Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-03-12
Correspondence of the HERALp.)
EducltIonal-A Clearing I'm.

MR.. EDITOR: At present through
out our county there are MANY miss
understandings in relation 10 the
County SUPPLEMENTARY, and con.
corning the division of the county
into two superintendent districts.
Many think that no member of the
Board of County Supervisors had
ever thought Of the division of the
county into two such districts until
they met in November last. This ia
u mistake. Several of the members
had talked with me about it long be-
fore then. Many suppose that sug-
gested the idea at their last meeting
and that the Board acted upon my
suggestion. Would that | had such
an influence; but | have not, and |
may as well acknowledge it,
The committee appointed to attend
To this matter asked me if | thought
that making the division would be IA
step in the right direction. | told
hem that | thought that / could sug-
gest better plan, which is to have
County Superintendent of Schools for
the whole county and an Assistant
County Superintent; but that |
thought that there is no provision
made in the School Law for carrying
cut this plan, and if not, and none
could be made, that did think it a
step in the right direction. also told
hem that l thought any move in this
direction wouid better be deferred one
or tho gears yet, as the subject had
not been sufficiently agitated 10 give
all the people clear understanding
If it, and hence | feared that they
might oppose it now, but that had
the subject been anything like fully
considered, | would have no fears of
any opposition. And have not even
now tor | have too much confidence
in the good sense and sound judgment
If the people, and | believe that as
s1on as the matter has been fully in.
vestigated some measure for inn
provement will be adopted
| have been charged with writing
those communications signed ''Liber-
al" | neither wrote, directed, sug-
gested nor expected them
Now, that | may be fully under.
stood, will state that id my Especial
Report" to the State Superintendent
ct Public instruction, dated August
3lst, l8Il,-l suggested the "better
plan" and stated that there ia sore
ueed of our adopting it or the plan
chosen by the County Board of Su-
pervisors and | think that | then
oppressed u hope that one or the
other of these plans, or else still
better one* than either, might be
adopted by the tall of 1873 | had
be hope whether exposed it or n OF !;
And | still entertain il. Then | ex-
oected that the report would be pub
lished in November (though it has
not yet made its appearance); ard
intended to ask you to publish it 10
fall together with many items of in.
ierest 10 my annual Report" after
which it was my intention to write
quite frequently for publication, some
articles pertaining 10 educational
matters, telling our deficiencies and
shortcomings in this respect and
what | think are the causes of them,
suggesting ways for improvement,
md giving my reasons for believing
that if these plans are carried out
Improvement will follow.
But as the report was not publish
ed, and as the County Board took
he steps il did, and as Economy"
chose to write communication in
relation TO the matter, and as Lib, r.
ii" was pleased to reply to it,
wrote nothing though, now, | see IL
- my duty 10 express my views.
81 let US consider the merits of the
County Superintendency. Does it
pay to have County Superintend-
ent7 Let Us go further back Does
u pay TO have United States Gov
eminent and President of the Unit.
ed States? Does it pay to have a
State Government ana a Governor of
he State? Does it pay To have q
County Government and a Sheriff?
Does il pay to have q Town Govern
,nent and Constable? Does il paw
go any lower, politically? To ali
{ which except the last, say, yes.
10 the last. | reply no.
Now, does it pay to have Nation.
al mmissarlal Department of Edu.
cation and United States Commits
-ioner of Education Does it pay TO
have State Supervisory Department
If Public Instruction and State
superintendent of Public Instruction?
Does it pay to have County Super
visor Department Of Public Schools
and County superintendent Of
Schools Does it pay to have
Town Supervisory Department OF
Public Schools and Town Superin-
tendent of Schools Does it pay 10
20 any lower, educationally that is,
in the supervision of public instruc-
ion? To all of which except the
last say, yes. To the last, no. So
YOU see that my answer to the aucs-
ION does it pay to have a County
superintendent" ia, yes but the
proof of it is to come; yet, come it
will, believe. Then please read at
tentively and thoughtfuIly all that
may hereafter write upon these sub
cts, and, also, what was in the Her.
MD Of February 9th, concerning
school Houses for the country"
TOR | am public servant laboriDg
for the public good and if my ideas
are erroneous Gas many of them
doubtless are), | desire that they
should be most thoroughly defeated
by the truth, and completely over
whemed. 1t is my desire to labor
Tor improvement for the mass of man.
kind. w. III HoLFoRD.
aro ts noticed in a subsequent artisle.
{ TO be continued.)