Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-27
TUESDAY, JUNE a7, 1911.
SCHOOL BOOK CHANGES.
Unnecessary and Undesirable Say.
Superintendent Swearinsen.

Mr.. John E. Swearingen, state SUI
perintendent of education, says the
Columbia Record, on yesterday made
the following statement Of his posi-
tion in respect to the adoption last
week OF text books for the public
schools of the state during the next
five years:
"To protect the interests of the
people and to keep the record
straight, / protested against the re-
cent text book adoptions made by the
state board of education. Though my
protests were disregarded and my
wishes ignored, l desire to make
brief statement Of my position.
Eighty per cent Of the books now
in use have been thrown out of the
schools. Not one word Of explana-
tion, reason, or excuse for this revo-
lutionary action has been offered to
the public. Such sweeping changes
are without precedent In the text book
history of this state or Of any other
state.
THE books sold in South Carolina
during the last five years cost more
than 100000. These books have
been In the main displaced, and now
have only an exchange value Of so
per cent Of their original cost. The
and every time a pupil or patron is
required to exchange an old book
there must be cash payment in ad-
dition.
This cash payment will be a tax
on every citizen of the state. 1t may
be small In the case Of any one book,
but will amount to thousands Of dol
lars in the aggregate.
IF Winthrop college should be
burned to the ground there would be
universal lament from the noun
tains to the sea. The state board Of
education with an absolute disregard
Of the property rights Of the people
has destroyed values and imposed
taxes representing an investment
equal in value to the cost Of the mag
nificent college at Rock Hill. Every
exchange Of books also imposes labor
and Inconvenience in addition to ex-
pense. Any man in charge Of a text
book depository knows what this in
convenience means. A number Of the
repositories are conducted by county
superintendents Of education, and
| these officers will feel the strain be-
fore the exchange period has passed.
Il do not believe that changes
should be made unless the books in
use have proved inferior or unsatis-
factory. The state board Of educa-
tion declined to indicate In writing
the unsatisfactory books on the pres
ent list. The adoption of 1906 was
little short Of crime IL inferior
books were imposed upon the children
of the state. Three members of the
present board took part in that adop-
tion and must have voted for the
books then selected. The change of
heart that has taken place in these
10 hxr
but 1t would be better understood IL
1t were fully explained. II any city
superintendent In a special district
exercising the right of independent
text book adoption should enter upon
his work by changing 80 per cent of
the books In the hands Of the pupils,
do not believe his action would 90
unchallenged. How much more, then,
should explanation be offered when
the changes affect the whole state
rather than a small municipality!
Il had prepared for the use Of the
board ballot showing the name of
each book voted for. This ballot the
board declined to use, because the
members did not wish to offend the
sensibilities Of the various book agents
with whom they had established and
wished to maintain pleasant relations.
This Is a laudable sentiment, but II
leaves out Of the reckoning the sensi-
bilities Of the people. It is a well es-
tablished principle Of representative
government that the record Of a pub
lie servant belongs to his constitu-
ents. AS state superintendent OF edu-
cation, was anxious for every citi-
zen to know my position In regard
to every book that was retained as
we'll as to every book that was chang
ed. see no reason why the other
members of the board should be un4
willing to leave a similar record, even.
though unsuccessful bidders might be
disappointed In the adoption.
'"The work of the board has been
finished, but the tax on the people
will not be felt till later. I have
pointed out what consider the un-
justifable disregard of property
rights. 1 also maintain that the
wholesale changes ordered by the
board were neither necessary nor al
together desirable. / asked for a full
record Of the proceedings by which
this result was brought about and my
request was denied.
II trust that these facts have been
made so plain that the man who runs
may read and understand"