Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-14
#iseellansous Readina.
THE SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION.
Appointive Members of the Board
Make Statement 70 thu Public.

| statement or the appointlVe member:
Of the state board Of education con.
cerning the adoption Of text books:
In view of the misunderstanding ant
erroneous statements that have grown
out Of the recent protest issued by
State Superintendent Swearingen II
reference to the late adoption of text
books, the undersigned appointivt
members of the state board Of educa.
tion submit to the people of South
Carolina the following statement Of
the fact involved:
Fitness of the members to Judge and
select text books:
The undersigned members Of the
board have all of them been for many
years intimately connected with the
schools. Most of them are teachers OF
many years experience, ranging
through nearly every grade and every
kind Of school.
Special Preparation For the Adoption
For something over two years, they
have had this adoption in view and
have In consequence, been acquaint-
ing themselves with the usableness
suitableness, and merits Of the books
in actual use in the schools. This has
been done not only by examination Of
the books themselves but by the ques-
tioning Of teachers all over the state
For some six months prior to the
| adoption, books to be offered begin to
come In and expert representatives OF
the book companies began their visits
to the several members of the board
The coming Of these books and agents
increased in frequency, so that for
some three months before the adop-
tion, the members were called upon to
spend most Of their time, not given to
their regular work, in the examination
of books and the discussion Of them
with agents.
This prolonged and searching ex-
animation of text books to be submit
ted was supplemented by informal dis
/ cussion and comparisons among the
members themselves while in attend
ance upon board meeting In Columbia
Hence the several members entered the
adoption with clearly defined views as
to the relative merits and suitability
of the various books, including those
now in use, and had in many cases,
their minds made up on their first
choice, or on the books which they
would be willing to accept In place OF
this first choice, and with definite
ideas as to the opinions Of their fellow
members. Consequently when the time
came for adoption, the members were
virtually ready to vote intelligently
without the necessity of much discus
sion, though despite this preparation
there was full discussion on all i'm
portant books.
The undersigned members submit,
therefore, that with this experience
and this study Of the books, 1t Is rea-
sonable to conclude that their individ-
ual Judgment as to the merits Of the
books submitted deserves the same
consideration, and Is just as likely to
be correct, as that Of Mr.. Swearingen,
and that where q majority Of them
were agreed upon a particular book, 1t
Is just as rational, as we'll as democrat
ic, to assume that this majority opin-
| ion was more likely correct than that
of Mr.. Swearingen or that Of any mi
nority which included Mr.. Swearin-
gen.
The So-oalIsd Secret Ballot.
1t Is unthinkable that Superintend-
ent Swearingen intended In the slight
est degree to impugn or make insinua-
| tion against the integrity Of the men,
bers of the board, either individually
/ or collectively. Indeed we have his
assurance that he did not; yet that
construction has been put upon his
protest and especially upon his refer
ence to a secret ballot. Hence we are
at loss to understand why, when he
perceived that the newspapers 80 con-
strued his protest, he did not, In JUS
tice to himself and in justice to the
board, Immediately publish disclaim-
er of any such intention.
| This ballot, 1t Is due to say, was not
secret in the sense that any members
vote was concealed. 1t Is due to say,
further, that not only was the method
based upon the precedent of the adop-
tion of five years ago, but, In the
agreement to adopt the impersonal
vote, it was distinctly stated that, If
in the voting any member desired to
put on record anything about the vote
or adoption, he had the right to do so.
| In the case Of most Of the books, es-
pecially of the more important ones,
there was always a preliminary dis
cussion which revealed whether there
was any decided differences Of opin-
ion among the members. Some men,
ber then put a particular book In nom
ination. There was yet fuller discus
sion, including comparison with such
other books as individual members
thought worthy Of mention. An open
Individual vote was then taken. Thus
the whole board knew how each MEM
ber voted.
How the Members Voted.
On only three Of the books adopted
were the undersigned members divided
| in their final vote. These were the
basal set Of readers, the Biographies
~ ish
school, The following voted for the
Wheeler Primer. Messrs. Daniel
Glenn, O'Driscoll, Rembert, Thackston
and Toms. In the case of the first and
second basal readers, Messrs. Glenn
and Rembert voted for the graded
classics of B. F. Johnson & Co., as a
solid basal set. Messrs. Daniel, O'Dris-
coll, Rice. Thackston and Toms voted
| for the Wheeler first and second read
ers, as adopted In the case of the
Biographies, the final vote stood for
Maury, Messrs. Daniel, O'Driscoll
Thackston and Toms; for Frye, Messrs
Glenn. Rembert and Rice. In the ca
of the grammars the following voted
Glenn, ODriscoll, Rembert, Rice and
Thackston. The following voted
against these books: Messrs. Daniel
and Toms. In each such instance
however, those who opposed the books
finally adopted cheerfully accepted and
lapproved the verdict of the majority
In the final vote on all other books
adopted the undersigned members
voted alike.
| Change Of Text Books.
| In reference to the change of text
books, it must be remembered that the
law Itself anticipates the necessity for
change H. providing for periodic
adoption. The object, moreover, In in
viting bids is to secure not the cheap
est books, hut the best books at the
lowest prices. The board showed Its
recognition of this principle as a pri-
mary end i'm the fact that, at its first
meeting and frequently in the course
of the adoption. ii was repeated with
emphasis that the first duty was to get
the best books irrespective of reason
able differences i'm price. One OF the
most dangerous doctrines implied In
Mr. Swearingen's protest is that which
tends to establish the principle tina,
books should not be changed and that
Icheapness Is the chief object.
No mans child should be compell-
ed to use inferior text books even
Itbough Surh hooks were furnished free