University of South Carolina Libraries
MAKES IT PLAIN Stale Beard #f Edacahea Give Their Side efBeek Adeptiea. SAVING TO THE STATE Statement of the Appointive Members of the State Board of Education Concerning the Adoption of Text Books for the Schools of South Carolina, I In view of the misunderstandings and erroneous statements that have grown out of the recept; protest issued ,by State Superintendent Swearlngen in reference to tpe late adoption of text books, the undersigned appointive members of .-the State Board of Education submit to the people the following statement of the facts involved: Fitness of the Members to Judge and Select Text Books. The undersigned members of the Board have all of them been for many years intimately connected with the schools. Most of them are teachers of many years' experience of nearly every grade and every kind of school. , Special Preparation for tlie Adoption. For something over two years, they have had this adoption in view and have in consequence, been acquainting themselves with the usableness. and merits of the books in tactual use in the schools. This has been done not only by examination of the books themselves but by the questioning of teachers all over the State. For some six months prior to the adoption, books to be offered began to cone in and expert representatives of the book companies began their visits to the several members of the Board. The coming of these books and agents increased in frequency, so that for some three months .before the adoption, the members were called to spend most of their time, not given to their regular work, In the examination of books and the discussion of'them with agents. This prolonged and searching examination df text books was supplemented by informal discussions and comparisons among the members themselves while in attendance upon Board meetings in Columbia. Hence the several members entered the adoption with clearly defined views as to the relative merits and suitability of various books, Including those now in use, and had, in many cases, their minds made up on their first choice, or on the books which they would be willing to accept in place of this first choice, and with definite ideas as to the opinions of their fellow members. Consequently when the time came for adoption, the members were virtually ready to vote intelligently without the necessity of much discussion, though despite this preparation there was full discussion on all important books. The undersigned members submit, therefore, that this experience and this study of the books, it is reasonable to conclude that their individual judgment as to the merits of the books submitted deserves the same consideration, and is just as likely to be correct, as that of Mr. Swearingen, and that where a majority of them were agreed upon a particular book, It is just and rational, as well as democratic, to assume that this majority opinion was more likely correct than that of Mr. Swearingen or that of any minority which included Mr. Swearingen. The So-Called Secret Ballot. It is unthinkable that Superintendent Swearingen intended In the slightest degree to impugn or make Insinuation against the Integrity of the members of the Board, either individually or collectively. Indeed we have his assurance that he did not; yet that construction has been put upon his protest and especially upon his reference to a secret ballot. Hence wre are at a loss to understand why, when he perceived that the newspapers so construed his protest, ho did not, in justice to himself end in justice to the Board, immediately publish a disclaimer of any such intention. The .ballot, it Is due to say, was not secret In the sense that any member's vote was concealed. It la due to say, further, that not only was the method based upon the precedent, of the adoption of five years ago, hut, In the agreement to adopt the Impersonal vote, it was distinctly stated that, If in the voting any member desired to put on record anything about the vote or adoption, ho had the right to do so. In the case of most of the books, especially of the more Important ones, there were a preliminary discussion that revealed whether there was any decided dixerences of opinion among the members. Some member them put a particular book In nomination. There was yet fuller discussion, including comparisons with such other books as Individual members thought worthy of mention. An open individual vote was then taken. Thus the whole Board knew how each member voted. How the Members Voted. On only three of the books adopt#d were the undersigned members v; t divided in their final vote. These were, the basal set of Readers, the Geograples and the English books below the high school. The following voted for the Wheeler primer: Messrs Daniel. Glenn. O'Driscoll, Rembert, Thackston and Toms. In the case 01 the first and second basal Readers. Messrs. Glenn and Rembert voted for the Graded Classics of D. F. Johnson & Co. as a solid basal