The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-18

's' Tho official notification that was
expected to prepare paper for this
occasion, assigned as the subject
"Ihe duties of School Commission
en-" The printed programme mon
tions "rhe most important duties of
tho School Commissioner"
L will divide my subject into two
parts: lst. What is expected Of Il
School Commissioners. 2nd. What
conceive to be the duty of tho
School Commissioner.
The School Commissioner is OK
pccted to be in his Office whenever
anyone calls, and to visit tho schools
at the samo timo; to do twolyc
months work in each yoar and on,
courage tho people i'll tho idea. that
ho whole work can be performed in
~ fow weeks; t9, tf6 moro work and of
IL higher or>ler, than tho. average
legislator, and yet encourage him
in the notion that ho is an econ
omist in voting such pittanco to
the School Commissioner, and
SO much for himself; to reconcile
differences and please both parties
in a neighborhood when thoy arc
nearly equally divided and equally
nnyielding; to so contrary to the law
and approve illegal school warrants
N order to correct the neglect or
carelessness of teachers and trustees
who did not comply with the law; to
endorse for his own county first
rate grade certificate given in anoth-
or county although tho applicant in
II few lines spelled Obliged with Il "t"
and refer with "u".
1t will thus bo soon that the first
duty OF Il School Commissioner is to
be able to say "No," and to mean it
when ne says ii. The most law a.
biding porson in tho State should be
those in charge Of tho education Of
youth. The person who teaches the
child to disregard constituted auth
ority or to think it manly or bravo
to defy or override tho law, is All IN
jury instead Of Il benefit. Tho
School Commissioners should take the
school law as his chart, usurp no
authority which is not givon to him
and discharge his duty "without
; fear, favor or projudicc." Flo should
uphold as far as is within his power
tho authority OF tho trustees within
their sphere, and the teachers in
thoirs, and should Serious difficulties
arise, hWo them settled before the
SlCoaIty Board of Examinorc with all
tho seriousness and dignity of any
othor court. lIo should ondcavor
clcrrly to define the duties Of cvory-
ono and thereby bring about system
and harmonious action. His Office
should be neatly kept and made com.
Portable, especially in winter when
persons, including ladies, often ride
Il long distance through tho cold
The Office is not the private sanctum
Of the School Commissioner, but bo-
longs to the school systom Of tho
county; and teachers and othcrs
should be cordially received and
.nado to feel at homo thoro. Tho
School Commissioner should koep
his books with tho samo ncatucss and
correctness as tho merchant or man
u'acturcr, and balance sheets shouId
bn struck off from time to time,
(once a month, if possiblc) and tho
vouchers compared with the book to
so9fhat all entries are correct. Ho
sh'md frequently compare books with
thGI GIreasurer and both parties bring
* dIS8G tho balances so that any discre-
lGay can be quickly discovered, and
s&Glements nood never be taken too
far back. All persons receiving ap-
proved warrants should be required
to receipt on tho book 1t is mat
ter of courtesy in business as we'll as
social circles to reply to all letters
received. Tho School Commissioner
should answer his correspondents
promptly and keep a copy Of each
letter as record in his office. This
will save trouble in tho future, enable
him to trace and account for every
warrant received or forwarded and
checks transmitted, and be protect
ion to him, especially should it be
necessary for him to account for q