The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-14

Ol SUCH dCtS.- W UShsnytOS <oioJ' INV 1'es''s
| more Sun.
The County School Superintendent
and His Salary.
Editors Of the Dispatch
Hope you will admit to your columns 8
few lines concerning the county school SUI
perntendent and his salary. do not write
simply for the sake Of writing, which you
will believe when / tell you that never
wrote a half.dozen articles for publication in
nv life, but because ! desire to oppose 40
effort now making in the Legislature which,
whatever may be the design of its advocates,
if successful, will prove serious blow to
our school system. It is not to be supposed
that declared enemies Of this system Will
refrain from giving it thrust whenever oc-
casion offers, but it is strange that men who
profess TO the people ut home TO be its friends
should be found advocating measure which
any one upon reflection may see threatens
evil. .-..
The maximum salary which the State pays
a county superintendent Is S330. a large
number receive less. The average Tor tue
State last year was S209. Counties can, II
they choose, add as much as is received from
the State, but not more. e., ii the super
the county can add $3.50 out Of county funds,
but cannot give more than $3.50. The average
nav received from counties last year was
STAG and the total average salary from State
and county was Qess incidentaIs, which are
paid out of superintendent's private purse,)
1856.
Now, this is really very small salary, ana
vet they seek to reduce it 500.
ha m n.
ject. but few OF our legislators have any cor
rect idea as to the work required OF county
superintendent. Some think that he has
opiy few teachers to examine, and US many
receipts to sign Some call it q useless office,
and want to abolish it. Better abolish it
than till it with incompetent men, which
would be the case if the salary is put so low
that good men won't have it,
One was anxious to take 800 of OF the
superintendenps pay because 1t would save
SO. 900 to the State, which he said could be
given to the "poor children growing up IN
rags and superstition in the mountain
eorges." This saving of $4,000 seemed
quite popular, and one member seemed
much rejoiced at the idea. But just here we
would like to give him another idea, which
might make him happier still.
The average salary Of the teacher Is S30
per Notwithstanding in the State last year
5000, 900. Now just reduce this to SD per
month, and what saving there would be!
$500. 600. But it will be said that good
teachers can't be had for such q salary; very
true. but poor ones can. Nor can good su-
perintendents be had tor such small pay, but
Door ones can. And what If We do have
Door teachers and poor uperlntendents:
there would be such great saving to the
State-S300, 900 on teachers and SlO,0OO on
Superintendents
But, seriously, let Us see what is the WORK
of county superintendent. He has to or,
ganiZe schools throughout his county ana
supply them with competent teachers-a
very difficult task when teachers and money
are scarce-which must be the case 1of
some time in Virginia. He is really the
principal of all the schools in his county,
and must see to the discipline ana plan o.
instruction in each one Of them hence ne
must be qualiied to judge of teachers
work. and improve 1t when necessary. lie
has to visit these schools rs often as he can
which requires much time and travel. he
has 10 decide all appeals and complaints
which come before him, and their name Is
legion. Every one that fails TO have school
convenient blames the county superin-
tendent, and those who have schools
that don't suit them exactly, visit their
misfortune upon him. He Is held RESPONSE
Bile for everything pertaining to the school
work in his county, and is the target ior
more arrows Of annoyance than any nalf-
dozen officers in the county. He has to
write hundreds of letters and examine
hundreds Of reports. He has to furnish
plans for building school.houses, and he has
to be consulted before any can be built. he
has to supervise the disbursement OF all
school funds In his county, examine BOOKS
of district clerks and county treasurer, ana
report their condition to the superintendent
OF Public Instruction. He has TO perform
much of the work the law assigns TO trustees,
or it goes undone, and be is blamed for it. DE
has to see that the reports of treasurer and
clerks are made out promptly and correctly,
or bears the blame for their delinquency.
The county superintendent is tue soul OF
the system in his county. II he is competent
and faithful, success will follow. 1t is with
public schools as with ali other human
aft .rs-as is the management so is the result.
Experience has demonstrated that 'nteltt-
qent supervision is the vital principle or Tue
public-schoOI sys,em--its right arm. Inc
surest way to destroy it would De 10 trust IL
to incompetent hands; and this thought sup
plies much Of the advocacy for low salaries
for county superintendent. The reason thas
our people so soon laid aside their preJuaice
against the system is chiefly because OF toe
high character of the gentlemen who nave
| filled this office.
put cheap men at the bead Of any enter
prise requiring high qualifications, and mis.
management and disaster follow. ana ths'
| which WAS thought to he cheap proves cosby
| in the end.
It's SAID that some superintendent do no
do their duty. This Ia doubtless true; on
Others do; aud it is net just 10 punish tn'
| faltbtuE officer on account OF the sins OF u
delinquent. BIT must stop.
- AN Ex-CsaSry SUrsRiSTIspES'H
It now seems settled, AFTER many a0uo,
| and s,enials, that Plat did introduce y VI