The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-07-20
NO TALK OF GRAFT FROM HIM.
Swearingen Replies to Statement by
Board.


State Superintendent of Education
Swearingen returned to Columbia
Tuesday night from Rock Hill, where
he had gone Friday to attend the con-
ference of county superintendent of
education. He declared that he had
no intention or desire to prolong the
controversy regarding the recent text
book adoptions made by the State
board of education. "If the people of
South Carolina are willing to be-
lieve," he said, that they can now
exchange old textbooks for new ones
at an additional cost of only 2-3
cents per child each year, they will
be undeceived when the time comes
to buy new books.
II have not counted the words in
the Primer or in any other book, but
the new basal second reader contains
159 pages and sells for 35c. The new
basal fifth reader contains 36S pages
and sells for Csc. This difference is
interesting.
"Of the old basal first reader 49,
900 copies were sold from 1906 to
1911, and this book has been dis
placed. $4,000 copies of the physi-
cal geography were sold, and this
book has been retained. As far as
the titles on the list are concerned
these two books are equal, but as far
as the pupils and patrons of the State
are concerned there is difference OF
nearly II to one, or more than 1000
per cent. illustrations might be null
tiplied indefinitely, for readers, arith-
metics and Biographies form the most
important part of a textbook adop-
ton, and these three series show
that rs per cent. of the mere titles
even we're thrown out.
eff the members had made up their
| minds as to the best and most desir-
able books, I am loss to under
stand why they were unwilling to
point out the poor books now in use.
It is claimed that ample preliminary
discussion and comparison at the
board meetings led me to suppose
and hope for this condition. They,
therefore, seem to admit the fact that
the real discussion of textbooks was
| had in the Jerome hotel. do not
presume to set my opinion against
the opinion of seven distinguished
educators, but being the secretary
of the board and a member directly
responsible to the people, I thought
there should be a frank, full, and
open discussion in the meetings OF
the board itself. This admission
proves that the adoption was decided
on before the State superintendent
of education was given chance to
express an opinion. It must not be
forgotten also that my request for a
record of these changes was prompt
.ly refused. I was prepared to COM
mend several changes and to support
these recommendations with argu.
ment. The board made sweeping
changes; but declined to indicate the
necessity for these changes by point
ing out the inferior and undesirable
books now in use. The assertion
that better books have been adopted
does not suffice, but should be sup
ported by evidence. Every change of
textbooks is unnecessary unless a
logical reason can be assigned there
| for.
''I have not questioned the integ-
rity or impugned the motives OF a
majority of the board, because posi-
tive proof of improper influences can
not be addaced. The private charac-
| ter of every man belongs to himself
alone, but his public acts belong to
his constituents. The new policies
of the board were expensive unex-
planned, and without record, and
against these three characteristics 1
protested.
"There are other points inviting
interesting comment, but I leave
them to be made by others. The de-
termination of the issue rests with
the people. columbia Record, July
13.