The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-20
A Modern School System.
WILLIAM Il. ELEMENTARY pUp.r
, SCHOOLS. SUGGESTS NEW ORGANIZATION OF STATE AND
'o'Nfa DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION - POLICY OUTLINED
WILL MAKE HE BELIEVES, STABILITY GROWTH AND Er
~ "

Country Schools-This officer has also
Deen made possible in South Carolina
and number of other Southern
states through friendly outside agen-
cies. The state must eventually pro-
vide for this service.
"A state Supervisor Of Negro
Schools-If the amount OF money
spent annually for negro elementary
schools in South Carolina is to be
spent intelligently and productivity,
such an officer is necessary. The
white people of south Carolina have
in their hands the administration and
supervision of the negro common
schools. We have it in our power to
neglect these schools and allow the
money spent for their maintenance to
be largely wasted, or We may, through
proper supervision, make them con-
tribute to better race relations and to
increased productive power on the
part of three-fifths Of our population.
We place in the hands of the untrain-
ed negro teachers of the State
course Of study and text books suited
to the longer term white schools and
we expect these teachers, many of
them ignorant, to adapt this course
and these textbooks to the needs OF
an immature race whose best inter-
ests demand instruction in agricul-
ture. manual training, cooking, sew
ing, hygiene and the essentials OF the
elementary school.
Agriculture.
"A State Director of Elementary
Agricultural Education-This officer
should direct the corn club work of
the boys and the school gardening
and experimental work. Through him
the United States government, Glenn
son college and the State department
of education should work Jointly for
elementary agricultural education in
the common school. 1t is impossible
for any one Of these agencies without
the third to achieve the best results
In order to reach the boys, the school
system is the agency through which
the other two must work
"A State Director OF Homemaking
Activities for the Girls--In this Of
fcer the work Of the United States
government, Winthrop college and
the State department of education
must be coordinated. The other two
agencies must work through the State
and county machinery. the schools and
the teachers in order to be effective.
"A State board of examiners consist
ing OF three memberships board
should prepare all questions for
teachers examinations and should
grade all papers and issue thereon
certificates valid for the whole State.
THE secretary of the board should
keep roster of the qualified teach
ers OF the State and should consti-
tute noncommercial medium
through which county superintend-
ents and trustees might secure com
petent teachers.
"One member of the board should
serve as school building inspector for
the inspection of school buildings to
which the State has contributed.
THE third should act as school
auditor and through an annual in
spection of the county superintendent
books should insure uniform school
accounts throughout the State.
These officers should be elected
by the State board of education.
This proposed organization would
give us coordination of forces and
would prevent waste and duplication
of effort.
The County Board.
THE administration OF the county
school system should be vested in
county board of education consisting
of three members, one to be elected
by the people every two years for
term of six years. This would give US
continuing board of education de-
riving its powers directly from the
people. The present county board is
appointed by the State board Of edu-
cation.
h..
cation should bc elected by the coun-
~ board of education for term Of
four years. Ills salary should he fixed
South Carolina or IA the United states
i'm which the city superintendent of