The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-04-10
COUNTY SCHOOL PROBLEMS.
Geo. Prince Made to the Jures Ab
VILE, Greenwood Laurens Newberry Counties.


Superintendent Of Education. 1t is
your duty to examine the records of
his office, but these may be well kept
and yet you may have very inefici-
ent superintendent of Education.
Any man of reasonable education
can keep the books required by law
to be kept in the office OF the Super
intendent of Education, but the only
way to determine the efficiency OF this
office is to go by committees into ev-
cry school district, even into every
school house in the County.
This Is one of the most important
offices that there is In any county,
and the man who fills this Office ought
to be the best teacho. in the county,
great organizer and man endowed
with great love for the magnificent
work OF educating the masses Of peo
pie The fact is he ought to be i
very eyangel Of education, going 10
and fro throughout tt,s county and,
by his eloquence and enthusiasm,
arouse the people to the great impor-
tance of educating their children
He ought to be man OF high prin-
ciple and with such love for his work
that in selecting his HCiri of Trus-
tees for the several school districts,
he will not select those men who
have the most political influence,
merely, and whose active interest
very much promoted his election, but
to select men because of their pecu-
liar fitness for the duty that they
may have to perform as Trustees Of
the several schools.
Now, Mr.. Foreman and Gentlemen
OF the Jury. when you go into any
school district first investigate and
determine the fitness OF the Trustees
selected for the position to which
they have been appointed. See what
interest they take in the schools of
their several districts and determine
whether they are living up to the
ing the duties devolved upon them
by law Mir. Foreman, it is sad to
say that in numerous school districts
in South Carolina men are daily act
ing as Trustees who are absolutely
untitled by reason OF want of suflici-
ent culture, by reason of the lack Of
high character, by reason Of the lack
Of appreciation Of the responsible
the lack of interest in their work to
properly disharge the duties of the
office Of Trustee. There are numbers
of Trustees who would not know a
nor have they the slightest conccp-
ton of how to properly go about to
secure one for their community.
There are Trustees who have accept
ed their position merely for the lit
tie honor conveyed by such an ap-
pointment, who are absolutely with
out any just conception Of the re-
sponsibiltics resting upon them and
who are absolutely devoid Of any pur-
pose to discharge the duties OF the
office. There are Trustees who have
not visited the schools in their dis
tricts once year since their appoint
ments, and who know absolutely
nothing about the quality Of the
teaching done in the several schools
in their districts, except what they
have heard from patrons. The infor-
nation derived from patrons is, for
the most part, the merest hearsay;
often, 1t is derived from the statement
OF their little children as to the con-
duct OF the teacher. These patrons
never visit the schools and have no
first hand knowledge, but are dis
posed to accept the child's estimate
of the teacher. They are silly enough
often to believe that their children
are incapable of speaking anything
hut the truth and are entirely capa-
BILE of forming a correct estimate of
the character OF the teacher and the
quality of the teachers work: the
truth is every parent, nowadays,
seems to think that his children are
little angels who are almost sprouting
wings, ready to be waited away to
the wells of light and love- This is
a fearful mistake. Our children have