set. Messrs. Daniel. O'Driscoll, Rice. Thackston and Toms voted for the Wheeler first and second Readers, as adopted. In the case of the Geographies, the final vote stood for Maury, Messrs. Daniel, O'Driscoll, Thackson, and Toms; for Frye, Messrs. Glenn, Rembert ana Rice. In the case of the Grammars the following voted for Kinard and Withers books: Messrs. Gleinn, O'Driscoll, Rembert, Rice and Thackston. The following voted against these books: Messrs. Daniel and Toms. In each such instance, however, those who opposed the books finally adopted cheerfully accepted and approved the verdict of the majority. In the final vote on all other books adopted the undersigned members voted alike. Change of Text Books. In reference to the change of text books, it must be remembered that the law itself anticipates the necessity for change in providing for a periodic adoption. The object, moreover in inviting bids is to seoure not the cheapest books, but the best books at the lowest prices. The Board showed its recognition of this principle as .a primary end in the fact that, at its first meeting and frequently in the course of the adoption, it was repeated with emphasis that the first duty was to get the best books irrespective of reasonable differences in price. One of the most dangerous doctrines implied in Mr. Swearingen' protest is that which tends to establish the principle that books shouid not be changed and that cheapness is the chief object. No man's child should be compelled to use inferior text books even ounh hAnVa wrrn f nrntf?*?d I livyii^ii ou vu ?y v/ v/ .. v. ^ ...... free of cost. Time once lost by the child through poor books, is never recovered and the damage done is irreparable. People living in the country, are, as >a rule, not in position to keep up with the advance in text book improvements. These advances are on a par with, or ahead of, Improvements, along other lines; and books that were relatively good four or five years ago may be relatively poor today. Surely the country children are entitled to as good books as the town children are. This advantage the Board was fully determined they should have, without regard to criticism. Increase in Prices. Most of those who have made comparisons between particular books of the old and the new adoption have fallen into serious and misleading error. Primer and reader.?In the case of the Primer, ialthough the one adopted costs 13 cents more than the old one, It contains 6,700 words or reading matter, whereas the old Primer, pasteboard bound, cheaply made, poorly illustrated, gave only 110 words of reading matter for one cent, while the New Primer, cloth ? j />.. li.. illnafpot. DO U II (I, 111 11^ emu wxycL u 111 u 11 r iuuui/kuv ed, gives 225 words of reading matter for one cent. The judgment of the school world upon this new book may bo inferred from the fact that it has been adopted in eleven States. So, also, are the Readers adopted superior to those discarded. Reading is the most important subject taught in the school, because the child's progress in all other studies depends upon his ability to read. That series of Readers which enables the child to gain this power in the shortest possible time, is in the end the best and cheapest. Such a series undersigned members of the board claim to have adopted. Geographies.?In the comparison between the old and the adopted Primary Geographies, the following is the fact: The book thrown out was confessedly unsuitodlyjrdsiteirti?pn confessedly unsuitable and was not supported by a single member of the Hoard. The Hoard was finally limited to a choice between the New Primary Frye at 4 0 cents and the new Primary Maury at 4 5 cents, a difference of five cents and not of 12 cents, as alleged. Physiologies?It is equally unfair and misleading to compare the cost of the three book series of Physiologies adopted with the two book series discarded. The third and added book is to be used as an elective science in one of the high school classes, and was adopted in response to the most marked movement of the day?the call for the education of ith Iflws and nre l ii U j/\;u in tivw. v.. 4 servation. Tn the two lower books, those adopted are ro far ahead of the old books that there Is no comparison. The Primer of Sanitation alone if placed in the home of every man | in Soubh Carolina and read and even partly followed would save In one year more money than this adoption 'will cost. , i Arithmetics?The comparison between the old and the new Arithmetics is an instance of the glaring injustice done to the Board. The following is the statement given: Cost of old arithmetic, elementary 22 Cost of old arithmetic, advanced 40 Total #-# ? ?621 Cost of new arithmetic, elementary 32 Cost of new arithmetic, inter mediate * 36 Cost of new arithmetic, advanced 41 Total > 11 Making the apparent Increase on arithmetics 47 cent*. As a matter of fact, the New Advanced Arithmetic quoted at 41 cents in the second IJtt above, was on the old