The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-02
jhen become much more popular.

then become mucn more popular.
What I consider a serious
drawback to our States progress
in education is the changeable-
ness Of the personnel of the pro-
fession. the frequent changing
Of teachers from one school
to another and the consequent
changing of school plans and
school management lack Of
permanence. Too often is teach
ing the proverbial s'stepping
stone" to other spheres of labor
for men, other lines of work
holding out brighter prospects
of a livelihood and higher posi-
tions of honor-and for the wo-
men teachers so often is in a
temporary engagement preced
ing one which results in a def
mite change of her plans, and
therefore a change Of teachers.
Of course these removals from
the field of teaching must con-
tinue to come and in the same
old way; yet, we're there more
encouraging inducements to
teachers of both sexes, one good
result would be the retention Of
more men Of ability and worth
in the line of teaching and less
frequent changes on the part of
the women continuing to teach.
This in turn would result to the
good Of the the school: it's de-
velopment and progress would
move on more uninterruptedly.
Further, it is quite clear that
this moving constantly has de-
stroying effect on that ever pres
ent ideal of home and the pleas
ures attaching to the delights of
home, which is above all else
foreign to the idea of continual
change Of residence, as well as
of friends. To the young men
or young women looking out on
life's prospects is this the pleas
ATTEST of reflections9
While compulsory education
is deserving O + considerable
treatment it can here be briefly
disposed of. 1t is sufficient here
to remark that South Carolina's
hope of final freedom from the
bondage Of ignorance seems
clearly to lie in this solution-in
one form or another. She can
not wait altogether on the infu-
ence Of public sentiment. This
would never reach some parents
and many children. The State
sooner or later, has got to inter
pose, it would seem, and make
its demand upon this element Of
society and do for it what it
seems loath to do for itself and
its posterity. While there are
genuine regrets at the failure Of
the recent legislature to pass on
ly a mild form of compulsory ed
ucation, demanding that at least
eight weeks of schooling be re-
quired within very reasonable
limits, sentiment was hardly
toned up sufficiently to set in
motion that beginning Of a move
ment which must mean the
States advancement and which
surely will be projected before
long.
At present, even before com
pulsory education is arranged
for, an innovocation which has
been proved to be quite advan
tageous is the consolidation of
the weaker and smaller rural
schools into larger, even graded
schools. This ought to be advo
Gated in every county.
In this union strength can but
result. Some Of the superior
advantage afforded by these con.
solidated schools are described
as follows by the Superinten-
dent of Education of Richland
county in his late report to the
State Superintendent: 'tF'irst,
the course can be strengthened
so as to include first and second
years of high school work.
Second, children remain longer
in school-not tardy, or absent
and get more days schooling.
Third, require fewer, better
teachers, can be better super
vised, have it's work better sys-
tematized in grades, and can
give better instruction. Fourth,
pupils are better cared for from
storms or general bad weather,
the schoolhouse is better heated,
ventilated and lighted. Fifth,
the school is the center Of inter
est, bringing the community to a
crystalized form, thereby expel-
ling that loneliness which wars
against all Of our better and
higher impulses and Instincts" :"
The plan Of Transporting to
such children as live at some dis
tance from the school is one not
hard to regulate as experience
in other States has shown.
AS to thoroughness in the
work of schools; this will be
best secured only when the fore
going regulations shall have
been observed.
Thoroughness is one OF the
very best matters for work in
the school room. Its attain
ment however is dependent on
many favorable conditions. In