The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08


first to formulate his plans to
develop what he desires TO
be carried to the people, to be diffused
among them, to have them think
about it and to have them realize that
he is their co-laborer in the work of
educating their children. Such duty
and such work requires q man of
more than ordinary ability and adj
ministrativet tact; requires as much of
a man in this department as any other
connected with the state affairs; re-
uuires much more power and discre-
ton than can be found or expected in
a mere secret Try of the board of edu-
cation" | feel very confident that the
eighteenth legislature thinks Just so
too; and the only difference of opinion
is as to how this reform or change in
our public school system can be
brought about.
II.
I think each organized county
should have, if desired,
A COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
say superintendent here for the
reason that his duty will be to super
intend, to supervise. the real work of
the teachers, to see that the system is
administered in all its provisions.
To do this he will necessarily have to
come in close contact with the people,
will have to know them and their
needs. The only objection raised to
this feature seems TO he the increased
expense.
Let us see: We cannot do away
! with the assessor OF collector of the
taxes. The collector pays over to the
treasurer. who gets one per cent
for handling. whether county
or school fund. The county of
Tarrant, in round numbers. has a
school apportionment of $4,000. On
this the treasurer gets for merely
handling -sending to Austin-one
per cent, OF S120.
The county judge (acting superin-
tendent) gets $50 on the first $1,000
and SO on each additional $1,000: so
he gets $3.50. These two receive of
the fund $3.50.
There are three examiners, who get
for each applicant examined, $500.
paid by applicant.
Now Tarrant county has ninety
school communities, which mean
ninety teachers eXamined-but for the
argument, say Seventy-tive. For this
work the examiners get 1925. Add
this to the $3.50 and we have 500.
This five hundred and five dollars is
paid to individuals not one OF whom
can he said to have any interest in the
guardianship of the 3474 children (of
the scholastic agel. beyond the mere
dollars and cents involved; paid to
men who make the instructions OF
the children side issue, and that after
all other matters have been attended to.
a superintendent who should give
all If his time and his best experience
as IN educator should be selected. and
an additional amount of money be
added to the S50o so as to make his
salary commensurate with his l8hors
and fitness for such work.
Let him receive the school money
of the county directly from the col
lector through bank IN the county,
and in turn let it be paid out to his
teachers upon their signing a simple
payroll, prepared and approved by
him, and left at the bank, or persons
authorized to pay over this money.
/ have said for commissioner of
public instruction we should have a
man able to formulate a public school
system, etc. A great deal has been
said by parties opposed to all public
school instruction about and against
the Davis system of public schools. l
do not know anything about this said
Davis system. nor do mean now to
look it up, but ii it had any more ma
chinery-any more complications, than
the present. l pity the school teachers
working under it,
l have a blank, form A." entitled
Teachers Voucher 1t is % inches
long, 81 wide, printed on both sides.
1t has seven certificates to be signed
four by the teacher, three by county
Judge and trustees. This is a monthly
voucher; and for the 1000 public schools
teachers for the four school months
to say nothing OF the blanks destroyed
and others not used-there viii be re-
quired $4,000 of this form. But this
is only one of the many forms, and
single item. To those who have
read the report of Secretary Holdings
worth this will throw light on the item
sum apportioned to pay for postage,
stationery and contingent expenses,
S4563". "Blank A" and other forms,
consecutiyely up to M" come under
bhio ouui hppOl IlOllSt$ CSS.
In 1851 this sum appOrtioned, etc"
1859 was more than per cent of the
amount paid to teachers; the amounts
paid county judges S10,676.13, county
treasurers S4965.28, and Ito cash paid
to other purposes" mot itemiZed)
S42,6l6.86, aggregating S5S,258.27.
nearly thirteen per cent, or taking all
these items. to fourteen per cent of
the amount paid all the public school
teachers for the year 1881.
There can be but one conclusion
there must be something wrong in a
system that costs for these items so
much. l have said nothing about
$4,000 paid for enumerating the
Scholastic age) children in 1881. and
which was repeated again in 1882,
costing an additional $4,000. Why
enumerate at such a cost annually,
unless it be to make "a bill of COSTS"
If we do not get "the grandesI man in
the state" for the head of this depart
ment, we should certainly
make an effort for =. sys-
tenn which will appropriate more
of the children's money to those who
are selected to instruct them and pre-
pare them for citizenship.
Let US give more to the commoneSt
of 1.-The common school teachers so
classified by his excellency ex-Gov-
ernor Roberts-and see if out of these
common ones even wecannOt get bet
ter teachers-and more of them.
Let us pass laws and amend the
constitution. leaving this whole mat
ter 10 the respective counties, and
even to the school districts. Let us
see ii the people in the counties do
not know as well what they need and
what they are willing to support as
persons afar off. ALEX. HOGG.
January 20, 1883.