WHAT WAS DONE AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING

Several Appeal Cases Settled – A Uniform Course of Study for the Public Schools to be Prepared.

The proceedings of the annual meeting of the State Board of Education, held in the office of State Sup. of Education Mayfield on Friday, were given the press yesterday and the following taken there form will be found of interest.

At a previous meeting of the board the papers of Miss Shirley, an applicant for a State Teacher’s certificate, were referred to Prof. Merchant of Graniteville. Upon his report Supt. Mayfield stated that a certificate had been granted.

The State teachers’ certificates held by Joel Hough, of Kershaw, and W. W. Entzminger, of Richland, were upon-application renewed.

An appeal case sent up from Abbeville county was considered, and after the evidence was read and a full discussion heard the following resolution was adopted:

“Whereas, it appears to this board that the re-opening of the Campbell School in Lowndesvillfe school district, Abbeville county, would prejudice the interest of the schools already in existence and would not extend school privileges to any children not already provided for : therefore be it.

“Resolved, That the decision of the county board of examiners in the case of re-opening of the Campbell School be, and the same is, hereby reversed.”

The case of W. H. Seale, of Sumter county, against W. W. Scarborough and Samuel Brown, was taken up and considered. The action of the county board in dismissing the appeal was sustained.

An appeal case from Lexington county was also considered in detail and the following resolution in regard thereto was adopted.

“Resolved, That inasmuch as the record contained no notice of an intention to appeal, and under the rules of the State board of examiners; and inasmuch as the full time allowed for the perfection of appeals has not expired, therefore be it.

“Resolved, That if the appellants fail to perfect the appeal in the time allowed, and file the same in the office of the State Superintendent of Education, the appeal be dismissed for want of prosecution and the clerk of this board be hereby instructed to so notify the county boar of examiners for Lexington county.”

Superintendent Mayfield called attention to resolution (E) under section 1005 of the school law. He thought that it was important that the State Board should hold its meetings at least two weeks before the examination of teachers by the county boards. After investigation the following resolution, offered by Prof. Johnson, was adopted:

“Resolved, That the word “first” in the resolution (E) under section 005 be stricken out and the word “third” be substituted in lieu thereof.”

UNIFORM COURSE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The matter of adopting a uniform course of study for the common schools received considerable attention. Various opinions were expressed, one of the board holding that t6he failure in our common school work is due to the want of efficiency on the part of the teachers rather than to the absence of a prescribed course of study. After much discussion as to the advisability of adopting a uniform course of study for the public schools of the State, the following resolution was adopted.

“Inasmuch as it will require more time to decide on a course of study for the free public schools of the State than we can give the subject at this meeting,

Resolved, That the State Superintendent of Education be aurorized to draw up a course of study for the free public schools of the State to be submitted by the institute instructors this summer to the teacher for their consideration.”

COURSE FOR TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE.

After discussing teachers institutes for this year and the necessity for a regulated course of instruction to be prosecuted by the institute instructors the following resolution, offered by Professor Archer, was adopted:

“Resolved, That the State Superintendent of Education be requested to make all arrangements for conducting the institute work of this year, and to prepare the course of study and instruction therefor.