The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-11-04

tion is recognized only at the option of
county Judge and county treasurer.
Nothing approximating complete
diagnosis of our school
affairs can be had until
the legislature establishes school
system, and it seems to me that the first
step towards the establishment of a sys-
tenn would be the creation of the Office of
county superintendent of schools, and the
complete annihilation of county judges,
treasurers, assessors and boards of exam
liners, as school officers and merger of
their duties into the Office of county super
intendent.
In this officer the state would have re-
sponsible agent, charged with
the duty of keeping accurare
accounts, of obtaining thoroughly reliable
statistics, and administering the school
affairs of the state honestly, intelligently
and in accordance with the best business
methods.
1t would add but little to his duties to
make of him general statistician in his
courtyard such data as could be gathered
by $50 county superintendent distribu-
ted among 5000 teachers located in every
neighborhood and scattered over popu'
lation of 100000 would be of incalculr-
BILE value to the legislature in shaping the
future policy of the state. The superin-
tendent of public instruction,
instead of having to multi
ply circulars in sending to
the county judge for one thing, the county
treasurer for another, the assessor and
trustees tor another, and the board of ex-
aminers for another, would have single
source upon which to draw, and complete
order and method could be brought out of
the present chaos,
Instead of having several officers be-
tween the children and the school fund,
there would be but one, and to have $50
county superintendent subject under
severe penalties, to rendering strict ac-
count of their stewardship to the state at
least once year, would be no more novel
in our form of government, or inconsist-
ent with our notions of local self govern
ment and individual freedom than the law
which now, and for years past, has made
between two and three hundred collectors
and assessors of taxes, under severe pen
alties, subject to the comptroller's de-
partment.
D6IlOuS ODJtCbiOu ndo oISh lhuNO w NhS
creation of the Office upon the assum ption
that it would entail large additional ex-
pense upon the school fund. The present
cost of maintaining the several offices
connected with the schools amounts to a
little more than $4,000, itemized as fol-
lows
County judges salaries and fees....... S3S I2j 90
Proportion paid city supsrintendents..... 5,lOO c.
County tTeasurers commissions 2S,aOO w
Assessors and trustees tor census 2l,2ll bO
Boards of examiners for Certihcates..... 5,lOO w
IOtal ~
This amount represents about per
cent. of the state school fund, $2,350,O00.
The addition of per cent. would provide
salaries for county superintendent as
liberal as any in the United States, sala-
ries ranging from $4,000 down, graded ac-
cording to actual school population, mum
Der of schools and teachers and conse-
quent labor and responsibility.
There is no practical method, known to
the ingenuity of Texas craftsmanship, of
compelling county judges to perform the
duties which legitimately belong to the
Office of a school superintendent, and I'M
til there is change there will be an ever
increasing complication and confusion.
There is every reason to believe that
there was to the credit of our school fund
from various sources, on the LIST day OF
September, 1886, $3,250,000.
Appropriated by the state ..........S2,2 10000 IN
surplus in the county treasuries.."... 3yD,0OD .
from local IaNhtlOn oVuiuVl w
from county school lands ............ 20 ,UW u
Total. .......a... .."""S3,25O,' 90
The entire number of children enrolled
in the public schools f the state las
year was 267 1882; therefore, there shoulc
have been TO the credit of each chill thu
sum of 1882
There are 800 teachers in the state, ant
the school term last year was little lesi
than five and one-fifth months, with AZ
average salary of $43.3119 month.
The estimated amount to the credit o.
the fund, was sufficient to sustain all thu
schools for eight months at $50 per month
is sufficient after leaving out of the esti
mate the surplus fund, the local tax fund
and the county school land fund, to sus'
} tain the schools of the state the same
length of time as last year, paying salaries
Is per cent larger, and leave surplus o.
$270,000.
No question more directly concerns al
the people or the state IMAM tnht OF ecu
eating the youth of the country. II is |
question which concerns the people as al
economic and political question, no les
than it concerns the teachers as an educa
I tional question. The large available fund
and the yet larger unavailable fnnd, anC
the splendid progress of education of lat
years, renders it important that each steI
in that progress be well guarded agains
! all dangers that may threaten.