The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-26
DODGING MAIN ISSUE.

The spartanburg Herald. In on ef-
Tort to reply To our expose of the
folly Of attempting to force state wide
compulsory education upon South
Carolina. without permitting the peo-
pie Of the several communities to
have voice In the matter, lodges the
main issue. as oil the Statewide ad-
vocates have done from the inception
OF the campaign. The editor Of the
Item In probably In closer touch with
the public school system and has bet
ter nrst hand knowledge of the needs
Of the schools than the srartanburg
Herald. and IL Is as q sincere friend
OF popular education and a long time
worker for the upbuilding of the pub
lie schools. to the end that every child
might have a chance to obtain an ed
ucation. that We have opposed the
half-baked theory Of a Statewide
compulsory school attendance law for
South Carolina.
South Carolina has rot the schools
to accommodate all the children who
should be In school. and until the
schools are provided II Is foolish. II
not piece or downright deception, to
talk OF Statewide compulsory school
attendance. II compulsory education
Is certain to prove as popular in
every nook and corner Of the State, q
the spartanbuhs Herald would ha, o
Its readers believe. why does it fear
the local option plan? The editor of
The Item IL Ahstter friend of educa-
ton than the Spartanburg Herald. and
we have opposed the Statewide
theory. which Ia being used as a cam
paisn issue. because Of the injury
that is being done the cause Of educa-
ton.
IL Prof. Clinkscales should succeed
In making a Statewide compulsory
education a political issue, In which
direction he is heading with all the,
blind enthusiasm Of well-meaning
visionary. tho cause of education will
be injured and the steady improve
ment Of the public school system that
mas been so marked I'm recent years
Will be halted. 1t is the great i'm
provement In the public schools and
the growing interest in popular edu-
cation during the past decade that
suggested the idea that a Statewide
compulsory law would prove a popu-
lar campaign issue. We are making
progress and have been getting nearer
and nearer each year to universal ed
ucation. but we have not the schools
to accommodate the children and II
In nothing less than folly to talk of
forcing every child to attend school
until the schools are provided to re-
ceive them.
Many communities are ready for q
compulsory school attendance law
there are several such In Sumter coun-
y-and there may be some counties
In the state ready for 1t. Under the
local option system the plan could be
put into effect and It's value demon
strated. The extension to all other
communities and counties would fol-
low.
Tho spa-tanburg Herald is either
misleading itself. or IL deliberately
trying TO mislead Its readers. when 1t
alleges that We regard compulsory
education as IAN oppressive and
diabolic outrage" Compulsory school
attendance. when there are facilities
for accommodating the children, IL
both right and necessary. but the po-
iitical propaganda for Statewide
compulsory education Is arrant non
sense. IL nothing more. under exist
ing conditions In n very large part of
South Carolina.
We have been n friend Of Richard
!. Manning for twenty-five years. bu,
have not always supported him I'm his
political ambitions and have not al
ways agreed with him In his views
We have never been follower OF any
man and never expect To be. and the
assumption by the Spartanburg Her
alb that our views on the Statewide
compulsory education folly are hatch
ed up to- further Mr.. Manning's po
litical fortunes. is unwarranted an,
gratuitous.