The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-10-06

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inadequate Superyision-In South
Carolina there are three units of
school administration-the State,
the county, and the school district.
"An educational system Is great
business In every organized busl-
ness there must be machinery; that
machinery must be repaired, adjust
ed. and articulated; and some COM
petent person, must supervise that
machinery. A successful supervisor
must be. capable man, an expe-
sienced man, and a courageous man.
He must be reasonably we'll paid, de-
hpitely responsible to somebody, and
reasonably secure in his position as
hong as he is efficient. What Of the
supervision of our educational sys-
tenn? What. do we expect, and what
have we g. right to expect
What does the fundamental law
OF the State require in the office
of the State superintendent? Does
Il require that he shall be an edu-
Gated man, or a man Of experience
In school affairs. or a man who knows
anything Of teaching and Of teach
ers, or a man himself qualified to
teach? He is expected to direct
the educational policy of a State, and
to maintain a system of schools for
over three hundred thousand chill
dren. What salary is offered to
q man big enough to fill this po-
sition? Nineteen hundred dollars 4
year. Now does this rank with the
salary offered a man big enough to
run one cotton mill? How does he
get the position, and on what, does
the security of it depend? What is
likely to be his reward for any dis
MAY of courage in his Office? EV-
cry second year he is compelled to
neglect the duties of his office for
at least two months and to spend at
least four hundred dollars, to get
the opportunity to speak ten min
utes in each county telling the dear
{indifferent) people that he shou d
be reelected. Under our present
system of electing the State super
intendent, and with two-year tenure
of office, the entire educational pol
icy of the State may be reversed in
side one year. In a recent editorial
The News and Courier pertinently
says, In late years the people have
shown growing Improvement IN
their estimate of the place of super
intendent Of education, choosing as
= rule trained teachers for 1t, =.
hut there iS no assurance SO long
as the office is filed by popular vote
that incapable men will not be
ingratiating manner or reward
asratiating manner, ora a rewar
for political service. Inc
aunerintendent of education shoull
be appointed by the governor or ny
a commission. after inVestlgatloh'
and the salary should be sutnclent
to command the services OF experes'
and at the same time remove them
from temptation"
A succession Of able State super
intendents could not build and maj /
tain a system of high schools unless
the county supervisors be gooa'
The wisest policies Of a State super
intendeut would avail but little' un-
lass the county supeirntendents were
able, willing, and courageous enough
to carry these policies to success
I'm the matter of administrator
the county superintendency Is the
key to the situation. What 90 We
require of the county superlnten-
dent. what do we expect, what %
we get, and-what do we giVe! 10
NE REQUIRE that the county super
,ptendent shall be an expert or eS-
perienced educator? Is he required
In have any knowledge OF schools
or OF teaching? Is there anything
To prohibit an illiterate from mold
ing, that offlce?l Hetis not required 70
he competent to teach, although 'sDS
law he is required to give his teacN-
e1o instruction in the art and meth-
ODDS of teaching. Does the county de-
uand that its superintendent be at
feast the equal of the superintendent
In the court house town? TIE be pei
fectlv plain and honest, have we not
nod men elected and reelected ID
the office of county superintendent
TO supervise the whole county, VINO
eould not have been elected to any
position in the best schools OF their
counties? Manv of them w'n'' w.