The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-17
The county Superintendency.
Communicated.

WASHINGTON. Ind, Jan. 15.-In looking
over the bills introduced into the present
Legislature of Indiana we observed one
which provided that the County Superin.
tendent of Public Instruction should be
elected by the vote of q majority of the
people at regular election, instead of being
appointed by the Township Trustee, as at
present is the case. The present law. as it
now stands, was enacted in March, 1873, and
has, with but few exceptions, given
abstraction to the public. The prac-
teal enforcement OF Law for .
priod OF twelve years without giving
but little dissatisfaction to the people is
certainly incontrovsltibls evidence of its ex-
pediency. Under this method of election or
appointment the office has not become
strictly partisan one. Saperintendents
have, generally, been appointed on account
of their efficiency rather than their political
standing. Counties can be cited to where
msjcrity OF the trustees were Democrats, and
in their selection of Superintendent Re-
publican was chosen, and where q majority
were Republicans and Democrat selected.
Thus we see that under this system in the
great majority of The counties of the State
the applicant who is best fitted for the
place is elected, and not on account
OF bic party standing. Agsin, the
appoiD tment takes place at time
OF year when there is little or no political
excitement. The trustees act TO great ex-
tent independent of party organization. An
applicant is net usually opposed nor favored
very stTenuously by the public generally.
| The fact is the masses of the people of either
| party usually pay but very little attention
| 10 the appointment of the County Superin-
| tendent, so that when he is selected, be he
| Republican or Democrat, he has scarcely
any preludices to overcome occssioned by
| Political bias. aud he can enter upon his
| work with as much influence over the teach
| era OF one party as those Of another. and il
| is evident that thisetste of affairs is ab 90
| lutely necessary for Superintendent to do
| any good in the supervision of his county.
| 1t is to be presumed that the trustees are
| better acquainted with the qualifications OF
| the teachers than any one else. The duty
| which involves upon them OF hiring teach
| ers will, undoubtedly, give them this infor-
| nation. Without it. as matter of course,
| they could not vote intellIgently for such an
| officer. The cost of this manner of appoint
| nent is very little, because the trustees must
| come to the county seat about the 1st of
| June to make a levy of tax for the ensuing
| year.
The objections to the election OF Comfy
| Superintendent ct regular election ere Ger.
tasnly serious ones, and If such Law we're
enacted it would certainly have q very dele
| terious effect on our present prosperous
1 school system. Among the objections 70 be
| Noticed particularly are: ID The Saperin-
| tendent must depeRd upon party fight for
his election; ~ he will be chosen BY parties
| in convention rather with reference to his
| location in the county than his fitness.
The Superintendent being placed on the
| ticket with the remainder OF the county of
| fcers, will be expected to make similar
canvass to that which they make. Every.
body is aware Of what that means, He Will