The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-09-02
ORGANIZATION OF
RURAL SCHOOLS
Short Tenure OF Teachers an Evil to
be Avoided. Necessity OF Stability.

TcachcrS)
While variety may be the spice Of
| life, there is such u thing as too much
spice for the good Of the digestion.
! \ continuous state OF change or rcvo-
| luton is not conducive to a high de-
gree OF efficiency whether in govern
mcnt or in educational institutions.
The most striking difference be-
tween higher institutions of learning
| and city school systems on the one
hand and our rural schools on the
other is the instability which charac-
tcrizcs everything connected with the
country schools. The university pres
dcnt is chosen after due dclibcration
by a stable board Of trustees and IS
| given Il large freedom in formulating
policies of development which his
tenure Of position gives him time and
opportunity to execute. The state
superintendent OF education, on the
| other hand, is usually subject to the
contingencies of party politics and
has little opportunity to make com
prchcnsivc plans or to execute dclib-
cratcly chosen policies for the dcvcl-
opmcnt OF tho common school system.
The city superintendent is elected by
Il stable board responsible to the peo-
pie and not limited in their choice by
residence or citizenship The city
superintendent holds his position
through term of years and is free
to may out an educational program
Which he may hope to consummate.
The county Superintendent IS elected
by popular vote. The field from which
men can be selected is too limited and
the term of office too short to give
promise Of a program Of progress.
The professor in the college or the
university and the principal and teach
or in the city schools hold their posi-
tons year after year and develop
through experience special ability in
their particular fields. The teacher in
the country school is selected for the
term Of six or eight months and is OK
pcctcd to Change positions at the end
Of the yCar.
The administration Of the country
schools OF the future will De vested
in the state board Of education. chosen
hy the people in accordance With the
constitutions and customs OF the va
riouS states. This board Of education
viii select tho state superintendent
without limitation as 10 residence. as
the university board of trustees now
selects the president OF the univcrsity
He Will be the executive officer OF the
board and will be given large meas
urc OF freedom in executing the poll
cicS adopted by the board. In the ad-
minis,raton and supervision Of the
state school system he will be assist
ed by other experts chosen by the
state board OF education.
The county school system will be
administered by county board of cd
ucation, also selected by the people.
This county board will elect county
superintendent OF schools just as the
city board now elects the city super
intcndcnt. The board will not be linn
tied in It's choice OF the county, but
viii be free to hunt everywhere for
the man best fitted for the work. The
county superintendent will be the
secretary and executive officer of the
county board and will be assisted by
such special supervisors as are neces-
Sary to the adequate supervision Of