The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-01
County supsrintendents' Duties.

HpitOhS NLAhIOh' noticc tnAt our Leg
islature has proposed some changes in our
present Public School Laws, and, no doubt,
come very wise ones; but IT seems to me
that they have so far missed the keynote,
which, IL once touched up, will prove Of
inestimable importance 10 the school inter
ests Of the State. refer to increasing the
duties Of County Superintendents.
In all the States, where public educationi
is made most practicable, and the people,
re fully aroused as to the needs in this di.
rection, the Superintendent are "Superin.
tendents" in the full sense and meaning oil
he term. They have semi-annual, quarter
~. or monthly meetings OF the teachers,
Ehere discipline, modes OF teaching, and
questions of general interest are discussed
and adopted a. the sense of, and for the
government of schools. Superintendent
re required TO visit and inspect tho
schools, making the teachers in a larg,
measure responsible 10 them, and arousinc
tho patrons to more complete sense Of
their duty.
The necessity for such n step in Missis
4ippi, is apparent, when the looseness oil
our system Of school management is seen
and comprehended. The County Superin.
tendent Is a mere clerk and in no
sense q head or manager. Members
Of the Board OF Supervisors, even when
| capable, arc not paid 10 look in
TO the workings OF tho various
schools Of their respective Districts and II
Is surprising 10 see how little supervisor
knows OF his schools. And how much do
the Superintendent know How many
know any thing Of the geographical posi-
| lion Of their schools! How many know
any thing of the studies TAUGHT and how
taught--whether the methods are abreast
the progress, and constantly increasing
wants Of the age, or bnck into the ruts OF
hfty years ago: How many teachers need
the encouragement and influence OF Su-
perintendcst TO give them courage in inau-
gurating new methods, and unfolding new
aelds OF thought. To do this successfully,
the cooperation OF the best Superintendent
and teachers in the State, must be brought
about
The writer OF these lines has attended
the town and county public schools, both as
pupil and as teacher, and has consequently
mad abundance Of opportunity for observa-
zion. He IL satisfied Of one prominent fact,
that money is being expended without such
m improvement as might reasonably be
expected were the labors of all brought in
TO closer union and dependence. Trus-
tees are required by law to visit schools at
east once n month. This dnty is not per.
formed once in five years, on an average.
Consequently the teacher is not response
ole TO the trustees; and neither is he TO the
| superintendent. He is an isolated organ
am. perpetuating his existence by prize
cards and chewing gum. Granting that he
has been examined and knows what to
teach and how to teach, has the average
teacher courage and energy enough to do
TINS with the double risk OF mourning the
odium of his pupils, and Of not being APP
preciated by his patrons? In the face of
the fact That children do not thirst for the
rigors of discipline, and readily explore
new fields of thought, it ia apparent that
the teacher must have the sympathy and
encouragement Of the community and pa
irons. And even with these, to upturn the
deep-seated roots of ignorance we need &C.
tive, working, thorough business, and COM
potent County Superintendent to labor in
dustriously with aud among our country
schools
The directors to this proposition re-
move the enforcement between teachers and
Superintendent, and have the latter 10 visit
aud inspect the schools, their workings, dis
cipline. e.c,--will, and do, doubtless raise the
cry that this will necessitate raising the sal
aries of superintendent. This question
may readily DO answered by saying that the
law of supply and demand must govern in
this as in all cases of work done and price
paid. Our high schools and colleges are
paying competent educators from twelve TO
twenty five hundred dollars for sach session
of nine months. This gives them pleasant
and agreeable work. Can they be expected
to assume the duties of County Superin-
tendent for sums from any where between
sixty and two hundred and fifty dollars?
The decrease Of salaries has caused ineon.-
petent men TO assume the duties of the po-
sidon. Even when we are so fortunate Is
to have the service of q good man, he c. n
afford to use the Office only as "side-show,
supplemental TO his chief occupation.
My county, for instance, paid in 1883,
$4,000 Tor public school purposes, $780,
90 being for salary of Superintendent.
Would 1t not be better to take $4,000 of
this aggregate amount and add to the Su-
perintendents salary, and have him con-
stantly laboring among the people of his
county in the interests of educationy
think that careful review and consid-
Grafton of % Public School Laws, the
practical application of the same, and the
amounts paid out under them, will reveal
the fact that the chief defects are not in
the laws themselves but in their mode of
application. UrIIIrY