The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-01-04

ing "a liboral system Of free public
Schools" which, now, wo hsvo not.
All school authorities arc agreed
that tho one primary essential to an
efficient school system is tho guaran.
too of expert supervision, and they
arc furthor agreed that a skilled pro
fessionsl suporintondo or inspector
nf aehGnla cannot he soomrnd where ~
tho salary is inadequate; (2), tho ton.
uro short or uncertain, or, (O, the
choice is by popular election. Our stat.
utory law for county superintendent
of education combines all three OF
those dofeots. Until thoy are romovod
q ho duties Of inspection and supervis
ion cannot bo properly dono through
out the State, and it would bo waste
TO provide more school money. l know
that many frionds of education do not
see this. They hayo not studied the
question. But thoy ought to put some
faith in tho conclusion reached by ali
students of tho sohool promlom here
and in other countries. Lot tho school
systom provide expert supervision and
all other wants will be supplied. It
10 tho one thing noodful, the overshad.
owing mood.
Salary. Tho average salary paid
county supcrintendonts Of education
in South Carolina is $d23 IS; the usual
salary is 5000 or $500. This is propos.
ferrous. Tho offioo is regarded and
mado by law Insignificant, subsidiary
TO tho incumbent's private business, OF
small pension for good citizon.
Poor pay, poor proaoh." In my an.
nual report | urged an inoroaso of the
salary Of this offioor in overy county,
and discusssod tho qualitios and work
Of capable superintendent, stressing
(l), hia executive duties as q businoss
and financial manager; (2), his profes
slonal work as an expert inspector Of
schools and teacher and trainor OF
teachers. | shall appond to this report
somo extracts from what T there said
Tonuro of Ofioe. Tho samo argu-
mont that trholds for tho continuation
Of faithful and efiioiont teacher,
graded school superintendent, college
professor or presidents, applies to tho
superintendent Of tho schools Of tho
county. A change Of management ev.
cry two or four years will retard any
systematic work. A now management,
howcvor Intelligent, requires some
timo to booomo acquainted with and
adjusted tooonditions. Meantime there
is friction, aud friction ia waste. Just
when faithful and capable officer be-
gins to get eycrything tonod up, un-
dor control, ready to be brought to
high Efficiency, he must abandon tho
management to one to whom the whole
business is entirely new and strange.
Possibly he surrenders tho work
though oongonial and inspiring, be-
cause he cannot afford to give his
time for SO small a salary. Possibly
no is dofeated because he 'ha, served
his two torms" or "has had it long
enough" 1t may be thai he is defeat.
cd bocauso ho has refused to prostitute,
the oftco to tho ends Of politician,
and his opponent is dom,gogue that
plays upon low passions and narrow
prejudices, or makes unsorupulous
combinations. He may be defeated
moroly because he il known to bo able
to mako q living without the salary
aud his opponent is in need Of pom.
sion, or because his opponent has moro
kin in tho county, or he is jollier oom-
panion.
This is not tho way mill or rail.
road or other suooossful business is con.
Quoted. Nor is it the method for
schools in States where public school
education has proved most suocessful
Nor is it by this method that our town
schoola are operated Only our oouu-
try schools are thus sacrificed. Like.
wise they arc subjected to the frequent
changing Of toaohors This is the
fatal woaknoss in tho country schools.
This ia tho vital difference between tho
country schools and tho town schools.
Are our country schools not worthy to
bo givon tho same advantageous
that is provided for the
town schools and tho colleges?
An educational systom is y great
business. A business, although CON
Quoted by tho State, should bo oon.
iuoted on business principles The
fact that thero 10 o tendency not to do
his but to lot small politics control, is
Inc cause OF the strenuous opposition
If 80 many Intelligent citizens to the
conduct Of any business by govern
mont. Improvement has always boon
ffecicd by abolishing tho methods Of
,olitics. The efficiency Of tho United
'tates soionti6c bureaus, and Of tho
,ostal service, has beon obtained
through an organization which OK
ludos politics and guarantees the p,r
nanont omploymont Of competent work
rs In the dispensary systom OF South
)arolina the neoe ,sity has been OK.
'orienced for the application of the
amo principles. Shall We do loss for
ur public sshools2
Popular Election. Tho law pro.
oribes no qualifications for the Office
I county superintendent. Only in a
ow counties is there sentiment
7hloh insures that he must have heon
teacher. But he may be the poorest |
'hite teaohor in tho county. In many
ounties it is not expected that he shall |
Q on educated man. In fow ho is |
tterly incompetent. .He may be a col. |
'ge graduate and yet By tenn poramont |
unfit for the work. In
georgetown, whore the whites have an
greement to give some Offices to tho
ogro majority, the ofice Of superin.
'ndont Of education is solooted as one
% given to tho negroos-a fit indi-
.tion of that oounty's o. ,ooption OF
le assistance the white toAchors
lould receive from superintendent
education. The oolorod incumbent
an Intelligent man, and has done
loh to benefit tho teachers OF his race
his county. In Bamberg tho eupor-
tendont Of education IS tho auditor.
his is consistent with the idca that IL