The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-31
PLEA TO BETTER SCHOOLS.
TAKE OFFICE OF SUPERINTEI,.
ENT OUT OF POLITICS SAYS
PROF. HAND.
Would Have Head of System Chosen
by u Board Elected by People
DOess't Like Political Methods.


present system as folly and in ring
Ing plea for the election of q State
board Of education which would
choose the State Superintendent of
Education and take the office out Of
politics. Prof. w. III. Hand, State High
School inspector, levels his guns on
the present plan as the plaything of
the cheap politician and the pawn Of
the demagogue.
THE cheap politician and the two
by-four statesman may be depended
upon to oppose any such plan on the
specious plea that it would be undem-
ocratic. Should such a plan be adopt
ed they and their kind would have
one fewer pawns in their little politi-
cal game in election years. Such a
plan would emphasize fitness for the
Office instead Of stump buncombe AMI
campaign bargaining--the hope and
glory OF the cheap politician and
demagogue." is one Of the flashes
from Prof. Hands withering fire on
the present educational system Of
South Carolina.
Says Mr.. Hand: considering the
amount OF capital invested, the mag
nitude Of the undertaking and the
import Of the results, education Is by
far the biggest business of the modern
State. Year by year the capital Is In.
creasing and the business Is growing
Year by year the need Of trained lead
ership Is emphasized. At present there
iB admittedly too little efficiency in our
school work. financially or profession
ally speaking. School finances are di-
-ected largely by men Of no demon
s:rative financial acumen or training
and the organization and administra-
ton Of schools are often directed by
men OF no professional equipment.
No State can hope to have good
schools until 1t has good school sys-
tenn. No good system can be had. un-
less 1t Is uninterruptedly presided ov-
er by a competent head. by a man with
q national outlook and Of approved
executive force. He must be q seer, q
builder and a leader. In an age when
big business Is on the constant watch
for just such men 1t Is nothing less
than childish to hope to secure and to
retain the services Of men Of demon
strated ability to direct the education
o. a State for the beggarly salary now
paid by this State to it's superintend- :
ent OF education. Hundreds of people
honestly believe his salary ample and
liberal. Are thinking men willing to
permit such narrow notions to pre-
vail? 1t is but commonplace to say
that there are many citizens ready to
take the superintendency at the pres
ent salary. There are doubtless not q
few willing to take it at half that sal.
ary. but does the state desire such
meu at any salary? Say what we
please. the State is in the open mar
ket for competent men to fill its Of
fices; the State must compete with
other positions of responsibility and
remuneration,
What State. determined to have a
good. permanent school system. can
afford to depend upon a political pri-
mary to get and to keep competent
man at the head of this system? What
American State has dono so for any
length Of time? AS a matter OF plain
fact. at the biennial state elections Of
this State, what per cent Of the total
voters manifest any Intelligent con-
Germ as to who Is 10 be elected SUI
perinteadent OF education? 1t is safe
to say that fewer than one-half care.
BY the time the average voter has CIV
en- attention to his favorite candidate
for ynycrhnr ona fnr ,;.,,topo.t .rn,