The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-16
IMPROVEMENT OF The SCHOOLS:
Systematic Instruction Of Public
School Teachers advised.

Columbia. Oct. s.-State Superin-
tendent of Education McMahan, who
is ever alive to anything that will tend
TO improve the general condition OF the
public schools of the State, is now en-
deayoring to have the county superin-
tendents inaugurate in each county OF
the State the plan for the training OF
the teachers that has been SO success
fully put in operation in this
county by Supt. Wallace.
Yesterday Mr.. McMahan issued the
following circular letter which is be-
ing sent to every county superinten-
dent of education in the State, and
which is published in order that the
teachers may the sooner get a full ex-
planation Of what is expected OF them !;
Dear Sir: In order to assist the
teachers in putting into operator, the
course of study-especially in follow
inc the suggestion as to classification,
programme and primary work, it would
be well If you could provide for them
some sort of systematic instruction
through the school year on Saturdays,
once or twice month, to begin at
once. This system has been inaugu-
rated in several counties. the, superln-
tendents and their boards being anx-
ious to bring all the schools into a well
organized system, well graded, and
well taught. Those teachers to whom
the county seat is accessible are met
there on one Saturday in each month: !:
other groups of teachers are Instructed
at other points in the county, most
accessible. For instance: In Richland
county, at the initial meeting IN Co
lumbia last Saturday, thirty-hve teach
ers were present; next Saturday Supt.
Wallace and his assistants viii meet
the teachers in the lower part Of the
county at Eastover,. and the following
Saturday they will meet the teachers
in the upper part of the county at
Camp Ground-three groups for this
county. Here the teachers are being
instructed in arithmetic, English and
Landon's Teaching and Glass Man
agement. - Special attention IS given
to the problem of grading the schools,
arranging the daily programme, and
keeping the smaller children proitably
occupied.
Six meetings should be required Of
each group of teachers between now
and the close of the school year. The
work should begin this month. The
law requires that the new books be
used as each school now opens and the
gradation be made as prescribed in the
course Of study pamphlet by the State
board. Every school must conform,
and at the end Of the session We are to
report to the legislature the number Of
children in each grade in each county.
Regular teachers meetings under
the authority of the county board not
only assist the teachers in the organ
ization and management OF their
schools as well as in the better mas
tery of certain branches Of study, but
bring them under the direction OF the
county superintendent where he can
instruct them in the proper keeping OF
school registers and rendering Of the
reports required, SO that hereafter the
statistics of the county will be more
accurate and the county superinten-
dent can make his annual report with
comparative ease. The schools Of a
county are thus brought into system,
and the teachers feel the helpful
stimulus of contact with co-workers,
all having more definite ends II view.
Another benefit is that we follow up
the instruction of the summer school
and prepare for that of the next-avold
the loss of spasmodic effort and build
up the teachers by continuous instruc-
ton, not only theoretical but prac-
tical.
While I have not yet assurance of the
funds to compensate the instructors
that will be needed to assist you, l
can promise to reimburse them for the
necessary expenses of travel, etc. l
am sure that all progressive educators
are so interested in this work that in
your county as elsewhere they will
gladly contribute their services.
a. Will your board approve the plan
and adopt rule that the teachers
shall attend at the places designated
by the county superintendent and
shall do the work as required?
(2) II so, would you approve the fol-
lowing named as your assistants:
(3l Can you obtain their services
upon the terms stated in this letter?
You will appreciate the need of hav-
ing similar instruction given to your
negro teachers. In some of the coun-
ties competent negro instructors have
been secured. Can you not find such
a negro instructor for the negro teach
ers of your county? Ii ne only lnssrucSs
them in keeping the: statistics required
in the registers and in making proper
report to you, it would relieve you OF
the innumerable annoyances from
which, when you come to make your
report to this Office, you now suffer.