The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-03-22
School Interest.
Office of State Supt. Education, |
Columbia, S. c., March s, 1899. I

Dear Sir: The Legislature has
given $1,000 to be expended for the
"better instruction of the teachers of
the public schools" This, in addi-
ton to the resources heretofore de-
pended upon, should enable US to
bring within the reach OF every
teacher first class summer normal
school OF several weeks duration.
Surely no ore charged with the re-
sponsibility of training the youth of
the land can fail to welcome gladly
the opportunity to attain to higher
efficiency. If any should refuse to
gain this better preparation offered
them free by the State, they will
hardly be deserving of longer en-
ployment. The State Board OF Edu-
cation has ample power to require OF
teachers, as Il prerequisite to re-
newal OF certificates, whatever pro-
fessional study it may deem neces-
sary. TIE following standing rule,
adopted in 1897, is now the law:
':Sectiou IS. \ first grade certi6-
cate may lie renewed by the county
board from which it WAS issued. If,
however, g teachers institute or sum-
mcr school is hei! in the county, a
first grade certificate shall not be re-
newed unless the holder attends the
institute or sumner school or shows
some satisfactory reason for not DO
lug So.
Regulations may in time be adop-
ted that will so farther and entirely
relieve the county boards Of the
drudsery OF the actual examination
of applicants for teachers certificates,
by substituting examination by the
conductors OF tue summer normal
school, who would report results to
the county board. 1t is to the inter
e,t Of the teachers that examination
should be preceded by and based
upon a course OF study. 1t would be
likewise well for the county board Of
education to be freed from the petty
labors of board of examiners, that
it NAV have more time to devote to
tile larger work contemplated in the
scope of its powers.
As a valuable adjunct to the sum-
mer normal school in providing for
the 'sbetter instruction of the teach
ers of the public schools" we must
look to the organization and develop
meut of the teachers association in
each county. This as an agency in
fitting the teachers for the more sue
cessful discharge Of their duties to
the children and to the State, is rec
ognized by our school law as part
of our school system, under the di-
rection of the county superintendepts
and the State Superintendent. Sec
ton l6 Of the act of '96 provides: "It
shall be The duty Of each county su-
perinteudent of education to aid the
teachers in all proper efforts to i'm
prove themselves in their profession.
Fo1 this purpose he shall encourage
the formation of associations of teach
ers for common improvement and
conduct teachers institutes. He
shall attend the meeting of such asso-
citation and give such advice and in
structiou in regard to their conduct
and management as in his Judgment
will contribute to their greater eff
ciency."
BY section 2 of the school law, it is
made the duty of the State Superin-
tendent 'to visit every county in the
State as often as practicable for the
purpose of inspecting the schools,
awakening an interest favorable to
the cause Of education, and diffusing
as widely as possible, by public ad-
dresses and personal communication
with school officers, teachers and pa
rents, knowledge of existing defects
and of desirable improvements in the
government and instruction OF said
schools.
Understanding that in some coun-
ties teachers associations are still
lacking, and wishing where they al
ready exist to speak word of en-
courasement to them, I propose to
make tour OF all the counties as
soon as possible, and to meet the
teachers at their county-seat. l shall
lay before them the plan OF work OF
the summer normal school aud sug-
eestions for the more efficient opera
ton of their teachers associations.
For the present I refer 10 only the
white teachers. All should be pres
ent in order thoroughly to under
stand what it is proposed both to do
for them and to require Of them. By
the normal college extension contem-
plated, the teachers will be the imme-
diate bene6ciaries Of valuable educa-
tional facilities which the majority
have never been permitted to enjoy
or to hope for; but the teachers will
have to bear the burden of giving
themselves to special study (at some
personal cost of which ultimately
the benefciaries will be the children
in every farm house. l rely upon the
support and CO. operation of the teach
ers and wish at the outset to meet
each one face to face. Were the
meetings in the county held on Sat
urday only, it would take me nearly
year TO make the round. Feeling
the necessity OF going from county to
county without loss of time and trav-
81, must ask each county board to
order the suspension of schools on
the day to be named by me, without
deduction of pay from those teachers
who attend the meeting thus called.
The question before US is of vital con