The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-07-28

ASKS THAT JUSTICE
BE GIVEN FOR WORK
Explains in Detail the Reason
for the Reficiencies Noted by
Committee


Mr.. Editor:
feel that in justice to all concerned
with the rural public schools of the
county, and I'm justice to the county
Itself, / should make some explana-
tion To the public in regard to the
sweeping criticism submitted by the
committee on Education OF the Grand
Jury, at the beginning of this term of
court.
There is nothing personal in what /
shall have to say, nor do | believe
that the committee in their report in
'ehded 10 single out any particular
person 'aH the one to bear the brunt of
their criticism.
For number of years the Grand
Jury has divided itself into commit
tees to investigate the affairs OF the
county, and one of these committees
mas peei the one on education. 1t
seems that this committe. as it has
Deeh appointed from time to time, has
lelt that Its work was to Investigate
Tue rural schools, end to render there
py real assistance, where possible.
From the very fact of the existence
oil this committee, whose duty should
be the effort to improve the rural
schoois Of this county, l take II that
IL was felt that the conditions among
the rural schools were not perfect, a
tact that we all admit as being true.
NOW this committee, no matter who
composed its MEM bcrs, has the oppor-
/ a.
VINO are angagci in educational work
really feel that the present com
mittee has taken, ! shall not say
wrong. but certainly not pfacti}a
view of their duty, and that their crit
iclsm, So much Of it as is correct could
have been made much less sw
as not only to fail to give to Sumter
county two black eyes in educational
affairs, but hardly one.
The point is this: l shall try to
pr,ng IL oyour mind by several aues-
lions. Is 1t IL practical thing for the
Grand Jury to condemn by criticism =?
Us isntIt better to make the effort
to construct by criticism? Or is it
right to criticize at all, unless all the
Iacts In any particular case are
known? Though much that has been
reported by the Educational Commit
tee of the present Grand Jury is cor
rect they failed, except In few in,
stances, to get the necessary -informa-
tion, which. had II been gotten. would
not justify the sweeping criticism of
the schools of the county as a whole.
Now Let us look again at the three
questions asked above. | want The
public to consider these questions and
M answering them, i feel that the an
hwcr VIII prove that the Educational
Committee Of tho Grand Jury has
done an injustice (unntentionaliy)
not only to particular schools or dis.
uicts, but to the county az large.
/ am sure We. shall all agree that it
should not he the purpose OF the
Grand Jury to condemn by criticism.
but to try TO build up by this means.
IL such he necessary. The answer to
the last question is the most perti-
nent in this case. I again believe that
the public will agree to the answer.
and it is that criticism should be
withheld until such information AS
can he secured can be obtained. With
TINS answer before me, 1 shall again
say that ] believe the committee did
not take a practical view of their
duty, which it seems they thought was
to call spade a spade, without seek
ing any information as to why il was
SO, or as to whether 1t would be SO
always.
The public knows that many Of The
4
from their condition com paratively a
few years ago ~
The statement of the committee
that tho conditions are so bad makes
1T appear that as whole there is
nothing creditable to mention Of the
rural schools OF the county. The pa
irons OF these schools know that it is
not correct. and even the people of
the city 81 Sumter. who, i'm most cases,
nave relatives or friends from whom
they have learned of many education
al advantages that the country school
enjoy. or who, in many instances, have
visited these schools themselves and
nave seen with their own eyes. and
know that the scheols are fast MAX
Ing progress Rome was not built iif
day, neither can whole school system
be made perfect in a day, nor even
year.
In giving an answer to the third
question, | wish to say. had the Com
mittec desired information much could
nave been given from the office Of the
County superintendent Of Education
which would have shown that extra
levies have been voted, or are immed.
lately To bc voted. bonds have been
voted, but which are hard to sell at
present. and that the trustees and pa
urohS III many instances are wide
awake to improvements.
Every district In the county now
mas an extra levy for school purposes
and seven, besides the city Of Sumter
have voted bonds.
Let us now go into some details
la.