The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-12-14
THE LEGIsLATCRE AND THE
SCHOOLS.

Not long since, our State Legislature, il
general onslaught upon salaries, perquis
ties and sinecures, laid hands upon the Of
fee of County Superintendent of Public In
struc:ion with view to its adjustment
but the constitution would not permit ,
summary wiping out, and 30 they did ths
next best or won't thing, and made the Of
Zee as triAing. both "a to the duties n i'm
poses upon Its incumbent, and the amount
Of money it puts into his pocket, as they
we'll could.
All the labor, clerical or administrative
of the Office as the Law now stands, could
Be performed by one penon with fair ca
pacity for business, in four or Eve week.
could il be done consecutively, until I'm.
iehsd.
Four or FIVE examinations Of teachers oc-
cupving about four days each.
Receiving reports Of District Clerks, all
to be rendered about the same time.
Digesting from these reports the annual
report 10 the State Superintendent.
Making up statement for the use Of
County Treasurer OF the amount of public
school money due each district.
Laying of new districts (pretty well end
ed in this county, and making alterations
in old ones.
Holding Teachers Institute of three or
four days.
Nominally superintendent, there is real
ly no superintendeDoe required OF the in
cumbent Of this office. 1t would be no
more ridiculous 10 think of a General re-
viewing his army when hundred miles
from il, than TO expect any body to superin-
tend schools scattered all over Leavenworth
county without going outside his Office in
the Leavenuorth curt house.
III suPerintendents do not now employ
their time and Jade their bones in making
annual or semi-annual visitations of all the
schools, the sufficient excuse il, that the
Law doesn't require it of them; and in most
of the counties doesn't pay them for such
service. Officials, even in the educational
line, are aware that super service is of all
forms Of service the most thankless-it u
most rarely appreciated, seldom requitsd,
and We do not blame them when they act
accordingly.
That the school system would be greatly
benefited by thorough and competent SUI
admits of not the least doubt
and such supervision it was undoubtedly
The intent of the old school regulations to
provide. 1t didn't do it though, - all who
have taken note of our school officers, are
veil aware. Some superintendents made
DO pretence of going out among the schools.
and the most Jealous made but . pretence.
Passing an hour or so-just long enough to
get warmed up BY the old box stove-a
nasty glance at the register, and hackney
ID i've minutes address to the pupils, was |
not that kind of visitati0n the Law contem- |
plated. To get fair idea of each teach |
RS methods in general, of his capacity to |
meet the public energencies Of his position, |
Ind to give the right sort of aid and sugges- |
ions when needed, were not to be accom-
,lished during the pulling of of an over
,oat. And then the Law expected, and not |
required, that the Superin-
endent should sur up the people q thing |
Always needed) to greater educational in
crest by addreRing them suitably to that |
md, in all their several districts. That il
! duty which no superintendent even pre-
ended to do.
Now that the Legislature will soon be in
e&iOn, and the usual tinkering at the
chool laws may be looked for, I would
all attention to certainfeatures of the school |
ystem of New York As affordipg possible
lev.
There superintendent is chosen for each
legislative district, with a salary of from
hree to five hundred dollars per annum,
whose duties are analogous to those of our
jounty Superintendent under the former
equations, to-wit: To visit schools, con-
luct institutes, examine teacher, etc. 1
enture to say such a system would work
,etter in kansss-particularly in such
ounties as Leavenworh, than the one now
q operation.
1t would place the Superintendent with
n experimenting distance Of all his schools
nd their patrons.
Beng a resident of district OF compare
lively limited area, he would be much bet
er acquainted, presumably, with the situa-
ion and needs of all the people officially
elated 10 him, than one person with the
ntire scope Of county to look after.
The schools 10 be visited would not be 90
numerous as to render that part of his
lGty impracticable CT its neglect excusable.
1t would give cur county three superin-
endents whose combined salaries would be
rat little in excess of the salary we now
,ay cur one Superintendent.
The city, inasmuch as it has seperate
md independent school system of its own,
you'd not be included in the arrangement;
nd its voters would have no hand as they
'ow nave, in the choice of superintendenis
or schools in which they have not an iots
4 interest.
Whatever may be done, lie: the Legisla-
ure put an end to that absurdity. If the
'oters of the city should be allowed to take
'art in the election OF suPerintendents for
he country schools, why not the voters of
sherman, Tonganoxie and High Prairie
ownships be allowed to participate in the
hoice of superintendent for the city
chools? IA. B.
LENAPE. Kan. December IL. 1876.