The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-01-10
OUR STATE SCHOOLS.
Facts and Figures About Them Hard
to Get At.


tees in the country schools. Mr.. Nc
Mahan has made most strenuous efforts
to simplify the keeping Of the records
in the schools, while at the same time
having each item of interest about the
school carefully kept. In making out
his annual report, he has found that
the data about the schools in the coun-
try are very hard to get, because ct the
meagerness oe the reports from the
teachers and trustees.
The county supcrintendents have
been unable to make their reports full,
because of there being no records in the
county offices. Whether or not it is
too much to expect that the district
trustees make out the very elaborate
reports heretofore asked CT them. it is
proven beyond question true that they
have not made out these reports. The
new record books are very simple in
form, and require no Chinese puzzle
work to keep straight. TO better pre-
serve the records in the schools, and
have them so that information can be
readily found out in time, ali records
kept by the teachers and the trustees
are to turned in to the county superin-
tendent of education at the close Of
each school year.
In the trustees record books, Mr..
McMahan gives some very carefully
prepared instructions, not only as to the
keeping of these records, out as to the
management of the school generally.
These instructions are very Interesting
to all 1ho are interested in the welfare
of public schools, and arc given here in
full:
l. Meetings. The board can take no
action excent at regular called meet
ing. The proceedings ct each meeting
should be recorded in this uoois;, ed
no order for money should be issued
except under the authority Of a resolu-
tion properly adopted and recorded.
At its first meeting the board should
choose for its terms of two years
chairman and clerk. The clerk will
keep this book.
2. Warrants. Every order for money
shall specify exactly the service or ar
ticle therein paid for and the school
that has received the benefit. The
stub must be filled out, aud then the
clerk of the board, the county superin
tendent and the county treasurer will
each have complete record Of all the
details of every item of expenditure for
each particular school in the district.
The county superintendent will not
approve a warrant that is not thus
definitely filled out.
5. Overdrafts. The clerk will trars.
fer to the disbursement page all
amounts on the stubs, and will know
at all times how his account stands
with the treasurer. No warrant should
be issued in excess of the money to the
district. If issued, it is void.
4. Report. This book properly kept
will be delivered at the end of the
school year to the county superintend-
ent as the report of board Of trustees.
S. Visiting schools. The trustees
should manifest an interest in the
schools under their charge and acquaint
themselves with the condition and
needs of each school, so as to be able
to promote best the educational inter-
ests of the district Each trustee
should visit each school in his district
at least once year, and observe the
work and the spirit Of teacher and pu-
pills.
6. Contract with teacher. No one
can be elected as teacher who has not
at the time of certificate of qualifca-
tion granted by the board of education
of the county or by the State board of
education. Diplomas and certificates
from other States have no legal effect
in this State. Great hardships may
result from attempting to employ a
teacher who has no certificate and is
consequently legally incapacitated to
draw the salary. The plea of igaoraoce
of the law can effect no relief. Before
definitely choosing teacher the board
should communicate with the county
superintendent aud obtain his sanction.
Z. Salary. This is matter of con-
tract between the teacher and the
board Of trustees, subject TO the super
vision Of the county board of education.
There is no law requiring uniform sal
aries to grade Of certificate. The board
in it's discretion should endeavor t. fix
the salary in every case according to
Individual merit aud the work Of the
school. Especially should the board
observe the evidences Of tho teachers s
skill and fidelity and reguI.te the sal
ary the next year accordiD! y.
s. Time of choosing teac,ier. Before
the close Of a school, or as soon aftrr-
wards as possible, the teacher for the
next year should be elected, with sal
ary and number of months definitely
agreed upon, so that the teacher may
know .he prospect Of work for the COM
ing year and may plan for it. The chill
dren, moreover, have an interest in
knowing if their old teacher is to come
back, and the parents have right to
know at the earliest possible time what
is the outlook for the next years
school.
The trustees should avoid the fre-
quent changing Of teachers, practice
which is destructive to tie progress CT
the pupils and to the profession Of
teachers. Refusing to maintain an un
necessary number Of schools, econo-
mizing in all purchases, and seeking
the aid, when possible, of an extra tax
or a neighborhood contribution, the
trustees should put forth every effort
to ind means to pay a living yearly
salary and employ competent teacher,
with the encouraging understanding
that the position is assured for sue
ceeding years during good behavior"
and constant evidences of unfagping