The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-09-07
RURAL SCHOOL
PROGRESS.
Greatest Need Of More Schools in South
Carolina as Seen by State Supervisor,
VI. X. Tate.

To the Editor of the Press and Banner:
I have been very much gratillcd by the
interest i'm the rural schools which is be-
ing exhibited by the candidates for office
i'm S0uth Carolina. Every candidate for
governor has expressed himself III no ul-
Certain terms us an advocate of the up
building of the common SCHOOLS, and cS-
D~eciallv those of the rural districts. AS
the reports of the county campaigns APP
pear in the daily papers, these, too, arc
filled with the expressions OF interest on
thn mart of candidates in the welfare of
the rural schools. | believe that this finite
rest is genuine. There has been exhibited
however, a greater tendency to Sencralize
on the subject than to propose remedies
for conditions that would be improved.
| With a view of directing this popular inte-
rest into definite channels OF discussion, l
wish, from time to time, to present to the
press of the State a few clements OF the
Situation to which, in my opinion We might
all protitably turn our attention.
AS nave previously stated, my own
conclusions are tentative and subject to
revision. In order chat my work may
have the benefit OF the best thought OF the
State on the subjects of discussion, | should
like to receive copies of papers containing
editorial EXPRESSIONS and the views Oh can
didates for Office, and should be pleased tc
hear from the educators II other citizens
of the State who will bc SO kind us 80 give
me the benefit of their opinions.
BETTER SUPERVISION NEEDED.
I am fully convinced that the first requi-
site to substantial Improvement IN tile ru'
,.al schools of South Carolina is better SUI
neryision. The greatest difference between
The CITY school and the country school III
this State lies in the better supervision OF
the former. Let us contrast the city OF
Columbia and her next door neighbor, the
county of Lexington. In the city OF 20,
llumbia, according to the last report lsSuGd
Inv the Superintendent, there are rs teach
lcrs and 3, 3G7 pupils. In the county OF
Lexington there are 1852 teachers n S,32l
pupils. With the exception OF two or three
small towns, all of these are IN country
schools. The teachers OF Columbia are
most of them college graduates, and have
had years of experience in q well organic
ed system where the work of each is deli
niteiy arranged and limited extent. In
the rural schools Of Lexington county
there is, according to the county superln'
tendent Of education, not a single college
graduate. These teachers have obtained
their preparation in the common schools
and high schools of the county and state
| and their sole professional training mas
been given in the short term OF the sum
mer schools. More thau half OF them
change schools every year Recent status,
tics, In fact, show that in the whole State
"a per cent OF the rural teachers teach one
wear In a place. These teachers must
leach all grades of work, and with the
most meager material equipment. /lhe
task of the rural teacher is Infinitely more
difficult than that of the grade teacher IN
the city school.
CITY VS.. COUNTY SUPERVISION.
In the city Of Columbia there is a sup
%erintendent Of schools who receives O. sal
airy of g, 900 per year. Each schooi mas q
principal who gives a part OF his time tC
SUPERVISION. There is supervising prtn'
Icipal who gives special attention to the
Teaching of the first three grades. There
is n supervisor ofmanual training, a sup
ervisor of music, and a supervisor OF sew
ling. In common with other city schools
l0f the United States, Columbia perhaps
spends 8 to 10 per cent. of its usual school
expenditures for supervision.
In any manufacturing or other business
entcrprlse, it is a well established prlncl'
pie that the less the Skill and experience
I0f the employee the more supervision Is
NECESSARY. In accordance with this prln'
ciple, we should expect to find the schools
of Lexington county spending, at least i
Oer cent on supervision. On the contrary
the usual amount expended for superyi'
Ision of Lexington county, exclusive or tht
two orthree town schools, is 5000, tho sal
ary of the county superintendent. Ibis
is less than 2 per cent or the county 6cHoo
Expenditures. The payment OF tlIls mea'
gre compensation assumes that the COUNT
superintendent is expected to devote only
In hart of his time to the duties of his office
and that he is going to make a living il
some other occupation. This salary is
about the average in South Carolina, as
any one can ascertain by examination OF
| the code,
Moreover, the teaching force in Column,
bia is concentrated in a small area, and
the physical effort involved in the super
vision is red need to a minimum, while TIT