Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-01-09
COUNTY
PROF. j. p. GAss.


tn zee different phases in nearly every
State in the Union: First, the period
Of bitter and outspoken opposition
second, the period of Indifferent toll
erance, and third, the period of un-
willing and qualified acceptance.
In the first period, a wal of exter
mination was waged, and the very rex
istence ofsystem itself was endanger-
ed. The second was characterized
by a ready willingness to maintain
free schools for the poor. The third
period had no open and outspoken
opposition ; their necessity was every
where admitted, but the means of
carrying out the system to ultima'e
success was denied. and the schools
were crippled and rendered partially
inefficient.
That Missouri has passed through
these doubtful and inconsistent con-
ditions will be admitted by all familiar
with the history OF education in this
State and we have a sure promise of
the approach of the period of unquali-
fed and willing acceptance IN the
fact that every truly Intelligent citi-
e to-day is admitting and urging |
the necessity of q thorough and COM
plete system CT popular education.
In the last fifteen years, ON State
has made several giant strides in this
direction she has laid broad and
deep foundations for a magnificent
educational system. Her State Uni
versity, her five Normal schools, and
her closely graded and thoroughly
supervised city schools rank with the
best in the United States. But in
her ungraded or district. schools, it is
far otherwise. On account of inju-
dicious legislation. our country
schools have refrigerated more than
fifty pei cent. during the last six
years. 1t is greatly to be hoped that
this retrogression is only temporary,
and the reaction will be brought about
by our next legislature.
The present condition Of the dis
trict schools was brought about by,
and is the result of a series of, mis-
takes of the legislature of 1874.
!. They abolished the office Of
county superintendent, leaving these
schools wholly without ST perviSiOn.
2. The shortest length of term was
reduced from tour in district, and
seven in graded schools, to three
months in all.
3. 1t was left for the several dis
tricts to vote a small tax or even
none, each year for school purposes.
4. The constitutional limitation Of
forty cents on the one hundred dol
lars, has left many districts without
means to carry on a school, and rs
ever prohibited schools III several
thinly settled counties.
s.. Teachers 'Iustilutes were etfectull
ly abolished, leaving our teachers with
out the aid Of these associations, and
depriving a majority of them Of their
only hope of professional training.
While each of these mistakes was
highly detrimental to tie cause ofcd-
u~ca:ion, the first has, undoubtedly
been the most injurious to the district
schools, in; smuch as it severed at
one blow what has always and justly
been considered ''the right arm Of
every educational system. 1t is 1 re-
markable fact that the sanc year that
Missouri. abolished cOunty supervis
ion, the State Of Indiana, with TWEEN
ty years more experience, revised her
system by reinstating it. Twenty eight
States have a system of supervision
more or less efficient, and wherever
it has been given Il fair trial under IA
vorable circumstances, il has never
fallen short of giving entire satisfac-
ton. The question may be asked:
Why did it give so little satisfaction
il this State, and why was 1t abolish
ed? There were several reasons for
this in the first place the county SUI
perintendcncy under the old regime
was very far from being what il
should have been under the then eX
isting law it was but little if any in
advance of the office of county com
mississoner at present. The law did
not clearly define his duties in many
instances, and when it did, it gave
him no power to carry them into eff
feet. To illustrate it required the
Superintendent to hold at least one
Teachers Institute per year in hi>
county, but gave him no power to en-
force the attendance of the teachers.
And again, it is a well established
fact that no man can serve God and
Mammon, and owing to insufficient
salary, the Superintendent was com
PEELED To teach, for part Of the
year at least, as a means Of support
ing himself and family. When thi,
was the case he must procure 8
school. Then the schools of his county
were in session, and his duties a.
teacher prevented his visiting The
schools and exercising the function
ola Superintendent at the only tint
it was possible for him to do so. 1t wa,
owing to this fact alone, in a MAORI,
ty of counties, and notably In ours.
that the duties of the office were 5,
inetficiently administered.
1t is also true that the Superin.
esndent ought do all the law required
so las as he could understand it. yet.
as ne lad SO little power of enforcing
anything, and the results of his Labor
were SO seldom seen or appreciated
that no man could .l,row his hear
and soul into the work.
We know from experience tha
great good was accomplished, an,
what was done, was but a modicum o
what might have been done. had h,
been vested with sufficient authorit,
to have made himself felt as a powe,
IN the educational work of his counte
Al fthtssa1 gso0ateatares e supefvis
ion cen be brought about by a few
judiciors amendments to the presen
school, law, without the trouble AM
expense, necessary to frame a ney
one.
And to this end, then, and for thu
purpose of making our countr,
schools more efficient, improving
their condition, and advancing tn
of education throughout the en-
firn kfafa onnOaef 70. r., n~-o;J