The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-06-29
SCHOOL BOOKS
Superintendent Swearissen Raps State
Board Of Eduesdon
BALLOTS WERE SECRET


State Superintendent Of Education
Decl.ues BODY Acted With Absolute
Disregard Of Property Rights Of the
PeopIe.-Says Textbook Adoption
VIII Cost People Much Money.
Mr.. John E. Swearingen, State
superintendent Of education, made
Monday the following statement OF
his position in respect to the adoption
last week of text books for the public
schols + the State during tse next
FIVE years: "Jf 45.
''To protect the interests Of the
people and to keep the record straight
I protested against the recent text
book adoptions made by the State
board OF education. Though my pro-
tests were disregarded and my wishes
ignored. 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 rev.
olutionary action has been offered to
the public. Such sweeping changes
are without precedent in the text
book history of this State or os any
other State.
1.-The books sold in South Carolina
during the last five years cost more
than $500,000. These books have
been in the main displaced, and now
have only an exchange value Of 81
per cent Of their original cost. The
new books adopted are higher priced
and every time a pupi! or patron is
required to exchange an old book
there must be a cash payment in az.
d:tion.
This cash payment will be tax
on every citizen Of the State. 1t may
be small IL 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
a universal lament from the noun
tains 10 the sea. The State board of
education with an absolute disregard
to the property rights Of the people
has destroyed values and imposed
taxes representing an Investment eq-
.ual in value to the cost Of the magnt-
ficent college at Rock Fill. Every
exchange of books also imposes labor
and inconvenience in addition to ex-
pense.. Any man in charge of text
book depository knows what this in
convenience means. A number of the
repositories are conducted. by coun-
ty superintendents of education, and
these officers will feel the Strain be-
fore the exchange period has passed
II do not believe that changes
should be made unless the books in
use have proved inferior or unsat's-
factory. The State board of educa-
ton declined to indicate In writing
the unsatisfactory books on the pres
ent list. The adoption of 1905 was
little short Of crime II inferior
books were imposed upon the chill
dren of the State. Three members
of the, present beard took part In
that adoption and must have voted
for the hooks then selected. The
change of heart has taken place in
these gestlemen Is not questioned by
me. but it would be better understood
If it were fully explained. II any
city superintendent in q. special dis
trict exercising the right Of n de-
pendent 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 igo unchallenged. no"
much more, then, should explanation
be offered when the changes AFFECT
the whole State rather thar small
municipality!
81 had prepared for the use of the
board a ballot showing the name OF
each member voting and the title 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 establish
ed and wished to maintain pleasant
relations. This IS a laudable sentl-
ment, but it leaves out of the reckon
ing the sensibilities of the people.
It is a we'll established principle OF
representative government that the
record Of public servant belongs to
his constituents. AS State superln-
tendent of education, I was anxious
for every citizen to know my position
in regard to every book that was re-
tanned as we'll as to every book that
was changed. I see no reason why
the other members Of the board
should be unwilling to leave similar
record, even though unsuccessful bid
ders 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. / have
nointed out what I consider the IN.
iustifiable disregad OF property
rights. I also maintain that the
wholesale changes ordered by the
hoard were neither necessary nor al