The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-07-19
MAKES IT PLAIN
Stale Beard Of Edueallen Give Their
Side Of Book Adoption.
SAVING TO TIE STATE

Statement Of the Appointive Members
OF the State Board Of Education
Concerning the Adoption Of Text
Books for the Schools Of South
Carolina.
In view of the misunderstanding
snd erroneous statements that have
grown out of the recent protest IS
sued by State Superintendent S.ear-
ingen in reference to the late adop-
ton Of text books, the undersigned
appointive mem bers Of the State
BOARD Of Education submit to the
people the following statement OF
the 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 teach
ers Of many years experience OF
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 ac-
quainting themselves with the usable-
ness, 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
questioning Of teachers all over the
State.
For some six months prior to the
adoption, books to be offered began
to cone in and expert representatives
ot-the .beok-eemp panies began their
visits to the several memb bers of the
Board. The coming Of these books
and agents increased in frequency, so
that for some three months before
the adoption, the members were call
ed to spend most Of their tine, not
given to their regular work, IN the
examination Of books and the dis,
cIssion Of them with agents.
This prolonged and searching ex'
animation of text books was supple
mented by informal discussions and
comparisons among the members
themselves while in attendance upon
Board meetings in Columbia. Hence
the several members entered the
adoption with clearly defined views
as to the relative merits and suita-
bility Of various books, including
those now in use, and had, in manS
cases, their minds made up on thell
first choice, or on the, books which
they would be wiling to accept IN
place Of this first choice, and With
definite ideas as to- the opln'
ions Of their fellow members
Consequently when the time came fol
adoption, the members were virtually
ready to vote intelligently withou'
the. necessity of much discussion
though despite this preparation there
was full discussion on ali important
books.
The undersigned members submit
therefore, that this experience anc
this study Of the books, it is reasona
Bile to conclude that their individual
Judgment as to the merits OF the
books submitted deserves the same
consideration, and is just as likely t
be correct, as that Of Mr. Swearingen
and that where a majority Of then
were agreed upon particular book
It is just and rational, as well a:
democratic, to assuLle that this ma
jority opinion was more likely cor
rect than that of Mr.. Swearingen o.
that Of any minority which included
Mr.. Swearingen.
The So-CaIled Secret Ballot.
It is unthinkable that Superinten
dent Swearingen intended in tht
slightest degree to impugn or make
insinuation against the integrity O.
the memb mbers of the Board, either in
diyidually or collectively. Indeed
we have his assurance that he die
not; yet that construction has beer
put upon his protest and especiali!
upon his reference to secret ballot
Hence we are at a loss to under
stand why, when he perceived tha
the newspapers so construed his pro
test, he did not, in justice to himself
and in justice to the Board, imme
diately publish a disclaimer Of an1
such intention.
The ballot, it is due to say, wa:
not secret in the sense that any mem
ber's vote was concealed. 1t is due
to say, further, that not only was the
method based upon the precedent o!
the adoption of i've years ago, but
In the agreement to adopt the I'm
personal vote, it was distinctly stated
that, il in the voting any member
desired to put on record anything
about the vote or adoption, he hae
the right to do so.
In the case OF most or the DOCKS
especially Of the more important
ones, there we're preliminary dis
cussion that revealed whether there
was any decided dixerences Of opinion
among the members. Some member
then put particular book in nomi,
nation. There was yet fuller discus
sion, including comparisons with
such other books as individual mem
bers thought worthy OF mention. An
open individual vote was then taken
Thus the whole Board knew how
each member voted.
How the Members Voted.
On only three Of the books adopt
ed were the undersigned members
divided in their final vote These
were the basal set of Readers. the
Geograpies and the English books be-
low the high school. The following