The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-04-22
LEADERS IN EDUCATION.
Conference Of County Supsrintsn-
dents Of Education.
q GATHERING 1T ROCK RIlL
That is Likely TO Have Great Ed
acative Effect and Materially
Benefit Winthrop College.

b6H6MG Winthrop GUiiSY6s
Rock Hill, April 15.-The Confer
ence of county superin Of edu-
cation has resulted IN giving to VIM
throp College a meeting that is likely
TO have great educative effect. The
saperintendents are men of great in
auence, each in his own county. They
come very near to being Czars within
the limits of their Jurisdiction. One
OF the matters over which they exer-
else greet deal Of indirect lnuheDce
Is the election OF teachers. They have
no direct authority; they cannot name
and appoint, but they can advise, re-
commend and bring trustees and teach
or In contact.
Now the special business Of Winthrop
IS TO furnish trained teachers, and
many OF the graduates have Taught
and are teaching in the rural schools.
This meeting brings TO Winthrop a
good number of these influential ofic-
iais who have never seen the place be-
fore: some were here when the sscorn-
er-stona was laid, - but that day of
celebration gave little clue to the mis-
zsion Of Winthrop and It's earnest work.
Now that it sin full working order,
Elled with earnest pupils who desire
and intend to teach, there is a much
better opportunity to Judge OF the
measure Of work done there and the
probable fitness of its graduates for
positions OF trust. This information
Will be Of value to all parties. The
superintendents viii know on whom
20 call for teachers; they will have a
more definite idea in regard to the
cork Of the College, because they will
hare seen the place and its manner or
work.
The attendance of superintendents is
good; only few are not here, and it
Is known that some Of these are detain-
ed by reasons that indicate no lack of
interest
An Inspection of the body gives a
favorable impression. The Office OF
county superintendent has not for
some years been one Of great honor or
much profit. While beth should be. its
due the idea current with the ordinary
citizen has been that any man would
do for this place; and so the public
has come to look on it as a place for
some deserving old mossback. A glance
would show that this is not the case
aow. The great majority Of the su-
psrintsndeats are young men, and
show in every way that they are ready
and able to do good desl more than
10 draw salaries, distribute funds and
approve claims.
State Superintendent Martin has
been the presiding officer, and he has
had a busy time. This is the first
opportunity he has had to meet the
s1perintendents in body, and the
opportunity is thus one which both can
Improve. For secretary the Conven-
Gion chose Superintendent Bird, Of
Edgefeld, and he has been diligent in
his business.
The plan for regulating the work of
She meeting was soon adopted. a
committee was appointed to suggest
she order in which certain topics
should be taken up. the men who
should open the discussion On each,
The hours Of meeting and act generally
as business directors. This committee
consisted Of supeEintendents Carroll,
N1ES446, E1mOEC, d0ki64lS dHO S1dGS
Superintendent Martin.
On Tuesday the discussions and sug-
gestions we're general This was to
guide the committee in the selection
of topics and to afford the opportunity
TO any one desiring to do SO 60 make
any suggestion he thought of interest.
There was great many short and in
teresting talks made on this line. The
comparison Of conditions and views
was evidently profitable to all.
The entire Convention was invited
Co dine at Winthrop College on Tues:
day. Owing to some misunderstanding
all could not accept, but large num-
her did. On Wednesday the Conyen-
tion accepted the invitation and par
took of Winthrop fare.
On Tuesday night the programme
vas to hear a speech from Governor
Heyward. The teachers of the music
department, Miss Barbot. Miss Jones,
Miss McCobb, and Prof. Bauer, rem
dered several selections, which delight
ed the audience. Miss Lumpkin,
the instructor in elocution, recited the
gladiator scene from "Quo Vadis.
Governor Heyward then spoke. This
IS the first time he has faced a Win
throp audience, in fact, the first time be
appeared before a Rock Hill audience,
except one night when few citizens
caught the campaign party On their
way between speaking points and
forced them to speak-this would
hardly count. The people were anx-
ious to hear him and when he came
TO the front he faced an audience Of
eight or nine hundred people. The
Governor spoke clearly and distinctly.
The speech was we'll received.
After the programme was ended there
was a short reception in the College
parlors.
On Wednesday morning Governor
Heyward had the right of way, and in
the College chapel he spoke for fes
moments to the students. He was APP
pladued to the cho, and since then his
appearance has been the signal for
renewed signs of admiration and ap-
proval.
The Convention met at $50. The