The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-01-04
'IllHE5 III B & FREE SCHOOLS.
. Supt- MoMahan Points Out De.
ficiencles in System.
RES, RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
Some Some Of tho Needs hre crying
ones. Should bs Reor-
ganizsd on a scien.
titic Basis

titic Basis
The annual report Of tho State supor-
intondent Of education has been com.
pleted and is now in tho hands Of the
public printer. Tho report is full Of
information about education in South
Carolina and it ia presented in an at
traotive mannor. Tho extracts found
\ below from tho Introductory portion
will be found of considerable public in
terest; tho recommendations mado
have boen givon by Mr.. McMahan af-
ter careful study Of existing oondi-
tions: .sl
Whom wo rt fleot on the complexities
Of modern lifo in moral, social and in
dustrisl relations. and tho problems
that arc pressing for solution, wo real
izc that one's opportunities and obli-
cations in lifo arc measured only by
tho equipment and training Of tho
mind and character Since the State
has accepted her proper task Of pro-
v.ding for the education Of nor people
ehe cannot discharge her responsibility
BY anything . ort Of buoh an education
as the times demand. Her pledge is to
provide for all the people an education
adequate to tho demands Of life, To
redeom this pledge is now recognized
as the prime function ola State. Tho
enlightened opinion Of today gives to
it a broader and doopor meaning than
that understood whom tho plodgo was
first given. Tho charity wh,ch in tho
past generations gave free school cd
uoation to tho indigont holploss for
thoir own welfare was scod which
has germinatod and grown, until now
it 10 tho recognized duty Of society as
an organic whole to provide suooes.
a0r TO itself fit to take up its burden
Ct human progress aud press onward.
1t is a misnomer to say that we havo
system Of public schools. In tho ac-
tual working Of the great majority Of
the schools in this State thore is no
system, no orderly organization. Each
county supports it own schools, with
practically no help from tho State as a
whole. Each district has as poor
schools rs its people will tolerate -and
in some districts anything will bc tol.
Grated. Each teacher works along in
hor own way, whatever that may bo,
almoBt uninfluonocd by the xistenco Of
any other school or school authority.
Isolation rcigns. This is not inspiring
orstimulating. If, on The Other hand.
q teacher wcro fil.ilg her assigned
place ina syston, stc would know
what was expected Of n,rand feel her
accountability to accomplish it, and
she could look with col, t,icpce epr tho
MD and encouragement that she might
noed.
If We had an adequate s, stom Of edu.
cation from kindergarten to university,
or even such 81 stom as our financial
resources justify and tho bost thought
Of the State approves undor tho cir.
cumstances. it would not bo in tho
province Of this report to recommend
legislation. "Let we'll enough alone
is a safe rulo whore conditions arc tol.
+ crablo, and timo and growth will bring
the remedy. Chargesi the law should
not be made unnecessarily. Fully
recognizing these facts, and oonteut to
trust to time for many improvements
| am, nevertheless, convinced that our
!, educational 3. stem has certain fatal
i''ssfeots, and that all efforts at improve
OfhApuat fail OF substantial results
~ y acy tho necessary legislation theso
dofoots are removed and tho system is
put on sound and safe basis for growth
and development.
I. The state superintendent of cducs.
tion might satisfy the public and mako
life more agreeable to himself if he
would oon6no his energies to tho oleri-
cal and routine duties Of his offioo. Ho
might mako no recommendation but |
those for which pnUlio opinion is fdlly |
prepared. But thon he would be Of |
littlo service to tho State. If he puts
his heart and his conscience into his
Hork-whon the system he is dealing
with la as defootivo as in South Caro-.
lima -he will find himself faoo to face
with duties whose Importance is bo.
yond computation or expression aud
whose extont is perhaps beyond tho
powor Of any ono man to comprehend
or accomplish.
The law presoribos that ''it shall bo
bis duty to visit every county in the
State as often as practicable for the
purpose of inspecting the schools,
awakening an interest favorable to tho
cause Of education and dltfusing as
widely as possible by public addresses
and personal communion with school
officers, teachors and parents knovl-
edge of existing dofoots and of:desir-
able improvements in the government
and instruction Of tho said schools.
(Seotion p 1t further dilects that he
shall report to tho general assembly
plans for tho management and i'm
provemont Of the schools and for the
moro perfect organization and eff.
oienoy Of the tree public schools"
(Seotion 3 Upon HIM is thus laid the
special duty to investigate tho way to
bottor schools and to urge it's cono.u
sionG upon tho minds and oonsoionceg.
Of the legislators and the people. Ho is
charged with leadership in educational
improvement and is rocreant to his
trust Of, through Indifference or through
policy, ne does not strenuously sock to
lead whom he knows what is NODDED. |.
Tho law assumes that no is qualified to
lead In those matters. However in.
rerlor In personal qualifications, he has ,
by virtue of his position special and
roouliar opportunities as we'll as obliga.
tions to acquaint himsolf with oondi.
lions and moods in his State and with
Tho course Of educational experience, !
thought and improvement in othor
States. Whom ono is thus appointed To- .
mako o speoial investigation Of spo.
Dial aubjoot, and is afforded tho faoili.
Lies for narsnnaI intoroour.o ,n:tL -. lo