The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-24
RURAL SCHOOL PROGRESS.
Greatest Need for Rural Schools I'm
South Carolina as Seen by State
Supervisor, W. X. Tate.

WHICH IL Delng eNnlDlted Dy the can
didates for office in South Carolina
Every candidate for Governor hai
expressed himself In no uncertain
terms as an advocate of the upbuild
Ing OF the common schools. and es
pectally those OF the rural districts
As the reports of the county cam
paign appear In the daily papers
these. too. are filled with the express
sions OF interest on the part Of the
candidates In the welfare of the rura
schools. I believe that this interest Il
genuine. There has been exhibited
however. a greater tendency to gen.
eralize on the subject than to pro-
pose remedies for conditions that
would be improved. With a view OF
directing this popular interest into
definite channels of discussion,
wish. from time. TO time. to present
TO the press of the State a few ele-
ments of the situation to which. In
my opinion. we might all proftably
turn our attention.
AS / have previously stated, my
own conclusions are tentative and
subject TO revision. In order that my
work may have the benefit OF the best
thought OF the State on the subjects
OF discussion. 1 should like to receive
copies of papers containing editorial
expressions and the views OF candi-
dates for office. and should be Pleased
to hear from the educators and other
citizens OF the State who will be so
kind as to give me the benefit of their
opinions.
Better Supervision Needed.
i am fully convinced that the first
requisite to substantial Improvement
IN the rural schools of South Carolina
s. better supervision. The greatest
difference between the city schools and
The country school in this State lies
IN the better supervision of the form
Vt. Let us contrast the city Of Column
Dia and her next door neighbor, the
county of Lexington. In the city OF
Columbia. according to the last re-
port issued by the superintendent,
ehere are rs teachers and 1857 pu-
pills. In the county of Lexington
there are 152 teachers and 1921
pupils. With the exception of two
OF three small towns. all OF these
are I'm country schools. The teachers
OF Columbia are most of them col
Iege graduates and have had years of
experience in a well organized sys-
tenn where the work Of each is def
nitely arranged and limited In extent.
In the rural schools of Lexington
county there Is. according 10 the
county superintendent OF education
not a single college graduate. These
teachers have obtained their prepa-
ration I'm the common schools and
high schools Of the county and State.
and their sole professional training
has been given in the short term
summer schools. More than half of
them change schools every year. Re-
cent statistics. in fact. show that in
the whole State 80 per cent. OF the
rural teachers teach one year in
a place. These teachers must teach
all grades Of work, and with the
most meagcr material equipment. The
task az the rural teacher Is infinitely
more difficult than that OF the grade
teacher In the city school.
Cty W. County Supervision.
In tho city Of Columbia there IS q
superintendent Of schools who re.
ccivcs q salary of $4,000 per year
Each school has principal who give.
a part of his time to supervision. Their,
Is supervising principal who give,
especial attention to the teaching oI
the t..' three grades. There is 2
super ..." OF manual training. su
pcrvi-r # music. and a supervisor o
sewina. In common with other cit,
schools of the United States Commbis
perhaUs spends y To- 10 per cent OF il.
total hpol expenditures for super
vision
iu aay manufacturing or other bus
siucss enterprise, II is a well establish
"d principle that the less the skill
and experience of thch cmployc tn,
more supervision Is necessary. II
accordance V.ttb this nrtr,ipic a..
should expect To- find the schools o
LoNin"t'r county spending at lcas
L. per cent. for supervision. ON tn
contrary the total amount cxpcndc,
for supervision I'm Lexington county
exclusive Of the two or three tow
schools, Is 5000. the salary Of tn
county superintendent This Is les
than . per cent. Of IT,, county schoo