, and
give such recommendation in the art OF
teaching and the method thereof, in each
school, as shall be necessary and eNpedient,
so that uniformity in the course Of studies
and method of instruction employed shall
| be secured. He is to note any deficiencies
that may exist, either in the government OF
the school or the classification of the pupils,
or the method of instruction employed in
the several branches, and shall make such
suggestions, in private, to the teachers, as to
him shall appear necessary to the good or
der of the school and the progress OF the
pupils. 1t is his duty to aid the teachers in
all proper efforts to improve themselves in
| their profession. For this purpose he should
encourage the formation of associations OF
| teachers for common Improvement, attend
such meetings, and give such advice and in
struction as would contribute to their great
er efficiency. He should, when deemed ad-
yisable by the County Board OF Examiners,
apportion sum not to exceed two hundred
dollars for the support of Teachers Insti-
tutes. Notwithstanding the fact that the
State Superintendent, at the beginning OF
the year, called the attention of the County
School Commissioners to their authority to
make such appropriation, and to the lmpor.
tance of this Institute work, these Institutes
were held in but four of the thirty-four
counties of the State during the past year,
Many incompetent men have been elected
County School Commissioner since the free
school system was established. Could one
half of the present incumbents successfully
stand an examination, properly conducted,
on the last series of first grade questions sent
out from the State Superintendents Office I:
Maybe they could. This scribe is afraid
they could not
How can any Improvements be effected
We hope this question will be thoroughly
4 ;,,f fhoo cNf4 nf
State. We make few suggestions. II
right, we ask for endorsement; if wrong,
we invite correction.
First, the salary of this Office should be
increased. 1t should pay at least the old
salary-a thousand dollars year. Larger
salaries may not diminish the number o1
aspirants for the Office, but they would GER
tainly improve the quality of such patriotic
seekers. A poor Commissioner is dear at
any price. Agood one deserves good sala'
ry; and if such an officer is wanted, such a
price must be paid.
Second, the law which disqualifesa a teach
er of a free school from holding the office
should be repealed. That this officer should
quoted. AS the law stands, only private
teachers are eligible. A private teacher
will not exert himself to improve the free
schools, when he knows that such schools
we'll managed destroy private schools. Let
this section of the law be repealed, and let
the Commissioner teach free school and
draw his pay as teacher. just as he now
draws his salary as Commissioner. Of oul
first suggestions were made a law, then this
one would be withdrawn fpaid enough
to justify him in doing so, the Commission
er should he required to give his whole time
| to the work. But as the law now stands, al
| lowing this officer to work but POO days 4
year and paying him $500 per day, every
er business, and might he not teach a free
school, with as much propriety as farm, or
preach, or practice law. or administer pills:)
Third, the term ofoffice should be extend,
| ed. In two years man canncOt beOme ia
milar with the duties of the office, and well
acquainted with the teachers and people OF
the county. Why should our sheriffs and
clerks serve four years and our SCHOOL Com
missioners but two years? "
Fourth, this officer should be appointed
by the State Board of Examiners. This is
the law in some of the States. An elected
officer is afraid to remove, or even reprOve
ence should be used against him in the next
election. The number Of school districts in
the counties of the State runs from five in
Charleston to ffty-fOur in Orangeburg.
From fifteen to one hundred and siXty-tWO
influential citizens in different sections of a
county are strong factor in county politics.
The man who hangs on peoples votes is
afraid to refuse certificate to, or revoke the
certificate of, any teacher, lest said teachers
friends should support the other fellow next
time Let our State Board appoint our
School Commissioners. Before they can do
50 the constitution must be changed. But
as this instrument was made for the people,
and not the people for it, let the necessary
changes be made. PUBLIC SCHOOLS.