The true northerner., 1873-02-14
Paw Paw, MlcmeAS, Feb. H. 1873
For Tie True Northerner.
THc sHIJeriHteRdfHcH.

THe sHPeriHteRdfHcH
What j, TO be done with the Superin-
tendency? This is one Of the questions
that are to receive attention at the
hands oi our legislators and one which
Just now seems TO occupy 10 u consider
able degree the thought Of the public
nina
No one can be found 10 declare That
the system is il al points success
Indeed there are but very few to affirm
that, Is now conducted, 1t is IN any par.
ticular what was hoped and expected OF
it at the time of Its adoption. There
are grounds Tor the charges that are
made against il of being Il heavy tax
upon the people, with but very little re.
suits in return. Ia fact, when Judged
by lis own history in this State, it may
Just rs well be confessed as little better
than failure. This being the case,
what i, to be done Shall we repeal the
law and return to the old system Of
township inspectors? If that system had
been doing It's work in Il satisfactory
manner, ana tue present one was tried
simply as ali experiment, then that
might be the proper course. But It Is
needless to say that the Old system was
more barren %. results than the present
one. That system has not improved By
dislse. aud 10 return 10 it would be TO
take a step backward in the way Of
progress. We must improve our present
system; we must remedy It's defects ;
where experience has showa il to be
faulty, there the necessary changes are
to be made
Some alterations must be made III the
management Of the system, If We are
ever to see it working harmoniously, to
the satisfaction Of the people, and for
the good of the schools. In counties
like ours, where the number 0! schools
is 50 great. if we are to have but one
man 10 do the work of the Superintend-
cnt, the general visitation of schools
must be qjaad2ned People will not,
snl should not, be convinced that paying
man from three to five dollars per day
for sauntcring into school room and
remaining couple Of hours, Is an eco.
nomjcal expenditure Of money In
order 10 visit all our schools the Super
intendent must reach two day and
who ,uproses any great good can come
from. such visits
u the first place, some means must
b. taken u secure a man ior tie place
VII Las ability and experience as bis
qualifications such q man, working
on goou pIau, the people would be
wiling q uav wei for II is not the
,@pcuse n which ;hcy now complain so
maca Is j, is the lack c. r.to', for
the expense IAcmau being secured
he >ho0id be giy-u, with proper IDi,a.
tioas some powcr over the schools Ao
sa' seiuyad- Na should have power
t. ls- 5g- and modify courses Of study
H. a5s.t to 10 direct communication
with tile cL0o,, by having either the
teacne. %, d.e;rlc, board reler, 90 him.
IL shoU.o ia yycry important particular
be tue chici authority auo tAc head of
the ,cuoo. system for the county He
ah7u.l be required - spend his time
Ia, ,.cy ID holding examinations and
conventions, Of teachers /, should be
his duty to teach tie teachers how to
teach. Byreauest OF any district board
or. on complaint OF any teacher he could
visit any school and arrange whatever
matters might need his attention Such
u man, with such authority, and such
work, would exert an influence that
could be ftlt, and would not be cousid
cred a sort of necessary evil that must
be endured On the other hand if the
visitation Of schools is to be continued,
we must have, in large counties, assist.
ant Superintendents. The worI must
be done thoroughly and well Ia any
case, the system must cost more than II
poes now. a good farm can not b
bought for the price of marsh, neither
can Efficient management of the schools
of county be secured for the wages
dancing master No danger is to be
feared as to the repeal Of the law Great.
ing the Office Of county superintendent
OF schools, but there may be danger oi
Withholding the needed reforms and i'm
proyemerts, that are 10 give US the lul
benefit that should result from the Office.
XANADU.