The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-08-20
THECHANGE I'm TEXT BOOKS
The State Board of Education
Make a Statement in Justice
to Superintendent McMaIan.

y The State Board of Educatio
Q Make a Statement in Justic
to Superintendent McMahar
3 AT the campaign meeting in King,
8 Tree on the 10th inst, the most nots
Die feature was the introduction of
, letter from Governor McSweeney
| chairman of State board of education
| relative TO the change in text book
tor the public schools. The report i
as follows
Mr.. McMahan was first introduced
coming forward amid applause. Mr.
McMahan's thoughtful words on gov
ernment and education were agair
heard with closest interest. HaVins
by inherent right, best types of man
hood and womanhood, careful training
OF children should make South Caro-
lima even more glorious in the future
County school superintendents should
be skilled school men, appointed by
boards elected by the people, superln.
tendents to be retained as long as their
services were satisfactory. Applause
and five bouquets of flowers with re-
newe,t applause.
Mr.. Martin next, was reminded of a
couplet suggesting sleeping beneath the
flowers. Mr.. Martin saw no work more
important than school work, had work.
ed In this field and his interest in this
would always be great. Whatever
criticisms may have been made against
opponent came from conscientious mo-
tlves. Different conditions require diff.
terent remedies. Opposed to election
OF board and appointment. of superln-
tendents. Opposed to VIII olesale change
of books. Some books are good in new
ones, others should have been retained.
Reading editorial from The State of
July IL, thought the editor of The
State should attend to his own busi.
ness. Mr.. Martin was interrupted
with applause. Closed with cheers
and hurrahs for Martin.
at the conclusion of Mr.. Martins
remarks, Superintendent McMahan
asked to read letter from Gov.
McSweeney and other members of the
board. Gov. McSweeney's letter to
members of State board reads as fol-
lows
In view of comments made in
present campaign in reference to adop-
tion of text books, deem it but Justice
that we sign and send to The Hon. Jno.
j.. McMahan the enclosed statement of |
facts, to be used as he sees fit. | have
signed one and mailed it to him. hone
you will take the same view that | do |
and VIII sign statement and forward it |
10 Mr. McMahan: (SigneO
M. B. McSwEENEY.
Gov. and Chr. State Bd. of Eau-
The letter addressed Mr.. McMahan
reads as follows
In view of the unjust attacks made
upon you with reference to the adop.
tion OF text books, it is but Justice that
we-as members of the State board.
responsible for the changes in the text |
books, come forward and make follow
ing statement
Q) You are in no sense responsible
for the appointment of the men who
made the adoption. The Governor
exercised his prerogative under the
constitution and appointed the seven
members without regard to your pre-
ferenCes.
(2) You are not responsible for the
changes made in tho books. You
strongly opposed the adoption of some.
a board of nne men selected the
books by a majority vote in such
cases, and no one man could control
The result or can have praise or blame
Tor what was done. All acuuiesced |
loyally in the result and TO you, as
State superintendent of education, is
hot <,el |
text books so much to be desired has
become fact and is not a dead letter.
(3) The county schools were IN con-
fusion from the great diversity of |
books that had been permitted. The |
hest teaching could not be done when |
the teacher had to use any and every
book that each pupil brought. There
fore any serious effort to improve the
county schools necessarily involved
great changes in text books. After
such changes have been made and the
people have acquiesced, it is unfor-
tunate for candidate for the high Of
flee of State superintendent of educa.
tioh to come before the people and try
to make them dissatisfied with the
change that has already been made,
that cannot be undone, and that all
intelligent school men must know is
for the betterment of'the work in the
county schools.
(4) 1t is false to say there "have
been frequent changes" The changes
were ordered in 1900, to take place
Nov. 10, 1901. The contract forbids
any more changes before July l, 1906,
and there will probably be little reason
for many changes then.
(5) Although you were opposed to
some of the adoptions,. you accepted
the result in good faith, and in the en-
forcement of the Use of the adopted
books you have done your full duty.
Regardless of the opposition you
would incur, you applied yourself with
determination to having the law and
the contract carried out. 1t is there
fore due chiefly to your efforts that
South Carolina enjoys the lowest
prices and exchange rates."
(Signed) M. B. McSwEENEY.
In response to the Governors letter,
Supt. McMahan has received pleasant
and cordial letters on this subject from
nr II MnCain of Erakipa Collaoa