The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-22


the expenses of the teacher for three
months at q normal college and
since elected to this Office / have
been wrestling with the problem OF
how 10 provide for che better training
of our teachers. for the more Efficient
instruction OF the children. believing,
as do, that 8 good teacher means q
good school, aud that with thorough
capable teachers the common
schools can prepare for life. orft for
college. the children in even the
most remote country districts. But
when I wish TO supersede the teach
ers Institutes, which lasted but a
week, By a summer normal school in
each county. TO last four weeks,
4eachers being required TO attend. /
have heen met on many sides with
the objection that the teachers are
TOO poor to pay their BOARD for q
mouths study for profession in
which our poverty causes them 70 be
employed for 8 little more than three
asonths and to earn only abous SIS q
year am met further with the
objection that the echeol fand is en-
tiEeIy TOO smalito admit OF, a proyis
ION By which the teachers might be
reimbursed for the expense Of attend.
ance upon these fitting schoois-and
yet ss33E SO has been spent in some
instances by every school in county
90 buy 5 chart treating of arithmetic
alone s chart, which . good teacher
would not need, snd q poor teacher
could not use. If this money had
been put, not IN worthless chart
bat il the education of the school
teacher, the teacher would have in
her brain chat which is better than q
hundred charts, and, with this added
power that could result from the
jndicious expenditure of $37 SO,
would present on o Is cents black
board, without any chart, much more
intelligibly TO the papils, the matter.on
this and all other charts
We hear nothing in connection
with the schools SO much as the CON
plants of parents at the price of
books Il is even cIaimed that many
children sIe prevented from attending
school because fthe inability Of their
parents to provide them with the
necessary books. Why even some
say that the schools are beyond the
reach Of the poorer classes unless the
State supplies to the children the
text books. While many disapprove
the principle of free books, ye. the
conmonesa argument against it is the
expense to the taxpayers-$37 SO
would have bonght the books for the
average couotry school,"
Mr. McMahan goes on to say: s'The
progressive educators of she State have
long been discussing the need OF
libraries 10 connection With the schools.
They have talked and talked. and
psanoed and planned, but have never
FELT Justified 10 expendisg the school,
fusd for this purpose. Dir. May6sld' e
last report shove as expended for
libraries. $757 63, as against $780,
$50 81 for charts. esc-an item which
later figures bring up to about $50. 900.
Among the objections I raised to
Ms. Tnswiler against the policy Of
permitting abe further purchase Of bis
chasss was shis 1857 so would buy a
splendid iissle library for a country
school" "-snd what else viii bring SO
much Of brightness ioso the lives Of
children With active minds and homes
bareof books? Ihave since learned Of
case where board of srastees appro.
priased $50 for the beginning Of a
library. aud this little cum 0ess than
the price of one of these charts
brought to that school seventy seven
handsome volumes Of toe very bes,
ehiidrea's literature.
'In order to be sure that | sbould
make no mistake 10 my treatment ol
this chart matter | granted aa
opportunity to Mr.. Tuswiler to set forth
the msrits of bis chart. and | secured
the presence of Prof. Colcock, Of the
department OF mathematics. in the
Soo.h Carolina College, who was at Que
tine county superintendent Of education
ip Charleston, aud Prof. Patterson
Werdlaw, of the department OF peds-
gogy, VITO was formerly for long time
"a recognized leader among the graded
sphool ecpesiatendents of the State,
and Mr.. McGhee, of the Columbia
schools. Afier Mr.. Tnswiier's exhibi.