list and Is a re-adopted book. The proper comparison should be: Cost of old Wenthworth arithmetic, elementary 22 Cost of old Wentworth arithtic, advanced 40 Cost of old Milne arithmetic advanced 41 Total $1.03 Cost of new Milne arithmetic, -1 i o o eienieiiuir.v u Cost of new Milne arithmetic, Intermediate 3G Cost of readopted arithmetic, advanced 41 Total $1.09 This makes the increased price only six cents. A change In the two lower Arithmetics was considered advisable, since in the judgment of the Doard they were out of date. Such being the case, the adoption or the Milne was logical, inasmuch as the advanced Milne was already on the list and the whole series was already widely used in the independent schools of the State. Saving to the State. Those who have commented on the cost of the adoption have overlooked the positive fact that this Board has secured what is confessedly the best contract ever obtained from the publishers in this country. For we maintain that the credit for this contract is due to no one man, but that the contract was the product of the combined judgment of the whole Board and was unanimously adopted by it. By this contract, for the first time in the history of book adoptions, "anv old book" in the hand of the child has been given a definite money value and will be taken in exchange for any book of a lower or higher grade in the same series. By the same contract, too, the length of time allowed for exchange has been increased 25 per cent. Both the method and the saving in this exchange provision may illustrated with the Headers. By the contract the old Johnson Primer, which, when new, cost the children 12 cents, has now an exchange value of 15 cents. That is to say, an old Johnson Primer and 10 cents will buy a new Wheeler Primer, the retail contract price of which is 25 cents. Or the same Primer and 10 cents will buy a new Wheeler First Reader, the contract price of whicn is 25 certs. In the same way, an old Primer may be used at this valuation of 15 cents to help pay for any reader, first, second, third, fourth, or fifth; whereas, in the past a Primer could be exchanged only for a Primer. Further, an old first reader, which cost 20 cents when new, has by contract been given a money value of 15 cents and may bo used to help pay for a Primer or for any Reader. In the o?se of the Geographies, the old Primary Geography, which was discarded by the Board, and which lvimn now ss cents, has bv con VV/OW T? 11 V?? ??V .. , ^ tract been given an exchange value of 23 cents, being only 10 cents less than it cost when new. That is to say, an old primary geography and 2 2 cent swill pay for the new book adopted. Or the old Primary Geography and 65 cents will pay for the new Advanced Geography. So, too, the old Advanced Geography and 22 cents will buy the new Primary Geography. Could any one deny that money has been saved to the State Cost to the State. . It has been claimed that the Board by its action wantonly destroyed property values estimated at $500,000. This sum is just a few thousand less than the cost of all the school books bought in South Carolina during the years 1906-191 1. How preposterous this claim is will appear from the following: , It assumes that all these books, oven those bought five years ago, are still in usable form in the hands of the children and are now worth what they cost when new. It assumes also that if all the old books had been readopted, the children of the State would not have had to buy any new books during the coming five years. It forgets that each book now in the hands of the child has not only paid its price in use, Jkilt Is by contract I given an added definite value, approximately fifty per cent, of its orig inal cost. The following analysis will show that the apparent loss to the State would in reality be only about $16,000 a year for the flve-yoar period, or only about 4 2-3 cents per child, instead of the alleged loss of $5 00,000. As it is claimed that the loss was entailed by the assumed eighty per cent change, then the entire value involved would be upon this eighty per cent, or upon $400,000 instead of $500,000. It is, however, generally estimated by teachers and experienced book men that the average life of a text book, especially In the lower grades, is from one to three years. On a liberal allowance then, the hooks bought during the first three years of the last adoption period are not usable in class, though ,by the contract they have been given an exchange money value. This reduces the possible loss to the books bought during the last two years, or to two-fifths of $400,000, that Is $160,000. Now, not only have these START TO FIGHT Thirty-Three filled ie Pitched Battle ia Streets efPachla. ATTACK ON THE TROOPS Some of tlic late Rebels In Mexico Force Scuie Federal Soldiers to Their Quarters Until They Were Relieved. A dispatch from Puebla, Mexico, says fighting between federals and Maderistus which began Thursday night and lasted until