The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-10
SCHOOL SUPERVISION"

points. In this, we shall consider the
questions embodied in the first paragraph
Of the aforesaid letter: viz, "Of what
particular use is the County superin-
tendency? In what respects it better
than the old system Of School Supervi-
sion?"
We reply, the County uperintendency
is better than the old town system in
the AMOUNT quality and oariety Of work
done. We expect to refer frequently to
our own work in these answers, and we
wish at the outset to say to Tax Payer
and our readers generally, that we do so
with some hesitation and without the
least particle of egotism, and only be-
cause we know what we have done, and
can give our own experiences better
than those of any one else. Having
made this statement we may be allowed
to say, and that too without fear of con-
tradiction, that double the time was given
to school visitation, examination of
teachers, institute work, &C., in Kenosha
County last year than was ever given in
the same length of time in the county by
all the town perintendents. Upwards
of two hundred days, involving travelling
and other expenses amounting to more
than . hundred dollars, and requiring
Av.a1
Such is the record of our school work
last year, During this time we made
many inquiries as to what used to be
done in "the good old days" Of the old
system One district clerk in the west
ern part of the county told Us that during
twenty three years residence in his dis
triCt, it was neger visited by a town
Superintendent, but that it had been
visited regularly by the Go. Supt. Tax
Payer is we'll aware Of the fact that town
Superlntendents were always engaged in
other business, and very seldom found
time, excepting on Rang days in summer,
or stormy clustering days in winter to
visit schools. Then they could earn a
dollar and half at school, but could do
nothing at homo. We remember dis
tinctly of teaching in those good old
days" and how, we always looked for
the Supt. when the weather was such as
to keep half the scholars from school.
As to the quality of work done, it may
not be amiss to say that it it presumed
at least one efficient man can be found
in q county, to examine teachers, hold
institutes aud direct in educational af-
fairs It is known that such a man does
not reside in every town, who can be in
duced, to accept and discharge the duties
Of the office of school supervisor. But
allowing that many excellent men, all
well qualified and experienced in teach
ing, and thoroughly up to the times in
educational work, are to be found in
every town, all anxious to hold the office
of town superintendent and all willing to
visit schools during good weather, when
the schools are full, is it not presumablt
that some one of these is better qualified
than any of the others in the county !
And would not his constant employment
in all parts of the county be better for
the remaining towns?
There is less favoritisln and more jus
tice shown under the presentsssystem.
This from the necessities of the case.
Granted that the present Co. Supt. is as
weak, partial, unjust, &c. as any Town
Supt. used to be, giving Licenses to per-
sonal friends regardless of qualifications,
withholding them from worthy teachers
because of personal enmity, assisting
friends and relatives to good positions
&c.,is it not still evident that there must
be less of this than whea there were
eight Supt's. in the county instead of one?
We assert that our schools are better
than they wero ten years ago. This is
denied by some, who are not acquainted
with the condition of affairs in all parts
of the county and state. We are panied
to do SO, but must admit that some schools
are no better, in fact they are much
poorer than they used to be. But in
eoery case of this kind, Tax payer is sure
to find the cause within the boundaries
of the school district. While this is true
in Individual cases the average is much
higher, Percentage of attendance of
school members is better Hardness has