The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19


Swearingen Is In n position to know
moro about the educational needs of
the State than any other man In South
Carolina. He has given six years of
the closest study to the problem of
common school education. and has
sought. with all his great ability to
Improve tho public schools, In both
town and country. so that the oppor-
sunity Of obtaining an education may
bc placed within the reach Of every
child. Mr.. Swearingen, with the as
ststance Of Prof. Tate and Prof. Hand
and the cooperation Of the progress
save and efficient County Superintend-
ents OF Education. has brought about
. very decided Improvement. and
the public schools are now more eff
eisnt and are doing better work than
ever before. Mr.. Swearingen is
kecniy alive to every practical meas
ure for the betterment Of the schools
and the Improvement OF educational
conditions. He has left nothing un-
done that would have a tendency to
reduce illiteracy and to give each
child In the State at the least q good,
common school education. lie has
been a leader In the campaign for
popular education and his leadership,
being along practical lines, adapted
To existing conditions and the ability
OF the State. has achieved substan-
tiai results. II Statewide compulsory
education was practicable at this time
under existing fina ncial and other con-
ditions Mr.. Swtar.ngen would know
u and would be the leading advocate
OF the adoption of a law to make the
system effective. He Is a practical
man and makes the best possible use
Of every fundamentally within his
reach for tho furtherance Of hin
wcrk--Hc does not chase visionary
theories to the neglect Of solid real
ites. nor does he suggest impossible
aud impractical. schemes without
consideration OF ways and means.
Therefore. we do not find Mr.. Swear
fngen championing Statewide COM
puisory education. He knows that IL
u impossible. he has the foresight
To realize that the enactment of a
compulsory education law under pres
ent conditions would 10 the cause of
Popular education more harm than
any other one thing that could be de-
viSed to retard the development and
Improvement Of the public school sys-
TEN. Mr.. Swearingen does not advo-
cate the enactment of a Statewide
compulsory education legislation at
this time. nor has tho theory had the
approval OF Prof. Hand or Prof
Tate. ~, matter Of ordinary COM
mon sense. whose leadership In this
matter 10 II wisest to follow. that of
Prof. Cinkscalcs or that o. State SUI
perinsendent OF Education Swearin-
sen?
III Statewide compulsory educa-
ton law Is enacted every parent will
be forced. under penalty To bc hxcd
by the law. to send all Of his children.
of school age. to- school for a spcci-
Ned number OF months. Refusal or
failure to obey the law will he follow
ed by arrest. trial and. upon convic-
uon. the payment Of a flne or inn
prisonment. In the communities I'm
which the law has popular approval
and the united support Of a pre-
dominating majority the law will be
enforced and those who refuse To send
their children to school will be ar
rested and punished as the law pro-
yides. In other communities where
popular sentiment is against the law
tand there are communities where
such antagonism will exisD the law
will be disregarded and II will he
impossible to convict those who dis
regard and violate II. What will tn,
advocates of Statewide compulsory
education do about II? We know and
our readers know what they will do
with onc accord they will resort I,
the same old threadbare cry Of tn,
oiiicc-seekcr; Let the people rule. Lei
the people manage their own loca
affairs as seems best To them" And
the Statewide compulso' education
law will fall into hopeless disrepute
and conditions In the communities In
direst need OF public schools and pop.
ular education will be worse thar
ever before. for "a possible indifference,
to school and education will no no.