Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-12-07

teachers-where the Boards consist of
but THREE members. Perhaps no one
would object to this mode Of examina-
ton, for one member could propose the
questions, and then by vote of all they
could adopt or reject the answers. This
method might be tess ecDenssre. Such a
theory is certainly in opposition to the
division OF labor, and would not admit
specialists in any departments of life
and labor. Persons holding such the
DRY, if they be consistent, would advise
that every county; build asylums For its
own insane. No doubt it would be less
crpcnsire to fit up room or two for the
accommodation of the afflicted, and have
the resident physician look in upon
them, than to send them off. But what
OF the poor unfortunates? No respect
able physician, however good in some,
claims to be master of all the branches
Of medicine. In great majority of
cases, were this theory to obtain, the
poor unfortunates would become the
subject of empiricism. Though it may
cost more, for the sake of humanity,
why not send them where they can re-
ceive immediate and special treatment?
Again, those holding this theory, if still
they be consistent, must reason thus:
The anatomy of the hog and the human
is much the same; the man who can
doctor our hogs and pigs is good enough
to doctor our wives and children
The following is just received
STATE OF MICHIGAN,
| Dept. OF PUB. INSTRUCTION,
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT,
IANSJNG nac I 1RrT
| Yours OF the 9th ult. is received.
With us, as with you, the Supervisors
| were the worst enemies of our County
SUPPLEMENTARY; and the workings of
the system being partly in their hands,
it is no wonder it broke down; and after
six years the law was repealed, and a
thousand town superintendent elected
in the place Of sixty. Educators, al
most without exception in this State,
favor County SUPPLEMENTARY. The
town system is very well where they get
competent and faithful men. Aye,
there the rub Some of them write
to us to send them questions, with the
answers written out; so that they can
examine teachers; others ask if they can
employ another person to examine. One
man writes, Il am elected Superintcn-
dent, but | am not competent; what
shall | do?" An honest man. An
other wrote three days since, 81 am not
fit for the Office and his letter proved
it-"'and there is not a man in the town
that is. Last year town superinten-
dent was fined, under the statute, for
making disturbance in school when
visiting it. A few days since one was
tried for assault with intent to kill; the
result was, ninety days in Jail for as
sault and battery. Of course, these are
extreme cases. Our town superintend-
ent law was passed in 1875. We might
probably have changed it last winter;
but it was thought that it would be bet
ter in the end to suffer two years more,
and in 1879 we confidently hope TO oh
tain, at least, county system for grant
ing certificates, if not of supervision.
Great abuses now are praeticed in grant
ing certificates, abuses as well as imper-
fections. For instance, a superintend-
ent gave a third grade certificate to each
Of three ladies', authorizing them to
teach, either of them, in certain dis
trict; and afterward concluding he would
Ike the school himself, revoked The
whole.
The opposition to county system
nowhere comes from men actively en-
gagged in the cause of education.
Yours, Respectfully c. B. STEBRlNs.
Dep. Supt. of Pub. Inst.
''The working of the school system
(of Michigan) is generally satisfactory,
except in regard to supervision. After
eight years trial of a County Superin-
tendency, the State, in 1875, returned to
Township Superintendency, each town
ship mot including the cities) having a
Superintendent, who examines teachers,
grants certificates and visits schools,
The present system Is not, however,
giving that satisfaction which insures
it's long continuance. 1t may also be
said that the supply of really competent
teachers is not equal to the demand; al
though a marked improvement in the
qualifications of teachers was manifest
under the county superintendency.' -
Encyclopaedia of Education.
TO form just opinion of the course
at Michigan on this question, we should
understand THO circumstances under
which the law repealed last winter came
into existence, its provisions and the
popular prejudices that they were cal
culated to awaken.
THE old plan for school supervision,
existing eight years ago in Michigan,
had certain features that were very
pleasing to persons not much interested
in popular education, and not favorable
to efficient, well-paid examiners and Wis
itors. 1t required no definite standard
of qualification in the township examin-
err He might be the most unsuitable
man in town for the position. The plan
was cheap. The inspector of schools
was paid only one dollar day, and he
was required to visit each school but
once in term. Under such manage
ment it was easy for school officers to
secure the schools for their daughters
and cousins and wives sisters. The
system was popular sovereignty in
school management gone to seed for the
pecuniary heneit of school officersr and
its cheapness in respect to teachers
wages and the inspection of schools,
made it very dear to those who value
money above learning. +"
1t might have been anticipated that
law comforting powers and providing
salaries so much greater than the old
law for township supervision at 81 a
day, would not be well received by per-
sons estimating education of little value
compared with the almighty dollar
The fact OF Significance to US in Mipna-
sofa who desire to sustain our law for
county SUPPLEMENTARY, Is, that the in
huences which led to the repeal of the
law in Michigan for county supervision
originated, not with men of experience
in the management Of schools, not with
citizens fully recognizing the principle
that able and efficient teachers are wor-
thy of liberal pay, and of public conf
dence, but rather among class of per-
sons who want cheap teachers and cheap
and loose supervision, no matter how
inferior in quality, For proof of these
statements, quote from the school re-
port of Michigan for 1873; When the
county superintendency law was passed
a revolution took place. Those who had
engaged in teaching found themselves
without vocation. Instead of little
talk with their fathers, un-
Giles or friends, they found it necessary
to appear before stranger, and, in
many instances, to write an examination
on studies that to them were all Greek.
The consequence was, that few who APP
piled, although having taught for terms,
passed, and every one that failed mater
Ia llv innraa God tho onom;oo ne +ha c,,r