The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-01-17

S3UU TO SOUU, while the town SupGrln
tendcnts receive 5000 and upwards
and their fields of supervision are in
comparably smaller and far less com.
pleX, and hence their Responsibilities
are less. And yet unless the selection
of the county superintendents could be
made on account of merit and regard
less Of personal or political affiliations
and not be subject to change upon the
political whims of changing public
sentiment, increased pay would not be
a guarantee of efficiency in the man
agement of the country schools. The
management Of our schools should be
as far removed from political influences
as possible and men should be put in
charge who are devoting their life to
the work. The office of county super.
intcndcnt of education being an elec.
tive office, only rs the people come to
realize the Importance of efficiency and
competency as essential qualifications
IN the man who fills 1t, can we hope
for or expect good results. Very few
men have the courage to run counter
or less influenced by those things
which affect their own interests. Pro-
vision should be made as already sug-
gcsted for a county board of education
selected in such way as not to be in
lluencod by local or political pre- judice,
who would have the duty of inspecting
the schools and appointing teachers to
vacant schools. There is no more i'm
portant subject TO demand your most
careful and earnest attention than the
education of the children of the State.
The country common schools for
white children were kept open on an
average during the past year for 81
weeks and the negro schools for Is
weeks. The previous year the white
schools averaged 10 weeks and the
colorcd schools Ii l2 weeks. The en-
rollment in the white schools during
the past year was 1926, ,2S9; in the
colorcd schools, lt5 SOP; total 2Sl ,S9l.
For the previous year the enrolment
was: whites, l23 ,39S negroes, lac, AT;
total 2G9 ,S75. 1t will be seen that VIC
are making progress slowly. The
town schools in nearly every case run
for 81 weeks. 1t does not seem to me
that the country people should be
satisfied with less for their children.
The expenditures for white schools
during the last year were SOC, $4,000,
while during the year previous they
were &57G ,353.2G; for the ngro schools
last year, 1902, IT'S %, and the year
previous $103 ,4Gl.39. This shows
some gain in the matter Of eXpendi-
lures for common school education.
But when we consider that the enroll
mcnt Is constantly increasing, thus
calling for the employment of more
teachers, and when we consider that
our schools now run only 81 weeks
when the regular school term through
out the country is considered to be at
least 3G weeks, it is borne to our minds
that we have yet TO spend considerably
more money on our schools il we would
bring them up to what our people cx-
pcct and ought to expect.
There were 3,270 white teachers and
2, 2,294 negro teachers in the schools
last year against 5000 white teachers
and 200. negro teachers the previous
ycar-a gain Of 270 white teachers and
29l negro teachers.
QUESTION OF CHILD LABOR.
The question of Child labor in our
cotton mills is one that has been at
tracing a great deal of attention re-
Gently, and properly SO. Conditions in
this State have changed very much in
the last few ycals. We are no longer
simply an agricultural people. With
the rapid growth in manufacturing en-
tcrprises we are already q large manu-
featuring State. The relation between
The labor that is employed in these en-.
tcrpriscs and the employer is not mere
ly one of master and servant, but there
arc rights and privileges and duties,
obligations and opportunities, on both
sides which should be carefully guard
ed. There has been no conflict between
employer and laborcr in this State and
nothing should be done to disturb the
amicable relations which now exist.
Government recognizes the fact that it
is the duty Of the strong to Gaze for
and protect the weak. 1t is certainly
the right and the privilege Of govern
meut to provide for the inspection Of
any and all enterprises or corporations
deriving their life from the State and
to sec that they do not impose upon
the weak. Or course this should be
done with n proper regard for the prop.
erty rights Of the corporations.
There is no doubt the employment
and constant labor of children of ten
der age IN our factories is injurious to
them and will result IN untold injury
in the future. TO interfere with the
government of the family by legislation
is dangerous. And on the other hand
unless something is done to protect the
tender children of vampire parents who
spend their time in idlcncss and live
Off the labor Of their little children who
are required to work in our mills from
year to year without the advantages Of
school, the situation for the future be-
comes alarming. 70 force these chill
drcn out of the null and make no provis-
ion for their attendance upon school,
but to allow them to spend their time
in idlcness on the streets presents al
most AZ alarming an aspect as to per-