The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-24

Columbia is concentrated in a small
in the supervision is reduced 70 a
minimum. while the county superin-
tendent of Lexington must travel over
an entire county. The superintendent
of schools of Columbia is elected for
term of years by stable board of
trustees. The county superintendent
of Lexington must offer himself be-
fore the Democratic primary and, at
considerable expense to himself,
make the race for the office, and
throughout his term of office, must
continually trim his sails to the
changing winds Of popular opinion.
which often prevents the adoption Of
consistent educational policy This
county is typical of the entire State.
Is II any wonder then, that the
rural schools are backward? With all
our interest and our protested decla-
rations that the country and the
country school are the bulwarks Of
democracy. we have not given them
chance.
Allow me to suggest for general
discussion a scheme of county su-
pervision.
First-Let the people elect a coun-
ty board Of education composed Of
three members. At the first election
let one man be elected for two years,
aonther for four years and the 9TH
er for six years, and thereafter let
one be elected every two years. This
will insure a stable board. If it is
desired the board may be made 70
consist of five men rather than three,
but elected in similar manner.
Second-Let this county board Of
education select the county superin-
tendent of schools, just as the city
school board selects a city superin-
tendent. They should be allowed to
select the best man for the work to
be found
Third-This election should be for
a term of four years.
Fourth-The county superintendent
should be paid salary which is suffi-
Gent to enable him to devote his en-
tire time and attention to the supec-
vision of the schools. No county IN
South Carolina can afford to pay a
comfy Supariptapdapt of o5,,oo tto,,
less than $500 per year.
Fifth-The county board Of educa.
ton should also be authorized to en-
ploy a county supervisor of instru.t-
ion. whose duty it shall be to visit
the country schools and to show the
inexperienced teachers how TO teach
and organize their school. This on
cial should work under the direction
of the county board and the county
superintendent. who would be left
free to devote more of his time to the
administrative duties of his office,
such as the voting of special taxes,
the consolidation of schools, and
erection OF proper school buildings.
The numerous requests which have
come from the county superintendents
for the services of an experimental
supervisor to be placed in one county
of the State for the coming year, is
an indication that such help would be
appreciated
Six--The county board of education
should be empowered to levy a special
county tax, not to exceed / mill -
hc devoted to the supervision of thu
rural schools. Under the constitution
the salaries of county school officers
can not be paid from the 3"min tax,
and they are in consequence depend
ent on legislative caprice. The county
hoard should be in position to con-
troll the funds for supervision.
AS l stated above, l should be pleas
ed to have this scheme of supervision
made the basis of general dicussion
by those interested i'm education.
W. X. Tate.
State Supervisor Elementary schools
Columbia. S. c.