The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-01-02
THE FREE SCHOOLS.
Supe McMahan Points Out De-
tic!srciss in systsn7.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
Some OF the Nseds A>e Crying
Ones. Should be Reor-
g4niz ID on a Scisn-
titic Basis
titic Basis

The annual report Of the State super
intendent of elCcation has been com
pletsd and is now in the hands of the
public printer. The report isfull OF
information about education IA South
Carolina and it is presented IN an At.
tractive nsnDer. The ex raots touno
below from the Intro ductory porl0n
will be found of considerable public IN
.ersst; the recommendations made
have been given by Mr.. McMshan al
.er 2 careful study Of existing condi-
tions:
When We reflect on the complexities
Of modern life in moral, social and IN.
dustrisl relations. aad the problems
that are pressing for solution, We real
ize that ones opportunities and obi.
cs,ions in life are measured OIL = by
the equipment and training of the
mind and character Slnc9 the State
has accepted her proper task Of pro
vi6ing for the education OF her people
she cannot discharge her respooslolh ;
by anything 5 ort of such an education
IS the times demand. Her pl, ose IS to
provide for all the people an education
ADEQUATE to the demands Of life. To
redeem this pledge is now recognized
as the prime Junction of State. The
enlightened opinioa of today gives to
it broader aud deeper meaning than
that understood when the pledge was
6rst given. The charity which IN the
past generations gave free school ed
ucation to the INDECENT helpless tor
their ovn welfare was seed which
has germinsted and grown, until now
it is the recognized duty Of society as
an organic whole to provide success
sor to itself ft 10 take up It's burden
of human progress and press onward.
Itis misnoner to say that we have
. system of public schools, II the ac-
tusl working Of the great ms, 9risy OF
the schools Ii this State there is no
sys,em, no orderly Organization. Each
county supports it own schools, with
practically no help from the State as
whole. Each district has as poor
schools as it's people will tolerate-snd
in some districts anything will be tol-
Grated. Each teacher works along IN
her own way, whatever that may be,
almost uuiDiuenced By the existence OF
sny other school or school authority.
Isolation reigns. This is t in>pIring
or stimulating. L. On the other hand,
. teacher were filing h,r assigned
place in . system, ste weuld know
what was expected Of h.r aod feel her
accountability to accon'i !lsn II, aud
she could look with cert .eGce for the
aid and encouragement ti.st she might
need.
If we had an adequate sys.em OF edu-
cation from Kindergarten to university,
or even such 81 stem as our financial
resources justify and the best though ht
of the State app.ovss under the cir
cumstapces, it would not be in the
province of this report to recommend
legislation. Let we'll enough alone
is 3 safe rule where conditions arc toll
erable, and time and growth will bring
the remedy. Chat gosin the Law should
not be made unnecessarily. Fully
recognizing these facts, and content to
trust to time for many Improvements,
! am, nevertheless, convinced that our
educational system has certain fatal
defects, and that all efforts at improve
ment must fail Of substantial results
until By the necessary legislation these
defects are removed snd the system is
put OF sound and safe baslsfcr growth
and development.
The state superintendent Of educa-
tion might satisfy the public and make
life more agreeable to himself II ne
would confne his energies to the cleri-
cal and routine duties of his office. He
might make DO recommendations but
those for which public opiLi1n IS fally
prepared. But thea be would De Of
little service tie the State. If be puts
his heart and his conscience into his
vock-when the system be IS dealing
with IS as defective as in South Caro-
lins-he will fnd himself face to face
with duties whose Importance IS be
yoDd computation or expression and
whose extent is perhaps beyond the
power Of any one man to comprehend
or accomplish.
The law prescribes that ''it shall BE-
his duty 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 aud olffusing as
widely as possible by public addresses
and personal communion with school
officers, teachers and parents knowl
edge Of existing defects and of desic-
sbie Improvements in the government
and instruction of the said schools" "
(Section 2 1t further directs that he
shall report to the general assembly
plans ''for the management and i'm
provement Of the schools and for the
more perfect organization and eff
cheney Of the free public schools.
(Section 8 Upon him is thus lsid the
special duty to investigate the way to
better schools and TO urge its conc;u
sions upon the minds aad co1scieoces
of the legislators and the people. He is
charged with leadership IN educational
Improvement and is recreant to his
trust Of, through Indifference or through
policy, he does not strenuously seek to
lead when he knows what is needed.
The law assumes that he is qualified to
lead in these matters. However IN
ferior in personal qualifications, he has
By virtue of his position special and
peculiar opportunities as well SIS oollga-
tions to acquaint himself with condi-
tions and needs in his State and with
the course of educational experience,
thoueht and improYenept IN other