The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-20

administration and supervision of the
rural schools"
There are two responsibilities
resting on every man who occupies
an official educational position" says
the supervisor. "In the first place,
ne should try to meet the immediate
demands of the hour by working
whole-heartedly with the organiza-
tion and conditions as he finds them
In the second place. he should en-
deavor from his experience and OBJ
servations TO assist in the formula
ton OF policy of development which
will be more conducive to the stabil-
ity. growth and efficiency of the pub
lie school system. The following out
line of organization is respectfully
presented for the criticism of the
friends OF education. The limits of
this report will not allow the ampli-
heation of the topics.
General Principles.
"A state common school system
should be democratic. 1t should be
responsive to the deliberately express
ed will Of the people.
Since the administration and su-
pervision OF a school system requires
certain abilitie and training the law
should give the people u reliable
method OF selecting their school Of
AL. =
In their choice to men who seek po-
sitions. but through their authorized
agents should be allowed the privi-
lcge OF seeking the man who will per-
form the expert duties of his office
most efficiently.
Since me education OF a child and
the development OF a school are pro-
cesses which require several years of
their completion. the schoo! system
should possess stability which woul d
enable it's officers TO make plans whic h
they may hope to execute.
The State as n whole should guar
antee an educational opportunity 10
all her children, regardless OF the
wealth or poverty of the particular
county OF district in which they live.
The State Board.
The administration of the State
common school system should be
vested i'm state board OF education
which should be a continuing body. 1t
should perhaps be composed of the
governor, the chairman of the COM
mittee on education i'm the senate,
the chairman OF the committee on ed
ucauon In the house as ex officio
members. and six other members TO
be selected by the legislature for
terms OF six years. the terms of two
members expiring every second year
This method OF selecting ar ad.
ministrative board has been adopted
for all the educational activities OF
the State except the common schools,
and In all other cases has proved sat-
isfactory.
1T prevents a Capitalization OF au-
thority and provides for "a continuing
board which may formulate pro-
gressive policy.
The state superintendent.
The State superintendent of edu-
cation should be elected by the state
board of education for a term of four
years and his salary should be fix
ed by this board.
The State superintendent would
thus become the executive officer of
the state board of education just as
the college president is the executive
officer of the college board OF trus-
tees
1T would remove the state superin
tendency OF education one step from
the contingencies of partisan politics
and would give stability and con
tinuity OF administrator not possible
under our present plan.
The state board of education could
thus deliberately seek for the man
best qualified for the Office of state
superintendent. At present the peO-
pie are limited i'm their choice to those
who seek the office.
The State board OF education
should he authorized To offer "a salary
TO the state superintendent commcn-
surate with the duties and rcspon8i
bilities OF his office as tho head OF
the state common school system. Is
there any reason why the State su
perintendent Of education. entrusted
with the management of the public
schools OF the state. should receive
only half the salary paid To a college
president and less than that paid to
some OF our city superintendcnts?
As.i,tantS