daylight was resumed Friday afternoon at Cerro San Juan, close to Puebla. The battle raged for three hours and is staid to have claimed more than forty in killed and wounded. A party of Maderists who fled from the bull ring Wednesday night after a stiff fight with the federals, out the interoceanic railroad at Fabrica de Matienzo, took possession of a train and proceeded to San Marlin, 25 miles to the north, to procure rifles and ammunition with the avowed intention to return and renew the attack. The fight, (according to witnesses, was provoked by three men, one of whom was said to be a son of Former Governor iMucio Martinez, who passed the bull ring where the Maderistas were quartered and fired into the place and into the barracks of the Zaragosa battalion of State troops i opposite. The fight was taken up by both sides, each thinking the other had started the trouble. The fight was bloody and among the 4 0 dead were several women and a federal lieutenant colonel, Moises Breton. The affair Is laid ,by the revolutionosts at the door of the Cientiflcos, who are said to have arranged the details in advance and calculated upon the effect of the preliminary shooting. By others the clash was said to have been provoked by an attack by a drunken revolutionists upon the penitentiary with the Intention to liberate the prisoners. At the first volley the State troops came out of their quarters but were triven back ,by the revolutionists. The latter kept up a spasmodic fire battalion of federals was ordered to their relief. The fighting ceased only when Gov. Canete appeared with a white flag and pleaded for peace. A special train with Francisco L. Madero on board arrived in the city soon after the battle began. It is alleged drunken Maderistias made an attack upon the penitentiary with dynamite bombs in an effort to release the prisoners. The Saragossa troops stationed close by opening fire. Maderistias from the bull ring attacked the federals and forced them hack into their Quarters. A scatter ins fire was kept up all night. At daybreak the Twenty-ninth battalion ciame to the rescue of the other federals and used a machine tgiun to clear the streets. At this attack the Maderistas fled, leaving a large number of dead and wounded in the streets. hooks paid their price in actual use, but they have an actual value of fifty per cent of their cost when new This reduces the alleged loss to $80,000. If this loss be distributed over a period of five years, a legitimate distribution, inasmuch as the assumed loss covered that period, this makes a so-called loss of $16,000 a year. This leaves a so-called loss of $16,000 ?a year to he distributed among the 340,000 and more children in the schools, or about four ana 2-3 cents apiece. Thus, at this slight additional expense of 4 2-3 cents, each child in the State would be supplied with new and better books. Surely this is gain and not loss. For it is a serious injustice to a child, an injustice at once physical, intellectual and aesthetic, to put into his hands an old, defaced, and filthy book in any study. We have gone into these figures on the assumption that the statement ~ ~ * /? ? v t 1 U that so i>er cent, or 1110 uooks hhtc been changed, is correct. The correctness of the statement we do not admit. Exclusive of copy books and drawing hooks, which are destroyed by use, supplementary English Classics and duplicates there were 53 books on the old list. Of this number 23 only were changed, whereas 20 were readoptod. Ten were entirely dropped from the list. Owing to the extension of the high school course, it becomes necessary to add nine new books to the list for high school use. Bet each man calculate the percentage of change for himself. The foregoing is a statement of the essential facts of the adoption, of the preliminary preparation of the members of the Board, and of the fair and rational view to take of the *\f\af fhA iinriorflicnAd an VA/O 1/ 111 f VI T VVI? A v ???a\?va m<q.. polntlve members have no apology to make either for the results of the adoption or for the methods used. They entered upon the task with only one purpose, to further the best Interest of the schools and of the children of South Carolina. They brought to bear upon this task their best experience, the unremitting toll of months, and the deepest interest and sincerity. They believe that with due allowance for the fallibility of human judgment they have succeeded. 