Smyrna times., 1888-02-22
Superintendent Handy's Letter of
Explanation.

1"O VI GuIee weeks ago letter APP
peared in the Penin8ular NelOs making
severe attack on Superintendent
Handy in his official relation. Mr..
Handy's letter below will explain the
charges and his answer in rebuttal:
MIR. EDITOR, My attention has been
called to complaint published in your
paper last Saturday and signed bv
" Teacher" While the language used
IS severe, it is perhaps, not more
severe than the statement, if true.
would Justify; and the tone of the
complaint is sufficiently digniied TO
merit an explanation touching the
questions raised. Grant me, therefore.
space in your columns for this re,
Spouse.
This complaint" makes with dis
tinctness these charges: LIST. That I am
not visiting the school as the law re-
qulres; 2nd, That am holding exami-
nations at places inconvenient for
teachers to attend 3rd, That l have
not licensed sufficient number of
teachers to supply the schools.
am, however, making a thorough
tour Of visitation to the schools. and
a reference to my visit book" shows
that l have not misse one in nv Das-
sage, and have been in a great MANY
where the children have not seen the
lace OF a superintendent for years. /
shall before my year is out visit the
schools not only once, as the com
plant" says that the law requires. but
twice. as The law does, in truth re0uire
and | have purpOsely timed nv visits
when the winter schools are full of
pupils, so that the schools NAV receive
the most benefit, although the work is
done at greater personal inconvenience
to me.
Last June held an examination at
Harrington with IS applicants: an ex-
animation at FELTON, with IA applicants,
an examination at Dover with 81 annli.
cants; and one at Smyrna with so an.
pllcants. During those examinations.
l proposed also to hold an examina-
ton at Milford, but was unable to do
so because the school house was nm
dergoing repairs and l found no suita.
Die place to accommodate a class in
the town. have departed from ex-
Supt. Williams policy of holding quar-
terly examinations, and have returned
TO ex-Supt. Groves policy of holding
monthly examinations in Smyrna and
annual examinations in various nor
tons of the county. believing that 7
should thereby meet more perfectly
the requirements fthe schools and the
convenience of the teachers SCORES
OF teachers, residing in all parts of the
county, have thanked me for the
change. In the month of June exami-
nations will be held in Milford Har-
rlngton, FELTON,, Dover and SMYRNA.
On the last Saturday of every month.
except June and July, an examination
Will be held in Smyrna. Trains ON the
railroad are so arranged that it Is most
convenient for travellers to 90 north in
the morning and south in the afternoon.
so mat Smyrna, being the most north
erh town IN the county, it is the most
convenient point for teachers to come
TO IN the morning, be examined and
return home on the same dav. The
trains are arranged on the d. NJ. &V.
Drahches so that teachers living on that
llne are at a disadvantage, but the
number of them is limited and thev
can conveniently attend one of the
June examinations, although any
teacher acquainted with the facts, will
testify that the change have made in
the time of holding examinations
throws greater labor on me and offers
more convenient opportunities to
those desiring to be examined.
In regard to the charge that an in
sufficient number of teachers have been
licensed, the figures shall answer for
themselves. 1t is very simple prob
lem in arithmetic There are 1877
school district in Kent county. Of
these % are under charge of incorpor-
ated boards, who may employ, if they
see fit, teachers who do not hold certif-
Gates. To supply the demands of the !
schools, therefore, there must be 1O4 |
licensed teachers in Kent county. |
There are, however, 1865 or more |
teachers licensed in the county. OF
this number 1913 hold certificates issued |
by me, and the remainder have certifi- |
Gates issued by ex Supt. Williams,
which have not yet expired. Plainly
l65 teachers are enough to fill 104
places. Doubles some districts could
employ a cheaper teacher if there were
four or FIVE licensed for every school:
for then the incompetent ones would
the competent teachers.
however, it is to the inter-
est of our teachers to have the price of
teaching go up and not down; and it is
in no less to the interest to the people
TO have in every instance competent
teachers. More pay to teachers
would not mean more expense to the
lax payers; for the districts are now
raising, and are required by law to
raise more money than is used in run
ming the schools. At the last school
election the clerks of Kent county had
m their pockets unused money, "due
10 the DISTRICTS" amounting to the
neat little sum of $4,000. Each dis
,rict receives from the State about S17O
md is compelled by law to raise Sl25
more, making an income of 1895 year.
salaries ought to increase until no dis
riot gives less than 500 term.
Enough money is collected from the
people for that purpose, and it should
De expended in giving the people good
rec schools. However much an in
competent applicant may complain
when he fails in the examination, the
PEOPLE should rejoice in everything
hat tends to elevate the standard of
'ur teaching.
LEVIN IRVING HANDY.
$50 e--