St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-29
THE BIRCH AND RULE.
The Meeting of County Superin-
tendents.-Supt. X iehie.s Address.

The annual convention of the county su-
perintendentS of schools convened in the
hall of the house of representatives last
evening, with the president. George H.
Cowing of Fergus Falls, in the chair. s..
B. Wilson of Rice county was appointed
secretary. But one-third of the county
superintendent were present. but a much
larger attendance to-day is expected. The
following superintendent responded at the
rOll-call:
George D. Goodrich. Anoka; J. W. Wright,
Litchield; V. d. Eddy, Rush City; W. A.
Fleming, Brainerd; C. l.. Greenough, Farm
| ington; A. M. Sperry, Wasioja; w. H. San
| ders, Alexandria; r. w. Richards, Blue Earth
City; John Brady, Preston; G. w. Levens,
Albert Lea; A. E. Engstrom, Can
non Falls; T. G. Hodgson, Herman;
| W. W.Wraaman, Minneapolis; Charles Booth,
Cambridge; c.. A. Birch. Willmar; NJ. P.
Kivley, Lac qui Parle; H. f. Gibbon, Ottawa;
l.. P Harrington, Hutchinson; d. P. Sack
EFT, Fairmont; P. o. Stromme, Ada: P. L..
! Lord, Rochester; George 4. Corving, Fergus
Falls; L. S. Chase, Granite Falls; H. G..
| Blake, St. Paul; S. B. Wilson, Faribault; H.
st. James; Simon Muf1ey, Monticello.
| HON. d. L. KIEHLE,
state superintendent of public instruction,
addressed the convention. He said sub
stantially:
have called this meeting as provided by
| the statutes, not with the narrow purpose of
giving you instructions il your duty or in
plans Of doing it, but rather that you may
| got away from your wC'k, and standing to-
| gcther on an eminence, take a hirds-eye view
of the field aid together consider by what
means results have been gained, and how
| more may be done in the future The county
| superintendent fills an elective Office,
and is i'll danger of becom-
ing a politician He should keep
near the people and at The Same time repre-
| sent in his plans the Intelligence experience
and character of his profession. The
| heart and confidence of the parent is more
! reliable support than the self-interest of the
politician. Some of the obstacles met with
| are: Sparse populations small schools, pov-
erty of the people, short terms and the migra-
| ton of young men and women of promise to
the cities. The position of the superintendent
is one of difficulty, but it is one of great
authority. He is the
| EDUCATIONAL AUTOCRAT
| of the county. His advice to teachers is
with authority. Teachers who merit
his esteem will be promoted they
who are inefficient will be dropped.
coming to q review of our work shall give
the first place to the vital question: what
progress are we making toward supplying ca
pable teachers? This question is in two
parts, first how are our youth to be in
| structed and trained? second, how are inca
| pable persons to be excluded and the capable
| encouraged? Provision is made for higher in
| struction in our sixty high schools, our three
| normal schools, our state university and in
| several private institutions. The increase in
the number and efficiency of these depart
| ments is full of encouragement. The high
| schools have given instruction to about 1000,
the normals to 1900 and the state
university to $50, and other institutions
| to 500, making an aggregate of
5000. Of this number a large per cent. will
enter the profession. For professional train
| ing we have our normal schools, our insti-
| tutes and such other institutes and associa-
| tons as superintendent are able and willing
to support. The general work of the insti-
| tutes is supplemented in some counties by
teachers meetings, which apply principles to
the specific work of the school room.
But in coming to the question of introduce
ing capable teachers and keeping them, we
strike the unsolved problem, and the
most comforting word is that we
are as well off as our neighbors.
| The solution turns upon our ability to secure
| for our good teachers pay that is reasonable,
promotion according to merit, and perma-
| nence in position. The agency for improve
ment is the granting of certificates. The
present plan and law are defective in theory
| and application. A new plan should recog-
tons in the higher branches should be more
thorough and not so frequently repeated. The
education of the teacher being once shown
more stress should be laid upon improvement
professionally. Some plan of promotion
should be established to encourage or retire
according to merit.
Passing to the question of improvement OF
the schools l place the first emphasis on grad
ing, done IN manner appropriate to the IT.
regular attendance and short terms of our
country schools.
Another subject of Importance is the pro
| vision OF school libraries for district schools
The youth of this country should be promptly
furnished with reading which viii cultivate
! literary taste, character and ambition by al
acquaintance with men and women of ability
| and worth. l cannot but feel that the pau
| city of books for general reading furnished
our boys and girls by the state is disgraceful
By the last department report the value Of
| school libraries in the state is but S23, 62S