Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-07-29


is $500, and Of Shenandoah $3.50, and
that all contingent expenses of the
office are paid out of this salary
Whether these expenses amount to
anything reference to the account OF
the Register against the first Rocking
ham superintendent will show. Are
we to take the bare assertion of this
man, whose statements will not stand a
fair examination, when he endeayors
to convince the public that he is in
possession of information which would
enable him to suggest a few changes
by which the duties now performed by
county superintendent would be : as
well performed by district trustees
without cost? Pennsylvania and Mary
land tried this system and abandoned it;
land to day Pennsylvania employs conn
ty superintendents and pays salaries at
least double those paid in Virginia.
Hon. J. F. Wickersham, Supt. of
Pennsylvania. says whenever persons
well qualified have filled the office it
| has done great good. The work thus
dono cannot, it is believed, be SO well
accomplished by any other agency. Il
Examine the evidence of Vermont
as to the district system, which is so
strongly recommended by the Register. :,
can enumeration OF some of the pro-
minent obstacles in the way OF the
efficiency Of the schools embraces fito'
teen different items, ten of which, :at
least, if not more are evidently owing
to the prevalence Of the district sys-
tenn of supervision. among these
obstacles are insufficient supervision,
constant change of supervis ion,' poorly
qualified teachers, constant change OF
teachers, employment OF 12vo'''es
without regard to qualification, tos'
short terms, and cheap teachers in
small districts, and no schools at all in
many districts About 1000 of the
5000 schools in the State have an
average attendance of less than Is
pupils. Of these 800 average less than
10, and some less than s, pupils
Again, an examination of the system
to be found in the 'mind's eye" of the
Editor OF the Rockingham Register,
which he says is acknowledged to be
one of the most perfect in the world
will show that under his system the
amount of money distributed for each
child in the state is $l1,7O, while in
Virginia the amount distributed in
Guiding the enormous salaries of coun
ty Superintendent is less than $1.90.
Let the Editor of the Register explain
how he would adopt this more expen
sive, system without an increase of
taxes. *'--.s-..-- 80
We regret that space will not per
nit us to pursue this subject further
at present, but we will suggest to the
Editor of the Register the importance
of continuing in his labor of love.
The people should be Informed upon
all subjects which are calculated to re
lieve them of pecuniary embarrass-
ments. Let the school question be
fully discussed. If there Is any better
system by which we can dispense with
the services of county superintendent,
we are. in favor of adopting it and Of
demonstrating to the 20 states which
row employ them that the duties now
performed by them can be better done
by other agencies Let other CUES
tons in which the people are interest,"
ed by fully presented by the Editor of
the Register. We are anxious to see
his views upon reputation, state debt,
homestead and bankrupt laws and upon
every subject which effects the general
prosperity of the people. A full and
free discussion will elicit truth and may
benefit our old state.