The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-04-08
A SUGGESTED ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE AND COUNTY
DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION FOR ADMINS
TRATION' AND SUPERVISION OF THE RURAL SCHOOLS


pie Of South Carolina have in their
hands the administration and super
vision Of the negro common schools
We have 1t In our power to neglect
these schools, and allow the money
spent for acknowledgements be large
ly wasted, or we may, through proper
supervision, make them contribute to
better race relations, and to increased
productive power OH the part of three
fifths of our population. We place in
the hands Of the unframed 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 ignor-
text books to the needs Of an immature
race, whose best interests demand in
struction in agriculture, manual train
ing, cooking, sewing. sygicnc, and the
essentials of the elementary school
4. 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
.l,1
In order to reach the boys, the school
system is the agency through which
the other two must work.
s. \ State Director OF Homemade
ing Activities for the Girls: In this
officer the work Of the United States
Government, Winthrop College and
the state Department OF Education
must be co-ordinatcd. The o.her two
State and county machinery the
schools and the teachers, in order to
be effective.
6. A State Board Of Examiners Con-
sisting of Three Members This board
should prepare all questions for teach
crs' examinations, and should grade
all papers and issue thereon certif-
Gates valid for the whole state.
a. The s rotary OF the Board
should keep. roster Of the qualified
teachers Of the state, and should con
Stitute n non commercial medium
through which County Surcrintcnd-
tent teachers.
b. One member Of the board should
serve as school building inspector for
the inspection Of school buildings TO
which the state has contributed
c. The third should act rs school
auditor, and through an annual in
spcction OF the County Supcrintcnd-
cnts' books should insure uniform
school accounts throughout the State.
These officers should lie elected by
the state Board OF Education. This
proposed organization would give us
a ordination OF forces and would
prevent waste and duplication of effort
IV.-Thc County Board of Education.
The administration of the county
school system should be vested i'm Il
County Board Of Education, consist
ing Of three members, one to be elect
cd by the people every two years for
term OF six years. This would give
us continuing Board Of Education,
deriving its power directly from the
people. The present County Board is
appointed by the State Board OF Edu-
cation.
V.-The County Superintendent Of Ed
ucatiOn.
The County Superintendent of TIdu-
cation should be elected by the Coun-
ty Board OF Education for a term Of
four years. His salary should be fixed
by the Board There Is no city in
South Carolina. or in the United
States. in which the city supcrintcnd-
ent OF schools Is elected by popular
vote. II will be readily granted that
such a method would be highly undc-
sirahlc However, there is no reason
for clccting Il County Superintendent
by popular vote which would not be
equally valid when applied to a city
superintendent.
The election by n Board chosen by
the people would merely give the pco-
pie a sensible way of find the best
an. At present the choice OF the