The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-07-14
STA TEMENT OF APPONTTVE MEMBERS
OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATORS

and errOTeCG SlaLe1ueHCS tudI NHf'
grown out Of the recent protest issued
by State Superintendent STearingen
in reference to the late adoption &:
text books, the undersigned appointlve
members of the State board Of edIca-
ton submit to the people of South
Carolina the following statoluent Of
facts 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 usab1eness, suit
ableness 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 began 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 examina-
ton Of books and the discussion of
them with agents.
This prolonged and searching exam
ination Of text books to be submitted
was supplemented by informal discus
sions and comparisons among the
members themselves while IN attend
ance upon board meetings in Colum-
bia. Hence the several members en-
tered the adoption with clearly defined
views as to the relative merits and
suitability of the various books, in
eluding 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 discussion, though despite this
preparation there was full discussion
on all: important books. .
The undersigned me9hbers submit
therefore, that with this experience
and this study of the books, it is rea-
sonable to conclude that their indi-
vidual 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 a majority Of them
were agreed upon a particular book,
1t IS just and rational, as well as dem
ocratic, to assume that this majority
opinion was more likely correct than
THAT of Mr.. SWearingen or that Of any
minority which included Mr.. Swear
tngen.
The So.Called Secret Ballot.
1t is unthinkable that Superintend-
ent SWearingen intended in the slight
est defree to impugn or make insin-
uation against the integrity of the
members Of the board, either individ-
ually 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 secret ballot. Hence We are
at loss to understand why, when he
perceived that the newspapers So 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, it is due to say, was not
secret in the sense that any members
vote was coahcealed. It is due to say
further, that not only was the method
based upon the precedent OF the adop-
ton 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
er adoption, he had the right to do so