The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-02-02
new SCHOOL Law
Drastic Measure That il Now Pending iu
tie General Assembly.

CHANGES ARE RADICAL
Take the Schools ONT Of the Hands
OF the People and Puts Them in
the Hands OF Seven Men, Who
Appoints Practically All School
Officials.
There is a most drastic bill now
pending in the General Assembly,
which, It passed. will take the man
agement OF the schools of the State
out, Of the hands Of the people and
lodge it in the hands Of a few men,
who are appointed by the State Sup
erintendent Of Education. It is a
bill that the General Assembly
should consider and let the people
discuss before it. Is enacted into law.
The bill was introduced in the
Senate by Senators Sinkler,' of Char
|leston, and Senator Christensen, OF
Beaufort, and makes most radical
changes in our present school law.
The Columbia. correspondent OF
The News and Courier says while
some mention has been made of the
report of The commission appointed
at the last session Of the General
Assembly 10 look into the present
school law and to report at this ses-
sion needed legislation, it is doubt
full that ten members Of the Cen
eral Assem- bly,, aside from the edu-
cational committee Of the House and
Senate, have gone fully into the bill
drawn up under the commission S
report and know exactly what will be
accomplished II such measure
passes." That is why we say the
bill should not be rushed through
the General Assembly.
The law declares that d libera:
and efficient system Of free public
education shall be maintained
throughout the State. Separate
schools and institutions of learning
shall be prorideu for persons OF the
white and colored races and no child
or person of ,ona of these ra:es shall
ever be permitted to attend school
or educational institutional provided
for children or persons Of the other
race. The system shall; embrace ele-
mentary schools in every school dis
trict or city or town where such city
or town Is not embraced In some
school district for the. education OF
children between the ages Of six and
twenty-one years; high sihools, az
hereinafter provided for, the Uni
versity Of South Carolina, Clemson
Agricultural College,, Winthrop Nor
NAL and Industrial College, the In
stitution for the Deaf and Blind, ;ke
State Colorcd College of South Car,
olina, Agricultural and Mechanical
College, and such other special and
technical schools as may from tin:
| to time be established in who's OF
part at public expense"
The bill would give the State Sup
erintendent of Education $4,000 pei
annum and $500 travelling expenses
which would make him the highest
paid State officer, except the Gov
ernor. The State Superintendent,
by Sectior14 of the bill, would be
given division supervisors. 1T will
be exceedingly profitable to have al
of the county superintendent Of the
State assemble at least once a year
to discuss matters pertaining to the
educational advancement Of their re-
spective countless" says the report
and the bill provides for this.
1t has been pointed out from time
to time that the reports Of school
officers have been incomplete as to
the State department of education
The commission provides for this in
It's Recommendation and the bill.
could enact it into law. "In order,' .
writes the commission, that the
statistics Of the State Superintendent
may have real significance 1t is high
| ly important that the reports OF all
school officers shall be complete and
be promptly sent in!
The bill makes the board OF ed
ucation consist Of the Governor, the
State Superintendent of Education
and five members (instead of seven
as now) to be appointed by the Gov
ernor upon recommendation OF the
State Superintendent Of Education
The term is four years. A difficulty
is avoided by providing that the ap-
po;ntiye members shall serve out the
terms for which they were appointed
At least three members of those to
be appointed shall be professional!
teachers regularly employed in edu-
cational work. Instead of per diem
the board is. paid only actual travel
| ing and hotel expenses.
A textbook commission is ere
ated hy the. bill. ''The meeting at
which the adoption (of text-books)
is finally made shall be open to the
public" says the bill. The commits
sion is to be composed Of five school
men. The report says: "In Great
ing a textbook commission it is not