Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-07-19
REPLY TO BOOK CRITICISM.
Appointive Members of State Board
Issue a Statement.

the appointive members Of the State
Board Of Education, concerning the
adoption of text books for use in the
public schools of South Carolina:
In view Of the MISUNDERSTANDING
and erroneous statements that have
grown out Of the recent protest is
sued by State Superintendent Swear
ingen in reference to the late adop-
tion Of text books, the undersigned
appointive members Of the State
Board of Education submit to the
people Of South Carolina the follow
ing statement of the facts involved:
Fitness Of Members to Judge.
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.
Preparation for the Adoption.
For something over two years they
have had this adoption in view and
have, in consequence, been acfuaint-
ing themselves with the usableness,
suitableness and merits of the books
in actual use in the schools. This
has been done not only by eXamina-
ton OF the books themselves, but by
the questioning of teachers all over
the State.
For some six months prior to the
adoption books to be offered began
to come in and expert representa-
tives of the book companies began
their visits to the several members
OF the board. The coming Of these
books and agents increased in fire.
quency, SO that for some three
months before the adoption the
members were called upon to spen
most OF their time, not given to
their regular work, in the eXamina-
ton OF books and the discussion of
them with agents.
This prolonged and searching en-
animation Of text books to be sub
mitted was supplemented by infor-
NAL discussions and comparisons
among the members themselves
while in attendance upon board meet
ings in Columbia. Hence the several
members entered the adoption with
clearly defined views as to the rela-
tive merits and suitability of the
various books, including those now
in use, and had, in many cases, their
minds m ada fhair fi,.Sf oh
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 intelli-
gently without the necessity Of much
discussion, though despite this pre-
paratiOn there was full discussion on
all important books.
The undersigned members submit
therefore, that with this experience
and this study of the books, it is
reasonable to conclude that their in
dividual Judgment as to the merits
w NV po'HS lcu utStlNtS tut
same consideration, and is just as
likely to be correct, as that Of Mr.
Swearingen, and that where ma
jority Of them were agreed upon a
particular book, it is just and ra-
tional, as well as democratic, to
assume that this majority opinion
was more likely correct than that Of
Mr.. Swearingen or that of any mi
nority which included Mr.. Swcarn-
gen.
The So-Called Secret Ballot.
1t is unthinkable that Superinten-
dent Swaringen intended In the
slightest degree to impugn or make
inSinuation against the integrity Of
the members Of the board. either in
dividually or collectively. Indeed,
we have his assurance that he did
not, yet that construction has been
put upon his protest, and especially
upon his reference to secret ballot.
Hence we are at loss to understand
why, when he perceived that the
newspapers so construed his protest,
he did not, in justice to himself and
IN justice to the board immediately
publish disclaimer Of any such in
tention.
This ballot, it Is due to say. was
not secret in the sense that any mem
hers vote was concealed. II is dino
TO say, further, that not only was the
method based upon the precedent OF
the adoption OF five years ago. but