The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-05
AN OPEN LETTER.
SUPT. EDMUNDS ON NEEDS OF
SCHOOLS,


Members in Asking for an Addition
al Special One Mill Tax for school
Purposes,
AS the citizens of Sumter will in a
few days vote upon the question of
the levying of an additional tax Of
one mill for school purposes, it is be-
coming that |. as the executive Off
Ger of the City Board of Education.
should address this open letter to the
citizens setting forth the policy Of
the Board and indicating its purposes.
The policy Of the Board has al
ways been one of gradual DEVELOPMENT
No radical changes have been alb
.ruptly made; but in every case there
has been an earnest endeavor to see
the end from the beginning and to
plan deliberately and to work grad
ually with a definite object always in
View. To give two illustrations:
About ten years ago it was thought
that a military feature in connection
with our schools would be of great
direct benefit and the interest thus
engendered would serve TO keep the
boys at school. A company of nine
teen members was organized with a
cadet officer Now the school has a.
battalion of four companies, with a
commandant regularly employed.
The other illustration: 1t required
t'n years to accomplish the segrega-
ton of the sexes. This was done so
gradually that the successive changes
seemed TO be perfectly natural and
the result brought no shock. Both of
these features in our system of
schools are unique and / think that
no one who studies the conditions and
who feels an interest in our schools
would wish to alter these two dis
tinctive characteristics.
Several years ago a beginning was
made to introduce drawing and man
ual training in our schools. Those.
who were present at the recent ex-
hibit in the Hampton School for girls.
were astonished and gratified at the
great progress that the girls had
made In this respect. The results Of
their labors were genuinely artistic.
This, however, is not the real pur-
pose of this course. The object is to
stimulate and deepen the interest of
the pupils in all of their work at
school, so that they may look upon
school not as burden TO be avoided
If possible; but a place where they
are privileged to bring into play
many of their faculties in the
pursuit Of the varied activities there
offered. This varied activity not
only stimulates and deepens the in
terest; but enables the pupils TO dis
cover themselves and assist the teach
ers in discovering the particular ap-
result has been that when a pupil dis
covers that she can do one thing
we'll, she is self-persuaded to try to
do all things we'll.
The Board has been so we'll satis-
fled with the results Of the ex-
pertinent as to feel that it's duty is to
extend this course and TO give all Of
the pupils this privilege.
During the past year there has been
more interest in penmanship and
a greater progress made in this re-
spect than ever before in the history
Of the schools. This has been due to
three causes ]. The medals that
were offered bv the four loyal and
interested patrons; 2. The new sys-
tenn Of writing that was introduced;
3. The stimulating efforts of the
Of our primary department.
II is the desire of the Board to en-
phasize still more this important
phase Of education.
The quality of the work Of a .ys-
tenn of schools depends largely upon
the eXcellency of it's supervision.
Many cities small but progressive, in
addition of course to large cities
realizing the truth Of this have Sc
Iected for its primary department
a supervisor Of primary methods who |
Will secure an harmonious, thorough |
" organized, and intelligent cooper
atiion of all Of the teachers of this |
important department Of system of |
schools. The Boards desire is that
sumter shall be at least abreast Of |
other towns in educational progress. |
The Board, following it's custom Of !
gradual development, now realizes |