The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-04-01
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
Observation-Disclosures HELP
NEEDED.

Our public school system, at first
simple and rudimentary, has by degrees
expanded, and become more complex.
First came the county superintendency
IN it's possibilities at least, a long step in
advance. Then we began to get our
normal schools, and the four already
established, together with the institute
work, now developed in large proper
tions, are constantly leavening the
teaching force of the State with the spir-
it of improvement. The standard of
teachers qualifications is gradually
raised, their scholarship and ability
more carefully scrutiniZed, and the GER
| tificateS issued to them made to mean
something. We are thus gradually
securing a body of trained teachers.
and the number who hold State certiR.
Gates or professional diplomas increas-
es year by year. Then we are getting
a system of high schools, aided hy the
State, which not only supplement the
common schools, but begin to serve as
direct feeders of the State University,
which itself has gone forward with
large strides and become most potent
educational factor.
For the general oversight and man
agement of this educational work, we
have two Boards of Regents and the
Department of Public instruction.
When we have one efficient and we'll
selected Board of Education, whose
Secretary shall be appointed by such
Board, and no shall be the chief edu
cational officer, we shall have prepared
the way for unifying our educational
work, and making the system more
compact.
But the point to which we would
just now call attention is the fact, that
from the increase of work incident to a
large increase of population. and to the
new features of our educational system
just noticed, the Office of the State SUI
perintendent is not provided with suffi-
cient help. The working force of the
Office consists of the Superintendent,
an assistant, and third man employ
ed and paid as the messenger, but do
ing good amount of clerical work.
But there is a further measure of
educational work connected with the
Office, and this is the monthly issue of
the Journal Of Education. This peri
odical was formerly and for many
years sustained mainly by the State, be-
ing sent to the local school officers at
the charge of the school fund income
But the pro rata of the income fell off !;
the money was thought to be more
needed by the schools, and the State
patronage was withdrawn. All at
tempts, however, to keep up an educa-
tional journal as private enterprise,
and by private patronage, proved abor-
tive, and the State Teachers Associa-
ton therefore requested the revival of
the journal by the State Superintendent
and his assistant. This was done I'M
der the con viction that it would be an
important aid in educational work, and
most useful organ of communication
between the department. as the educa-
tional center, and the extremities.
The legislature sanctioned the meas
ure, by authorizing town and district
clerks to subscribe for it, at public ex-
pense.
1t has been objected, we understand,
that The publiction of the Journal takes
up time that could otherwise be devot-
ed to the more legitimate duties Of the