The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-18
RECOMMENDS SCHOOL LAWS.
Important Changes are Asked by,
State superintendent OF Educa-
tion.

ucation. composed OF the governor,
the State superintendent OF education
ans not exceeding seven persons To
be appointed every four years by the
governor upon the recommendation
OF the State superintendent. of which
board the governor shall be chairman
and the State superintendent of edu-
cation secretary. This board shall have
the regulation OF the examination OF
teachers applying for certificates of
qualification. and shall award all
scholarships and have, such other
powers and duties as may be deter
mined by law. The travelling expenses
OF the persons to be appointed shall
be provided by the general assembly"
This means. should the revision be
accepted by the general assembly,
tfat the educational system OF the
state VIII be centralized and that the
State superintendent will be given
more power. The revision of the
above constitutional provision is as
follows; upon the recommendation
OF the State superintendent"
The old law gives the governor the
right TO appoint the members of the
State board OF education Independent
OF the State superintendent OF educa-
ton.
Another constitutional amendment
provides that school trustees may be
members Of the general assembly.
The first constitutional amendment
proposed provides that school trus-
tees may be elected to any office.
The members OF the education COM
mission which prepared the report
as TO the revision of the school laws
OF the State. which was sent to the
general assembly today are j. Z.
swearingen, the State superintendent
of education; w. w. Hand. State high
school inspector; ID. b. Johnson. pres
ident of Winthrop college: s. II. Ed
munds. superintendent Of the SUM
ter city schools. and M. L. Smith.
attorney Of Camden. The commission
was appointed as the result OF res
olution by the last general assembly.
There were "a sessions Of the COM
mission held last year.
The following is a summary OF the
changes as recommended for the
school law;
THE commission has endeavored TO
make practical and progressive
report IL has sought to retain the
best features OF the present law and
60 avoid radical or revolutionary
changes. IL has been compelled, how
ever. TO recommend some important
end fRr-reaching alterations in order
that the new school law may help to
meet present needs and - improve
present conditions. 4
"A. An amendment TO section 2. ar
ticie 2. and to section "a. article 3.
OF the constitution. will remove the
obstacle that prevents many of our
best men from serving as school trus-
tees. Though the constitution for
bids the holding OF two Offices, this
provision has by common consent,
been widely disregarded. This amend
.nent seeks merely to legallze SER
vice To education when rendered in
connection with other service to the
State.
'z. The State superintendent of
education Is held responsible for the
acts OF tho State board OF education.
and. In the opinion OF the commission.
he should have .cme voice in select
Ing Its msmbc.s. 1t IS. therefore, rec
ommendeJ that section 2. article IL,
Of the constitution. be amended SO
that henceforth the governor shall
appoirt the State board OF education,
Upon the recommendation OF the
State superintendent.
-. The commission recommends
fhe appointment OF state board Of
examiners for teachers, in order that
the present varying standards nay
10 harmonized by the establishment
Of uniform method In the examina-
ton and graduation OF applicants TO
teach.
Il. The county board OF education
is given larger powers In three i'm
portant respects:
"a. To lew a special county tax.
%. To apportiOn public school
funds.
&C. To choose from eligible appn-
cants the county superintendent OF
education to serve for term OF four
years.
IS The right II all special school
districts organized under special acts