Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-11-12
For the American,

MIR. EDIToR,-I observed in your last is.
sue of last week, notice from the State De-
partment, calling on the Directors to meet
in Convention at Sunbury, on Wednesday
the 10th inst, for the purpose of raising the
salary of our County Superintendent.
Being recently appointed director, had
but little knowledge of the working of
school affairs, but wishing to vote intelli-
gently at the Convention, set myself to
work to become posted on the subject, so
far as the limited means at my disposal ad-
mitted. examined the question by seek
ing proper answers for the following queries
Is the office of County Superintendent ne
cessarya
What are his expenses
Have any other counties advanced the sa-
lary2
How does the payment of the County Su-
perintendent effect our taxes
With your indulgence. Mr. Editor l will
present the result Of my inquiries. The Of
flee of County Superintendent was created
by an act of legislature in 1854, to remedy
many defects that then existed in the work.
ing of the schoo. system. The passage of
this law was earnestly advocated by our
most experienced educators who had obser
we'd its good effects in other States Former
ly teachers underwent no regular system of
examination, no barrier excluded the in
competent, no inducement invited the skill
led. Many were srlccted on mere iavOritism,
Others were empleyed because they were
willing tn srrp school during the winter
months at a lJr price
The uniformity of textbooks. the cstab-
lishment of Institution for the preparat )ry
training of teachers, the building of proper
seats and desks, ventilation. and many kin
dred subjects were entirely neglected, and
the great School System OF Pennsylvania,
the sanguine hope of Burrowes aud IL
Penrose, was fast falling into disrepuie.
But when the Office of County Superin-
terdent WAS instituted great change occur
red. A nearer relationship was established
between the State Department, and the dis
tricts of a County, the qualified teachers
displaccs the incompetent one, new induce
ments were held out for preparatory train
ing, country and district Institutes were in
troduced. Normal Schools sprung up in
many counties, aud the wurk uf teaching
assumed the character of profession.
The County Supcrinlcndency has exerted
q beneficial influence on the school system
wherever it has been instituted, After this
office had been repealed in New York, its
effects were so visible that the friends of
we look with regret upon the backward
movement of common schools since the abo-
iton of the office Of County Superintendent
and that We hereby express our desire for
the restoration Of the office
The opponents to County Superintendent
are the same as those who oppose the sys
TEN of public instruction, and may be en-.
braced under the four heads:
1st Teachers who could not undergo an
examination.
ed Those who have no children to send
to school.
3D. Those who only send to select schools.
4th Those who think, schools arc too eX-
pensive, &c.
There are about 120 schools in this coun-
ty, which require visiting three times year.
By calling on two schools day, it will re-
quIre 1870 days for visitation. 10 examine
teachers in 90 districts will take ut least 20
days more. making in all 200 days. Besides
this he has conventions, held in different
parts of the State, to attend. Putting his
travelling expenses at the low estimate OF
81 SO per day, we make the following state
ment OF A. expenses and actual income
Salary per year, $3.50 90
200 days NJ 81 80, $500
Attending Conventions, so $50 90
Net income. $500 90
At the present high rates nf living how
can he support family a, such an made
quate com prnsation2 1t only servcs to Grip
pie his useiuncss.
Have other counties advanced the salary
Some of them have, as the following state
ment will show