The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-04-23
STATE SUPT. SWEARINGEN
SAYS SALARY INADEQUATE
TIE Record.

In commenting on the language
used by Prof. S. J. Derrick, of New
berry college, in declining appoint
ment as county superintendent Of ed
ucation, J. E. Swearingen, State super
intendent of education, is emphatic
in his language in commenting on the
low salaries received by county super
intendents OF education. IF pro-
fessor in a State institution is paid
$1,000 a year to lecture IS hours a
week or three hours day for term
of nine months, certainly the county
Superintendent O. q progressive coun-
ty like Newberry should be paid no
! ,ess,' says the State superintendent.
In declining to accept the appoint
ment, Prof. Derrick, in letter TO Mr..
Swearingen, says i'll part:
81 regard tbs position as one Of
very high Importance, offering oppcr-
tunity.of real service to the people.
4 think the office of county super
intendent Of education is mans job
and that the incumbent should give
to its duties all mis- time and certainly
his undivided interest, and unless
! felt t at | could do this l would be
unwilling to accept tie position, for
to accept it with the intention of CIV
ing to its duties only part of my
time would be unfair to the schools
Of the county. Therefore, l beg leave
respectfully to decline the position.
Under the law any vacancy in tne
Office of county superintendent is to
be filled by appointment of the State
board of education for the unexpired
term. Superintendent Geo, D. Brown
resigned to accept tie position of State
supervisor of mill schools. He will
enter upon his new duties July 1.
! At its meeting on April 6, the State
board Of education tried to select his
successor to serve from July l, 1915,
Eight candidate applied for tAe po-
sition.
The State board of education is CON-
posed of nine MEMBERSHIP governor,
State superintendent of education and
one representative from eacn of the
seven congressional districts. AT the
meeting on April 6, twelve ballots re-
suited in no election for county su-
/ perintendent of Newberry, none of the
candidates receiving more than four
votes, Wien six were necessary for a
choice. Although not a candidate, the
name of Prof. Derrick was presented
and he was unanimously elected. Al
! ter a weeks consideration Prof. Der
rick refused the appointment in let
ter to Mr.. Swearingen addressed to
the State board.
| In his statement Superintendent
Swearingen says tnat the salary of the
Newberry official is fixed by tie county
legislative delegation, and tie annual
stipend provided by law is $500, which
really means $75 a month, because
the county superintendent is COM
PEELED to work II months. Mr.. Swear
ingen then details the duties devolVed
upon the county superintendent.
Continuig his statement, Mr.. Swear
ingen compares tie salary of the
county superintendent Of Newberry
with that received by fedglings just
out of college teaching school. These,
he says, receive at least $75 month,
and not few are paid 500 month
for the term of nine months. The coun-
ty superintedent has to organize TIE
school, and employ competent teach
ers, botn men and women.
The statement says that the State
board had shown it's willingness to
secure a competent man in tie selec~
ton Of Prof. Derrick, who himself said
that the county superintendency is a
mans job. The county superintendent
of Newberry will have SO white schools,
employing 1O5 teachers and enrolling
3,34O pupils, under mis- jurisdiction.
The statement further says:
/ "One member of the delegation is a
| life trustee of Clemson college. Would
he be willing to put 5000 man in
charge of that institution? Could the
board of trustees of Clemson college
secure a bookkeeper for $75 a month?
''It is time for South Carolina to
recognize the value and importance of
the county superintendent work. He
must be the educational leader and Or
ganizer of his county. He should not
be required or expected to work for
nothing. If a professor in State in
stitution is worth $4,000 year to lee
turo 12 hours a week or three hours