The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-01-25

( OF Cno state superintendent > Cillce,
public school printing, rural school
supervision, mill school inspection and
a small sum per lem and expenses Of
! the state board of education. These
minor items are also important. The
administration Of state funds IN 1929
cost less than two per cent of the
amount provided Outsiders are now
contributing more for the maintc-
nance Of the state superintendent's
Office than the state itself contributes.
To cripple this Office by Withholding
necessary funds would be most un-
wise.
Il have not Tccou-itcd all Of the
items recommended for appropriation
this year, But have selected few so
as to give you an idea OF what the
increases are needed for. The total
for e!emntary ard secondary educa-
tor. as I have said, must be approx
in,ately two million dollars, if the pro-
gram authorized by law IS to be car
ried forward: as It unqaestioils bly,
should be, and as ! sincerely hope It
will be. Retrogression now should BE
unthiEkable.
"a quarter Of century ago it was
thought that the constitutional three
mill tax would be sufficient. Now that
tax, though it's results have increased
with advancing assessments, supplies
only fifteen per cent Of the public
school revenue. We have grown rap
idly, my friends, and must continue
as we have started. The amount rec
commended this, year for common
schools can be raised by state tax
of four and cne-half or three-quarters
mills. Remembering the Importance
of the cause, this statement should
alarm no one. The tax would be am
ply justified by the results. Without
it, the state, and particularly the chill
dren Of the poor and but moderately
well-to-do, will suffer irreparable in
jury.
Supcrintendents Of Education
81 wish to suggest to you that the
Office of county superintendent Of ed
ucation should be put on a profes-
sional full-time basis. The education
al leadership Of the county depends
upon the personality and equipment
of the county superintendent. School
statistics are compiled by him.. Stu
dents of education, both in and out
of the state, base their conclusions
on his data. It is widely published that
South Carolina stands at the bottom
in the l;st of states in educational ef-
| fciency. This standing can scarcely
be improved until the facts are prop
erly collected and collated. This mat
ter of reputation is the least argu-
ment for the improvement of the sta
tus of the county superintendency. It
is, however, one that must appeal to
men who love the good name Of South
! Carolina. The county superintendent
should be able to- supervise intelll-
gently and direct the teaching in adj
the schools of the county, and no per-
sons should be allowed to hold this
! omce unless he or she possesses the
Qualifications necessary for the effi-
cient administration Of the office. MY
own view is that there should be g
county board of education, elected by
the electors Of the county, and that
this board should employ che county
superintendent: just as the boards do
in cur city schools. MY chief concern
is not, however, in the method Of Sc
Election, but rather in the qualifications
of the superintendent.
$50 far nave SAID nothing about
the state institutions for higher
learning, except as they are included
Under the general discussion OF edu-
cational needs. My neglect to men
ton them specifically does not imply
in the least that their value is not
recognized. They are an essential part
of the educational system. Without
them, our efforts would be incon-
piete. They anI tie common schoo.s
are mutually dependent. in the bud
ge. which ! submit to you this year,
I have cut the state colleges every
whsre I could without disrupting
their activities. I have stressed in this
ad.1sess the elementary and secondary
schools because they are the founda-
ton of our society. and without
foundation, no structure can be
erected. With the development of
common schools will come an ire
sistible demand for enlargement Of