The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-11-28
CARELESS OFFICIALS
Vigorous Statement From Edrcation-
al Department

al
Columbia, Special.-in reply to an
inquiry as to the progress of the an
nual report of the superintendent OF
education, Mr.. McGhee of the State.
superintendent office has given ont
the following interesting facts show
ing difficulties encountered:
We arc still having. seemingly end
less trouble in getting accurate reports
from some of the county superinten-
dents OF education. Several OF these
reports have been sent back four or
five times for correction. The most
fragrant errors appear in them; as,
for instance, the failure Of columns TO
balance; giving total expenditures one
amount on one sheet and another
amount on another sheet. One county
superintendent had an error Of some
thing over $4,000 in addition-theSe in
spite of the fact that the report OF the
county superintendent has been very
much simplicity, and Supt. McManan
had printed very explicit directions
for making out these reports. The
county superintendents received on an
average of four copies of these direc-
tions at four different times, IN add!-
ton to these, letters innumerable and
lengthy have been written explaining
points which it is hardly possible not
to know without explanation. For in
stance, it has been necessary to eX-
plain in some cases that the total eX-
penditures for teachers salaries plus
the total expenditures for all other
purposes make the total expenditures
for everything; and that all the &c
ceipts for the county less all the en-
penditures for the county will leave ihe
blance on hand.
"As an example also of the carless-
ness with which some of these reports
are made out. fully one-half of the re-
ports had to be sent back for the ad-
dresses of the chairman of the boards
of trustees, although this was speciti-
cslly asked for, and only matter ol
few minutes in some eases to give.
ltluSII lHCl anu AAoAS Sf>
cifcally; in one county there are aine
districts. The county superintendent
reported the receipts from various
sources for each one Of these districts.
When 1t came to the State superinten-
dents office the zine additions of three
items each were made. and it was
found that the county superintendent
had five of these nine additions incor-
rect. In this same report there were
IL errors in making out averages.
Several reports were sent in with
out the additions being made at all
OF course these were immediately
sent back When they returned the
additions were incorrect. after 3eing
sent back several times some OF these
are finally in shape to be given to the
printer.
Such a state of affairs is truly de-
plorable, and we have in this an illus
tration Of the gross incompetency in
Some of our public offices. 1t seems
however, that the grossest and most
criminal incompeteneyis shifted off in
to the educatisnal line. 1t Is a public
duty. 1t seems to me, devolVing upon
everyone who has an interest, even the
most remote in the education OF the
youth of our State, to make efforts TO
Danish from the control Of our schools
cheap-john politicians. Nothing is
meant here against that class Of good,
well-meaning men, distinguished for
piety and past services, who by being
put into office thus draw pension for
what they used to be. or what hey
would be if they could-except that
they should be relieved of the manage
ment OF the schools. >. ~z y
49, sA aA