The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-01-27
For the MinneSOtian.
Common Schools-County Saperiniendents.

>0~--Ns
MEssRs. EDIToRs II wish through you to
speak word to our legislators, on the subject
of our Common Schools. The foundations of
our school system are well laid the provision
made for the future interest of the schools is
liberal, and we only need now to give efficien-
cy to our system, and make every part work.
The office of Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton is an important one, but it is impossible
for any man in this office to do all that is de-
manded, or do justice to the interests confidcd
to him, without some other machinery through
which he can operate. He cannot come in per-
sonal contact with all the schools in the Terri
tory, nor can he personally satisfy himself of
the different teachers employed.
Or even if he could give personal attention
to all the schools, his salary of one hundred
dollars would not pay his travelling expenses.
There is evidently needed an organization I'M
der the Territorial Superintendent, that can
reach each individual school, and be to him as
eyes in every part of the Territory.
With the exception of one or two cities, in
choatc, we have no organizations smaller than
counties, and consequently can not have the
school arrangements of most of the Eastern
States, of committees in every township.
Now let the Legislature appoint a Superin-
tendent of Common Schools for each County.
Let it be made his duty to visit every school in
his County examine the qualifications of
teachers, and let no teachers be employed who
do not pass a satisfactory examination.
Let it be made the duty of every teacher thus
employed to make full report of his school.
the attendance, the improvement and general
personal acquaintance with each school, let the
County Superintendent make out full yearly
report TO the Territorial Superintendent, who
shall embody these reports in his annual report
to the Legislature. Let these Superintendent
have their travelling expenses paid, and be al
lowed proper remuneration for all actual SER
vices by the day. Let the Territorial Superin-
tendcnt call these County Superintendent to-
gether quarterly for consultation and advice in
promoting the best interests of education at
large.
With an arrangement something like this an
efficiency can be given to our school system
which it cannot now have. '"'..~
We need educational meetings in different
parts of the Territory, and much done to arouse
the attention of the people to this subject.
I am not aware whether the Superintendent
has yet presented the annual report to the Lee
gislature, and this article may be entirely SUI
perarogatory, but am confident that the pre-
sent Superintendent is anxious to do all that
he can to advance the best interests of our
schools. Aila 'i4.tl..i .a ....t-. .-... ...I 3D..
An amendment to our school laws, embrac-
ing some of the provisions have noticed, was
introduced into the Legislature last year, but
it failed of becoming law, through some local
influences connected with other matters, and
not through any opposition to the propositions
we surely need not be behind any of the
States, and having commenced so well in this
matter in our early growth, we should not now
fall into the back ground SCHOLIA.