The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-07
An inp"rtnmi Matter to Citizens in
and Around Prnllctni.

Edii"r Inhih.fcncrr desire through
Your ulnniIi> To call the attention of
all those wlIo;irr in any way interested.
and who ought to Ic I;tcrrsirtl to " hat
seems To inr to be il very mpnri;int
natter. And with this end in view,
should like also to ask one or more
questions. anil 10 make II few remarks.
.ts IL well known. Il SirriHl school
district WHS FORMED some time since
rnniprIsi.I" the ;oHn of l'cndlcton and
the h'iIlrcn' puiIluiS ni Anderson
County, and :, special school tax i'm
posed on tlic inNpiytr> resident Within
The limit. OF his school district. Til,
were du'lr after Il Favorable. vote had
been given. So far - %uuu. We need
c,l Il p'cini school district. and an adj
Iiliniinl school tax w:s made necessary
in order tlat II school worthy of he
name might; l,c established and main
tainrh. And now | wish to know
whether or not we. the voters and lax
paAci> OF this district, have any voice
in the selection of the trustees who
govern and manage the school Ger
tiililv We have been allowed to have
none 50 far. We pay our taxes. but
hay" had nothing TO do with The sclcc-
ton Of trustees. And il seems To me
to b" :, iiiust nnjus; and prrnicio,lS state
ol affairs. against the continuance of
which desire tornicr III emphatic pro
test. take ii that we I'LL earnestly de-
sire 10 sec Il really Gnn,l school ht.vcl
vclOptd and maintained here in our
midst. And il is oar duty To do all we
can to aid in The. building up of such Il
school. Hence it is and ought to he Il
matter 0f deep concern to Vach Of us
hat the most efficient means he en-
played and he hest systems used for
securing what is OF such vital import
fs,.
fore, | feel that am not in any way
trHlISErcSsin.s the bounds of propricty
in criticisinE the present most unfair
and inefficient SYSTEM of selection of
school Trustees. The trustees have i'm
their hands practically the whole man
aScmcnt of the school. They choose
the teacher or teachers, and in general
form the governing body. The trus-
tees. therefore, ought to be elected by
They ought to bc thoroughly represent
tativc men who shall represent the
"hoic community, and not any mere set
M Faction or iartiOn OF it. And the
only way in which such Il board Of trns-
tees can be obtained is through cleo
t"n. and not by arpointmcnt of the
County superintendent OF Education.
How can any one now understand the
needs OF every community i'll the COun-
~ . ~ ~ lItil"fSSillt i'l ulN \ouulN
superintendent 10 know lust who to
appoint in every school district. He is,
therefore. very apt To bc influenced in
his appointments by personal feelings,
or where lic is unarullaimtrd. by s,g-
gcstion from particular individuals.
II the trustees were elected, Il re-
sprctablc board would be much more
apt to be obtained. and consequently
the true interest OF the school would be
considered more carefully and efficient
ly. And. moreover. that greatest of all
dangers to the public school-that fac
tor which is one of the greatest OF all
barriers and prevrntiycS in the way of
Il solnd aud efficient system of public
school cducaliOm-tl -tlcnoininati0nn self
seeking would be held in check. The
question of denomination ought never
10 he suffered to enter into considcra-
tion in connection with. Il public school.
What we want is Il good, competent,
efficient, representative board of trus-
tees who shall. each ant; all. take per-
Sunai interest in the school, and who
shall always bc careful To realize :hc
responsibilities ni their position. and in
general TO do nll in their power 10 ad :
Vance The cause OF sound c,luca:inn.
lrr'ain.
Yours sincerely,