The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-18
The Sumter Schools.

MI Frank NJ. Harper, representing
the bureau of education in the inter-
est of the United States School Car
den Army, has been observing the
schools of Sumter for the past three
days, as the guest Of Supt. s. H. Ed
munds. For the past eleven years
Mr.. Harper was superintendent OF
schools at Raleigh, n. c.
| In his talk to the girls at chapel
Thursday morning and to the boys
during chapel exercises today. Mr.
Harper told Of his impression of the
Sumter schools. He found the order
in the various class rooms unusually
good; in fact, the conduct and spirit
of the children was excellent. He OBJ
served a fine professional spirit
among the teachers, a spirit OF ceur-
tesv and kindly consideration Tor
each other that speaks we'll for the
,aanasenlent Of the schools Of Sum-
ter
The separation of the boys and
Girls CT high school age hss decided
advantages, as it gives opportunity
for de2i:rg w.se'y with problems that
cannot be. dealt with in mixed
school For Is years, tie boys III
tho high school have had military
training that has laid special en-
phasis on making all the boys phys
;callv sound. For 80 minutes daily
the boys are taken to the drill
srcund and part of their time Is
given 10 setting Up exercise" such
rs every properly developed boy
reed: and should have. AS result
Of this training the boys have formed
. ha hi1 CT sitting erect and carrying
themselves properly. The military
t,r.ll h3s had a notice2l, e effect On
the discipline.
]. Is the policy of Su2t. EGrunds
TO make each teacher feel that she is
clothed with ample authority in her
own c'css room. 40 teacher ever
enters the room of another without
kn~c.lir.s. and receiving an invitation
to enter. Supt Edylunds makes 1T
rule never to peak to class untli
he has obtained the approval o. the
class room teacher Such policy
terds 10 increase the respect Of the
children fer the classroom teacher.
The personality Of the teaching
corps CT Sumter is of high order a
number Of married women who were
formerly successful teachers have beer
secured for the Sumter schools. This
is as it should he. United States Con-
missioner Claxton is making an ap-
pea! TO board, Of education 70 cali on
such teachers at this time when the
ranks of the teaching profession are
being depleted by reason OF hlsn sal
aries offered at Washington. There IS
no satisfactory reason why married
women who have been successful
teachers should be barred from
teaching.
The board of education in Sumter
is composed of men OF affairs ano
with breadth Of vision. 1t is a small
board. This is il keeping with the
recomni enGation of the national bu-
reau Of education. Small boards can
be more effective than large boards. 1t
s 9, sta ble hoard. each member being
e'ec;cd by the pcop'e for ten !ars, in
such 4 manner that one members
term expires every two years. NO
better argument is needed as to the
w.;c1om Of elect;ng q board by the
oacn!e than IS revealed in the person
rel of She SulHte~ c~hoo1 board. They !
represent Sunter's he-; CSiness men
with breadth of vision wh give their
s,lperintendent their undivided sup
port. realizing that Il superintendent
JOB IS difficult enough at bcs:-