The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-05
Meeting Was Well Attended and
Proved Very Interesting and In
strctive-Many Matters of Interest
to- County schools Discussed.

j. M. N. Wilder. j. w. Brunson. T.
Il. Hodge. s. welnburg. NJ. L. Parler.
n. A. Hair. J. Frank Williams. II. A.
Rafield. w. s. Thompson, r. $.
Stnckey, T.. NJ. McElveen, II. X
Brown. j. II. Terry. w. X. Mccoy. NJ.
ID Weaver. II. t. Goodman, Hugh
McI.aurin. J. Il. Ryan.
I'his being the regular meeting for
the election OF officers. the following
officers were elected for the ensuing
year:
President, J. NJ. y. Wilder.
Vice-pres!dent. s. A. Harvin,
Secretary. J. III. Haynsworth,
Mr.. J. Il. Swearlngen. State Su-
perintendent OF Education, was
invited to address the meeting, but he
was unable To be present on account
Of meeting OF te trustees OF the
South Carolina University.
The secretary read the minutes Of
the last meeting. and tten read the
recent acts passed by the legislature
In regard to the schools. He also read
letter which had just been sent to
all the teachers I'm the county In re-
gard to certificates being recorded, and
proper enrolment of pupils. He ex-
planned that IL was difficult to secure
all certificates. and that unless q
teacher made inquiry pupils were
often enrolled several times during
one school session.
Dr. M. l.. Parler made q motion,
which was carried. that the asso-
ciation put itself on record as thor
oughly endorsing the county super
intendent in his effort to secure GER
tificates to the extent of positively re-
fusing TO pay any claim of a teacher
who had failed to have her certificate
recorded.
The matter OF colsonidation OF
schools was discussed, and legislative
acts encouraging the same were ex-
planned.
Dr. Parler. In a forceful talk, show
ed that little earnest attention was
given by the trustees to- their schools,
inasmuch as they seldom met together
to discuss improvements or TO visit
the schools. He also believed in hav.
Ing g,~ count superintendent stay a
week or mU-r at a time at a school in
order to thoroughly acquaint himself
with all conditions.
m reply the county superintendent
agreed with Dr. Parler, but insofar
as his duties were concerned stated
that there were over fifty white
schools IN the county and that IL was
impossible to give that much time to
any one school and get around He
also expressed his belief that the
great dc .ect I'm the rural school system
was In not having the necessary super
vision, and that for one man, with a
horso To travel with. To supervise
properly fifty odd schools was accord
Ing to up-to-date ideas OF supervision
next To impossible. He said fur
could be made faster and oftener and
that improvements could then be re-
quired. now to visit the schools once
year as is required by law, is more
OF less n farce. for suggestions may
OF may not be carried out. and ne
none the wiser.
IA int
self also az being In favor Of the as
ststance of lady supervisor, believ-
ing IL To be against the interest OF the
schools. To- be- opposed To any help
which might bring about the much
needed improvements.
DIR. NJ. l.. Parltr made the motion
which was carried. that the district
boards OF trustees be requested by the
County school Trustees Association
Co visit their schools and To hold at
least three meetings during the
school year the minutes taken by the
clerk. To be sent. as "a report. To the
County superintendent of Education
OF their actions at these meetings
This Is tO be done at the end OF the
school year. These several rpUrts
are To- be read by u.o County super
intendcHt before the County Trusccs
Association, So that each and every
set Of district trustees may become ac-
quaintcd with what good is being done,
and so he spurrcd to greater things
for education.
MIR. - Weinberg moved that the
minutes OF this meeting bc printed m
tho form Of ~ letter. and "a copy he
sent To every trustee In the county.
This motion was carried.