The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-07-11
MAKES 1T PLAIN
70 lsard Of Etacai,on Give Their
Side Of Book Adoption.
SAVING TO THE STATE


Statement Of the Appointivc Members
of the State Board of Education
Concerning the Adoption of Text
Books for the Schools Of South
Carolina.
In view Of the misunderstanding
and erroneous statements that have
grown out of the recent protest IS
sued by State Superintendent Swear
ingen in reference to the late adop-
tion of text books, the undersigned
appointive members Of the State
Hoard Of Education submit TO the
people the 5ollowing 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
wears 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-
auainting 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
oe 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 adoption, the members were call
ed to spend most Of their time, not
given to their regular work, in the
examination of books and the dis
cussion of them with agents.
This prolonged and searching. ex-
animation Of text books was supple
mented by informal discussions and
comparisons among the Smembers
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 many
cases, their minds made up on their
first choice, or on the books which
they would be willing to accept In
blace of this first choice, and with
definite ideas as to- the opln-
ions of their fellow members.
Consequently when the time came FOR
adoption, the members were virtually
ready to vote intelhgently without
the necessity of much discussion,
though despite this preparation there
was full discussion on all Important
books.
The undersigned members submit,
therefore, that this experience and
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 to
be correct, as that Of Mr.. Swear1ngen,
and that where a majority Of them
were agreed upon a particular book,
it is lust and rational, as we'll as
democratic, to assume that this ma
jority opinion was more likely cor
rect than that of Mr.. Swearingen or
that of any minority which included
Mr.. Swearingen.
The So-Called Secret Ballot.
It is unthinkable that Superinten'
dent Swearingen intended in the
slightest degree to impugn or make
insinuation against the integrity of
the members of the Board, either in
tividually or collectively. Indeed
we have his assurance that he did
rot; vet that construction has been
put upon his protest and especially
upon his reference to secret ballot.
Hence we are at a loss to under
stand why, when he perceived that
the newspapers so construed his pro-
test, he did not, in justice to himself
and in justice to the Board, imme-
diately publish disclaimer of any
such intention.
The ballot, it is due to say, was
not secret in the sense that any men,
hers vote was concealed. 1t is due
to say, further, that not only was the
method based upon the precedent of
the adoption of five years ago, but,
in the agreement to adopt the i'm
personal vote, it was distinctly stated
that. if in the voting any member
desired to put on record anything
about the vote or adoption, he had
the right to do so.
In the case of most of the books,
especially Of the more important
ones. there were a preliminary dis
cussion that revealed whether there
.1,os ony dacidad dixerences of opinion