Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-10

PALISADES, February s, 1871

EprroRs APPEAL: / have read with
great pleasure your article in reference
to Senator Stones bill in regard 10 Su-
perintendents of Public Schools having
first grade certificate of competency.
| | firmly believe. and in fact know. that
no bill will appear before the present
Legislature of greater Importance From
| the time Nevada was declared State,
and the office of County Superintendent
was created, not one in ten who have
been elected to this important Office, have
been qualified, or could have obtained
primary certificate before competent
Board. The major part Of Superintend-
euts have made it complete sinecure.
The consequences are apparent to every
lover of public schools. True, in some
of the large towns competent men have
been elected irrespective of party. In
country towns any one could be elected
if he belonged to the strong party. The
consequences are that competent teach
ers are classified with pretenders. and
our country schools have suffered the
consequences. A County Superintend-
ent must be prepared to fill the office
and perform the incumbent duties; he
must have learning and ability. If not,
he should go into some other business.
than set himself up as an instructor IN
business he knows nothing about.
Some men are always looking for noto-
rie;y, and care not how they obtain it,
if their wishes are only accomplished.
Three fourths of our County Superin-
.endents of schools are of this class.
They want Office to bring them before
the public and, as finale. are willing to
take the office for notoriety. A County
Superintendent is nothing more or less
than the head teacher of all the schools
of his county. Teachers and all school
officers look to him for instructions IN
regard to schools. Then, in the name OF
| humanity, how can teachers and officers
| obtain the requisite information about
their schools when the Superintendent
knows no more about schools than he
does about the Lunarians. 1t was said
| in the APPEAL that eff the fountain is
impure the stream must be of the same
nature" We all know, as good citizens,
that the future of our young State de-
ponds upon the education of the rising
generation. We have the nucleus to
have in time public schools equal to any
State. To bring about this purpose
each county must have competent Su-
perintendents. To accomplish this end
know of no better way than to have
Senator Stones bill become law.
Again, the whole Nevada school law
should be remodeled. Our present Leg.
islature should give the school law their
undivided attention and not let it pass
over, as has been done by former Lesis-
latures. First-County Commissioners
should not have the appointment Of
School Trustees to fill vacancies. 1t
works great inconvenience, for the rea-
son that no vacancy can be filled until
at the regular monthly meeting. The
old law, making it the duty of the Su-
perintendent. was altogether preferable.
Secondly Every School Marshal should
furnish copy of his report to the State
Superintendent If the State Superin-
tendent found the census did not CORE
spond to the County Superintendent
report, in that event the report should
be thrown out. l know that not one
district in ten has been reported cor
rectly in our country school districts.
Thirdly-The present school law makes
it binding upon the Superintendent to
visit every and each school in his county
at least once q year. l venture to say
that this duty has been sadly neglected.
Each Superintendent should have vouch-
ers from each District Trustee certifying
that he has performed this duty. These
vouchers SuOulu NC cA0AAACu W suO
Commissioners. II, upon examination,
the Superintendent is found delinquent,
the Board should deduct from his salary
accordingly. Fourthly-The salary of
the Superintendent of each county should
be fixed and expressed in the school law.
and not left to the option of Commits
sioners. who now say that Superin-
tendent should not have any greater sal
airy than Commissioner; when, in fact,
if Superintendent performs his duty be
has ten times the work. In many coun-
ties the compensation does not pay the
travelling expenses. Then, to have COM
petent Superintendent, they should hold
first class certificates and be allowed sal
aries sufficient to pay all expenses. 1t
is evident that no man qualified to take
this important office is going to accept
it and be out and injured in his pocket.
Fifthly-E Every Superintendent should
reside at the county seat. In some coun-