The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-07
An Important Matter to Citizens il
and Around Pendleton.

Editor 1ntelLigenccr desire through
your Olumns to call the attention OF
all those who are in any way interested,
and who ought to be interested, to what
seems to me to be q very lmportant
matter. And with this end i'll view, |
should like also to ask one or more
questions, and to make q few remarks;
AS is we'll known, special school
district was formed some time since
comprising the town of Pendleton and
the adjacent portions of Anderson
County, and special school tax i'm
posed on the taxpayers resident within
the limits of this school district. This
were done after q favorable vote had
been given. SO far so good. Weneed-
ed q special school district, and an adj
ditionai school tax was made necessary
in order that school worthy OF the
name might be established and main
tanned. And now wish to know
whether or not we, the voters and tax
PAYERS of this district, have any voice
in the selection of the trustees who
govern and manage the school 2 Ger
tainly we have been allowed to have
none so far. We pay our taxes, but
have had nothing to do with the selec-
ton of trustees. And it seems to me
to be Il mostunjustand pernicious state
of affairs, against the continuance of
which desire to enter an emphatlc pro
test. take it that we all earnestly de-
sire to see a really good school devel-
veloped and maintained here IN our
midst. And it is onr duty to do all we
can to aid in the building up OF such
school. Hence it is and ought to be
matter Of deep concern to each OF us
that the most efficient means be en-
ployed and the best systems used for
securing what is of such vital import
ance to a civilized community. There
fore, feel that / am not in any way
transgressing the bounds of propriety
in criticising the present most unfair
and inefficient system of selection OF
school trustees. The trustees have In
their hands practically the whole man
agement 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
the taxpayers who support the school.
They ought to be thoroughly represen-
tatiye men who shall represent the
achole community, and not any mere set
or faction or portion of it. And the
only way in which such board of trus-
tees can be obtained is through cleo
ton, and not by appointment OF the
County Superintendent OF Education.
How can amy one now understand the
needs Of every community III the C0un-
ty9 1t is impossible for any County
Superintendent to know just who to
appoint in every school district. He is,
therefore, very apt to be influenced III
his appointments by personal feelings,
or where he is unacquainted, by sug-
gestion from particular individuals.
If the trustees were elected, Il re-
spectacle 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 preventives In the way OF
a sound and efficient system OF public
school Observation-Disclosures self
seeking would be held in check. The
question of denomination ought never
to be suffered to enter into considera-
ton in connection with. Il public school.
What we want is 4 good, competent.
efficient, representative board OF trus-
tees who shall, each and all, take per-
sonal interest in the school, and who
shall always be careful 10 realize the
responsibilities OF their position, and in
general to do all i'll their power to adj
vance the cause OF sound education. |
remain,
I