The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-12-13
IHE PusLIc SCHOOL QUESTION.
Letter From Professor HaIbedI Giving
His Views.

Letter FROM Professor Halbedl GIVING
His Views.
Editor san Antonio Light.
SAN ANTONIO, December II, 1888. -
Agreeing with you 10 substance as to the
necessity Of strio, county supervision in all
matters pertaining to school, beg leave to
differ from you with reference to the election Of
County Superintendents Permit me, through
the medium Of your most vlu ,ble paper 10
bring the following thoughts Of mine to The
general notice Of the public at large.
Any system OF education. 10 order to be ef-
fectiye, must bear the following two charac-
teristics, viz: "a host Of competent teach
ers," and "a wise aud energetic supervision"
Nay, the latter alone is sufficient. since il
necessarily includes the former. For, it is a
matter, Of course, that "wise" supervision
will provide for "eompetent' teachers, to
show the true merit Of the system, or else it
is not wise. For this reason The whole ques.
ton eliminates in an "eihcient supervision"
In the following | have drawn the outlines Of
system Of education for Texas, with special
references to this all important point Of super
vision. There should be
srArE SUPERINTENDENT,
appointed by the Governor and approved by
the Senate, who should fix his residence at
Austin, and, assisted by the different District
Superinlendents, assembled for this purpose
twice year, at the State capital, sh ould de-
wise plan for uniform course Of instructions
throughout the State; he should also prepare
an annual report, based upon the quarterly
reports of the District Superintendents, and
submit the same to the Senate.
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT.
Owing to the vast expanse OF territory the
whole State should be divided into II dis.
trctS, NJ the head of each OF which is TO be
placed District Superintendent To prevent
rs much as possible, all but real schoolmen
frcm filling these most important positions,
think It safer to have these District Supern.
tendents elected 10y the Superintendents Of the
counties forming the different school districts,
day and place Of election to be fixed and made
known in time by the State Superintendent.
They should reside within their respective
districts. should employ most of their time in
visiting the counties in their trust, advise and
supervise the County Superinlendents, hold
meetings, make quarterly reports to the State
Superintendent, and assisted by their County
superintendent, conduct summer normal
schools within their districts. They are to re-
ceive all applications and communications re.
ferring to school, to be forwarded by them to
the State Superintendent.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
The school affairs Of each county to be under
the immediate control Of a County Supern.
tendent, who is to be elected by the Board Of
Commissioners OF each county. 1t is sad,
but undeniable fact, that an appeal to the
majority Of voters will give the greater adyan-
tage to demagogues over real pedagogues,
which danger is considerably lessened by in-
vesting the power Of electing a County Super
intendent with the County Commissioners.
To impress the different county officers with
the importance of supervision, let no county
be entitled to any State appropriation before
the election OF a competent County Superin-
tendent, whose duty it shall be TO send correct
monthly reports to the Board of County Com.
missioners as well as to the District Superin-
tendent; also to examine the teachers of his
county upon questions prepared by the State
Superintendent and to grant certificates OF
teaching, doing away with the so-called second
and third class certificates, which are nothing
else but "testimonium paupertatis," and,
consequently, disgrace to the whole teach
ing fraternity. As every edihce requires a
good foundation 50 does any system of edu-
cation demand good aud competent teachers;
without such the very best system will remain
inefficient But to secure such, respectable
salaries should be offered, salaries which can
favorably compare with those obtained in
other professions. Respectfully,
+. NJ. HALnEDL.