Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-12-14


ions men. Her heroism is venerated,
and her gallant exploit narrated daily
by hundreds of her descendants in the
Palmetto State.
Reform in County Government.
Superintendent be abolished, as we are salts
fed that 1t is an useless and unnecessary .ex-
pense and can be conveniently dispensed with
"WM. LAKE, HENRY NURRE, CLAUS G. Russ,
Supervisors Of Clinton county, Iowa.
"Clinton, Iowa, Oct 10th, 1877"
Among the legal duties of a county
superintendent, may next be mentioned
visitation Of schools. This is sequence
Of the examination Of teachers. When
the nature Of this work is fully under
stood; when the benefits Of school visit
alton are fully realized, it is hard to con-
ceive how any person, rational in school
matters, upon any ground, even the
score of expense, can oppose this work,
except it be one of the trio who, it ap-
pears, has learned economy as did the
founders of Rome. If the story Of the
springing up Of Rome be rewritten in af-
ter ages, by getting larger animal, and
giving her one more to take care Of, they
can have Rome on the Mississippi This
would be very economical way for the
future inhabitants to add greatly to
their past history. The way is cheap.
The materials are at hand The old sto-
ry needs but little change. The only
trouble would be to obtain wolf with
three gold teats. But the glory would
be great. Who will lead out the wolf?
But to the subject. Is the visitation
eff schools useless? It is said, and tru-
ly, that teaching is the fine art 1t re-
quires more time, labor patience, ,expe-
rience, knowledge of things, knowledge
of human nature, than any other call
ing We can see this must be so if we
stop to think that to teach is to deal
with mind in all it's connections with
matter The examination tests the ap-
plicant's scholarship, mainly. But the
law requires 'aptness to teach At
first this qualification must mainly be
taken for granted. No set of questions
on theory will fully test this. It's test
is actual work in the school ROOM A
person may be very good in theory, but
very poor in practice. 1t is the examin-
er's duty, his right, to see that all which
he certifies to is true.
More yet follows from the visitation
of schools Examinations for official
supervision are of great value in every
system of instruction, particularly in
those in which large numbers of chill
dren are to be educated, and, of course,
great number of teachers to be en-
ployed, for the following reasons: o.,
they promote uniformity of instruction;
(2), they stimulate the teacher and guide
his efforts; (3), they prevent negligence
on the part of those whose duty it is to
instruct, train and discipline the chill
dren. 1t is, thus,
not only means of supervising the
teachers work, but also Of instructing
the teachers themselves.
"The teacher may be very earnest,
but an experienced critic of his work
may be able to point out where and why
he has failed, and from larger expert
ence, to suggest improved methods. ~
Are the school buildings in proper
condition? Does the teacher love his
work? Does he employ the time to the
best advantage? Does he teach his pu-
pills in such way that they are being
disciplined to gain and use knowledge,
as we'll as merely to receive it?
''The best methods of teaching, if not
uniformly and diligently employed, will
not impress the pupils mind; and, on
the other hand, the pupils may gain
considerable knowledge Of the prescrib-
ed branches of study, but not in such a
way as to cultivate proper habits of
thought"
County snperintendents must labor,
study, and avail themselves of every
means to ascertain the best methods of
instruction, and by visiting the schools
carefully see to it that the teachers
have methods, and that these methods
are good, or an approximation thereto.
This can be tested only by visiting the
schools and examining the classes.
Regular examinations, besides ascer-
tanning the merits and qualifications OF
the teachers, afford wholesome stimu-
lus when judiciously and skillfully con-
Quoted. and afford a definite aim to-
ward which their efforts may be direct
ed" Visiting schools means much
more than driving from one schoolhouse
to another, and sitting an hour or so in
the school-room. So long as teachers
are employed as they generally are, ev,
cry one being counted one, large and
small, good bad and Indifferent, so long
will there be hard and earnest work for
superintendents. If We care for the intel
lectual gro,cth Of the young.
Had we a professional class of teach
ers; teachers trained for the work, who
would, or could, afford to devote their
whole time, talents, and energy to the
work, visitotion might then "be dispens-
ed with" But even under circum-
stances thus favorable, visitation and
the office entire, by way of unifying and
intensifying the work, would not be "an
useless and unnecessary expense.
The county superintendent is an
agent of the State superintendent, and
Of school officers. But little needs to
be said of this part of his work. He
must distribute blanks, make reports,
&c. Though constituting but an infini-
tessimal factor Of the work, | apprehend
that this duty is looked upon by the
Clinton triplet and persons of like mind,
as superintendent chief and only du-
ty, except to pleasure ride from one
school to another. This view of the
work is very low and contemplate.
Anu IL can De conveniently uiSpeho-
ed with" How?
Various plans have been proposed, the
object of these plans being to sare &C
pense. To save expense legitimately is
eminently desirable, proper and honora-
BILE. But to attempt to save expense at
the expense of our common schools is
simply mercenary
One plan is to Divide the State into a
few large districts, and let the State
superintendent appoint person to take
charge of each district. This is but a
blind and an apology for the Office, de-
signed more to protect the proposer in
his cussedness, than for the benefit of
our common schools. In the larger
counties the work is already too great
for it's strict and most effective pros ecu
ton by one person. We need more SUI
pervision instead of less, if there is to
be any change in this respect.
Another plan is to have board of ex-
aminers for each county. This plan
limits the work to the examination of
work only. This cuts off visitation and
direct school work with the people. This
has already been noticed. How many
have labored in our common schools un-
der this system? Ihave: True econo-
my in the management of public affairs
is not to be overlooked. Lawmakers