1 ' ''^hhhbhhbhmbhmb BANK OB Conwa 4 Has largest capital and surplus of a than the combined capital and surp CAPITAL STOCK.. .. SURPLUS LIABILITIES OP STOCK SECURITY OP DEPOSIT DIRE( Robert B. Scarborough, EL L. Buck, Gtoorge J. Holiday, We offer our customers every aco will justify, and we i tOBBRT B. SCARBOROUGH, D President. We continue to pay 5 pel 9 9 9 999 | FIRST NATO fa OONWA ? CAPITAL STOCK (P SURPLUS PROFITS fo TOTAL ASSESTS a? DIRECT /|jb J. A. McDermott, John C 1ft B. G. Collins, H. L. B jlf M. Burroughs, C. P. Que Successor to toe tsaiiK 01 jl' Horry County, and a pioneer ly allied with the recent devi /|h Republic. Backed by tbe ( 'ILI United States Bonds, we are p tomerg any reasonable accomn ft H. A. SPIYEY, || Cashier. PROFESSIONAL CARDS. H. H. WOODWARD Attorney and Oouncelor At Law, CONWAY, s. c. / R. B. SCARBROUGH CONWAY, S. G. Attorney at Law. H. H. BURROUGHS Physician and Surgeon. CONWAY, 8. C. B. WOFFORD WAIT. Attorney at La/? Bank of Horry Building. CONWAY, S. C. ME WORLDS GREATEST SEWIN6 MACHINE flfjfouwnntol thera vibrating Shuttle. Rotaij ftbutUe or a Single Thread [Chain aiitcA} Sewing Machine write to M SCW HOME 8EWINQ MACHINE COMFASI Orange* Mats* Hfcapaewfof machines are made to sell rcgardtewfE fnilir* but the Wew Home is made to weaa Our guaranty never runs out. (M If aatherlied dealsr* awAftr Oft SALS SV BURROUGHS 4k OOLUN8 OB.* Conway, 8. O. Caught on Fire. A Washington dispatch says the House had an exciting scene when Representative Will's of Ohio, rushed from his desk, his clothing afire. Several members came to his aid and extinguished the flames. He was uninjured. A box of matches in his coat pocket caught fire. To the test of use, to those who know books and the needs of our schools, and to the sober seexxnd thought of the fair-minded people of their State, they leave the final verdict. D. M. O'Driscoll, 1st district. H. F. Rice, 2nd district, D. W. Daniel, 3rd district, t A. G. Rembert, 4th district, w ? % m w A %_ ja^&_a .a j. i-?yies uienn, did district. Nathan Toms, 6th district, A. J. Thackston, 7th district. ' HORRY, y. S, C. ny bank in Horry county. More lus of all other banks in the county. V I 160,000 12,60# CHOLDBRS .... 60,00# OR8 .112,600 i rroRS D. V. Richardson, W. A. Johnson, Will A. Freeman. ommodation which their accounts solicit your business. . V. Richardson, will a. fbrimab* Vioe President. Cashim r cent, on yearly deposits. ^ )NAL BANKi Y, 8. O. fib < . . . |2B,000.00 2,600.0# . 126,000.00 /fa rOR8: Jr J. Spivey, D. t. McNeill, A> uck, W. K. l^OWlB, U, ? * ittlebaum, D. A. Splvey. ar * Conway, the oldest Bank In in Eastern Carolina. Close- JXr elopment of the Independent rovernment and secured by repared to extend to our cu?- JUL aodationg. W1 B. G. COLLINS, JL President. j| WOULD BANC IHfM LYNCHING IS AVERTED BY ARRIVAL OF OFFICERS. \ Negro Man and His Wife Saved front Angry Crowd by Intervention of Cooler Heads. A special dispatch to The State* from Anderson says the lynching of a negro man and his wife in the* Neal's creek of Anderson county was; narrowly averted Tuesday by cooV heads and the prompt arrival of offl- p-> cers on the scene, H. P. McDaniels,. a wealthy farmer, reprimanded his*, negro tenant, T. C. Williams, for cut', ting down some pine saplings. The negro resented the reprimand and made an attack on Mr. McDan? iels, hitting him between the shoulder blades with a largo rock. One* of the shoulder blades was fitactured ? and his spinal column was injured. * < The news of the attack spread rapidly through the county, and wlt.itn fvir. hour a large throng had gatheredr at the McDaniels home, many coming; from a distance in automobiles. A warrant against the negro,, charging assault and battery with intent to kill, was secured from (Magistrate Martin, and Deputy Richard* Smith, arrepted the negro, who offered no resistance. Because the negro's*, wife attempted to help him by bringing out a shotgun, she was also ar~ pouf Oil i VU l/WI Imediately after the arrests were* effected Deputy Sheriff Van Martin and Constable Tom Davis arrived in an automobile, picked up the* prisoners and rushed them to thecounty jail. The mob had greatlyincreased in numbers and violence* to the negroes was expected. Col. D. A. Geer and others held the crowd * back, and prevailed upon them te- \ allow the law to take its course. Mr. McDaniels is a peaceable man and one of the best citizens In Anderson county. His condition is ser- J ious, partial paralysis having sot in. He is about 5 0 years old, and haa 5 taken ian active work in the school ! and church in his community. Great indignation over the brutal attack hiaa been expressed by the people. v ? ? ? THK GRAY AND BLUB. ? President Taft Will Follow Rull Run Retreat. When President Taft goes to Manne?n? Vji 9R mllpa amithwont' nf Washington on July 21 to speak at the joint reunion of the blue and gray armies on the .battlefield of Bull Run, he will travel over the same old turnpike that thousands of Union soldiers used 50 years ago. The President will motor down from the capital with Secrebary Hllles and Maj. A. W. Butt. Much of the ride will bo over the road used by Gen. McDow- s ell's soldiers when the tide of battlo turned against them iand they fled ' back toward Washington. ? + ? Stream of Burning Booze. Recently a large whiskey distillery was burned at Glasgow, Scotland. A remarkable spectacle was furnished \ by a stream of burning whiskey running from the flames, which consum- i ed the building, Into the Cromarty firth. ;