The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-07-19
Swearinger Does Not Meet Comparisons
hade by the Board
PEOPLE MUST DECIDE
Claims That he Was Ignored by 9th
er Members Of the Board. by Not
Having Chance to Express His
Opinion When Adoption Of the
Books Were Made.

State Superintendent of Education
Swearingen returned to Columb bia
Tuesday night from Rock Hill, where
he had gone Friday to attend the
Conference Of County Superinten-
Of Education. He declared that he
had no intention or desire to prolons
the controversy regarding the text
book adoptions made by the State
board of education.
eff the people of south Carolina
are willing to believe he said, that
they can now exchange old text books
for new ones at an additional cost OF
only 2-3 cents per child each year,
they will be undeceived when the
time comes to buy new books.
..I have not counted she words in
the primer OF in any other book, but
the new basal reader contain l59
pages and sells for 35 cents. The
new basal fifth reader contains 1858
pages and sells for 35 cents. The
difference is interesting
cot the old basal first reader, 49,
900 copies were sold from 1905 to
1911, and this book has been dis
placed. Twelve thousand copies OF
the physical biographies were sold,
and this book has been retained. AS
far as the titles on the list are con-
cerned these two books are equal,
but as as far as the pupils and pa
irons OF the State are concerned,
there is difference Of nearly Il to
1. or more than 1000 per cent. Il
lrstrations might be multiplied in
definitely, for readers, arithmetics.
and biographies form the most i'd
poraant part of a text book adoption,
and these three series show that rs
per cent of the mere titles even were
thrown out.
eff the members had made up
their minds as to the best and most
desirable books, I am at loss TO un-
derstand why they We're unwilling to
point out the poor books now in use.
Il is claimed that ample preliminary
discussion Of text books was had in
ole books had been made. This ad-
mission isa highly gratifying to me-
because the absence Of such discus
sion and comparison at the board
meetings led me to suppose and hope
for this condition. They, therefore
seem to admit the fact that the real
discussion of textbooks was had inc
Jerome Hotel. I do not presume to
set my opinion against the opinion OF
seven distinguished educators, out
being the secretary Of the board ano
member directly responsible TO the
people, I thought there should be
frank, full and open discussion in the
meetings OF the board itself.
This admission proves that the
adoption was decided on before the
State Superintendent Of Education
was given a chance to express an
opinion. It must not be forgotten,
also, that my request for record OF
these changes was promptly refused.
I was prepared to recommend sever
al changes and to support these rec
omm mendations with argument. Ine
hoard made sweeping changes, out
declined to indicate the necessity lot
these chanes, by pointing out the IN
ferior and undesirable books now ID
use. The assertion that better BOOKS
have been adopted does not sufilce.
but should be supported by evidence.
Every change of text books is unnec-
essary unless logical reason can De
assigned therefor.
.sI have not questioned the integ-
ritv or impugned the motives OF a
majority of the board, because posi-
tive proof of improper influence can
not be adduced. The private charac-
ter of every man belongs to himself
alone. but his public acts belong tc
his constituents. The new policies OF
the board were expensive, unexplaln-
ed and without record, and against
these three characteristics protest
ed.
tsThere are other points inviting
interesting comment, but leave this
to be made by others. The determl-
nation of the issue rests with the peo-
pie"