The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-11-25
SUP1. Maa!...'S REPORT.
POINTS OUT WEAKNESS OF PRES.
ENT SCHOOL SYSTEM
Would Take Office of superintendent
OF Education Cut of Politics. and
recommends Adoption OF System
Snniilaf 20 That in Operation III
Richmond County, Ga, Where
Comfy .SuperiDtendcnts are Eo.act-
ca by Board Of Education.

Columbia, Nov. 1.-THE system Of
school supervision in force in Rich
mond County, Georgia, by which the
county Of Richmond and city Of Au-
gusta employ one superintendent Of
schools is the method recommended
| by superintendent Martin to give more
effectiveness 20 the system of supervis-
ion in this State.
In his forthcoming annual report
Nj. Martin viii point out that of the
seven state superintendent Of educa
ton that South Carolina has had in
20 years, all have laid stress on the
importance OF supervision Of schools
and yet the system is far from salts
factory, though progress has been
made. The fact that the position of
county superintendent of education is =
political Office and the official is select
ca in the primary by popular vote
from among citizens Of the county
may account for the deficiencies OF the
present system. on this point Of super
vision Mr.. Martin says in his report.
During the past forty years south
Carolina has had seven different state
Supciintendants of Education as fol-
lows: ]. X. Jillson. H. S. Thompson. A.
Coward, J. II. Rice, w d. Mayfeld, ].
]. McMahan and 0. r. Martin. Every
one Of these superintendents has urg-
Cd the Legislature to make improve
ments in our system OF county super
| vision. The net results Of these ap-
peals have been change in the name
Of county school commissioner to
| county superintendent Of education, a
| slight increase in the salaries in some
counties. and an increase in. the length
Of term from two years to four years
N IS counties. This condition affords
another striking Illustration of the
necessity Of general revision Of our
school law in the interest Of system
and uniformity. The people OF ths
state are evidently dissatisfied in q
large measure, with the existing meth
od of county school supervision. As
evidence Of that fact it should be
| noted that nearly One-half Of the su-
perintendcnts were changed at the
recent esction. Not ell were defeated
some did not otter for reelection. be
cause they could make more money
N other lines of work Quite a mum
Der We're defeated. however. Some O..
these had held Office only for a short
while. Many of these were not de-
feated because Of inediciency. Some
of the most competent officers in the
state failed Of re-election. Il FIRE
taently happens that zeal and activ-
y ere not appreciated until they are
understood. 4 four-year term for
eounty superintendent is certainly
preferable to t1o-year term, when
good superintendent is once secur-
I'd.
There is evident dissatisfaction
with the oaoe Of county superintend-
ent of education ~ it is now consitut-
cd. I believe that it is p ..cally ina
possible in our large counties Tor a
man 10 givo efficient service in The Of
Zee and IN the aeld upon the measre
salary that is now proH9ed. The ar
Sument is frequently made that IN
salary Is sufficient for tie amount Of
work done This IS certainly true
where a man deyotcs The minor pon
ton Of his time to his duties 10 tn
p4blic. and a major portion 10 tn
earning Of q livelihood IN some other
way
"-tfter considerable observation OF
school systems in various parts Of the
country, l am convinced that the bes;
system of county supervision for the
South is that which is in practice in
Richmond County and three other
counties in Georgia. The people there
elect member of the board of educa-
ton from each district This board
representing all parts of the county.
both city and urban, has general
charge of the schools. This board
elects the superint dent. There is
only one superintendent for both city
and county The superintendent of
Augusta gives as much attention to
the country schools of Richmond
County as he does to the city schools.
or course, it would be impossible to
adopt this system at once in our State
by the Legislature, because our Con-
stitution provides for small districts
ana Tor trustees in those districts We
could, however. provide for a county
board of education to consist OF one
elective member from each township