New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-01-25

ieport ef County Superintendent
of schools.
Regarding it of Importance to pre-
sent TO you at the closing of the year a
general view of the duties of this office
to be performed and the condition of
our schools, respectfully submit the
following:
The duties of the superintendent APP
pear to be of triple character, viz:
l. Duties to be performed out doors
or about the county.
2. Duties within the walls of an Of
flee room, if any exist.
3. Advisory duties.
Within the range of the first named
may be placed the visitation ofschools,
the public examinations of teachers
and, improperly, the responses to the
calls of State superintendent to con-
Ventions of Co. superintendent and
teachers associations.
From reports heretofore made you
find that there are in the county II
school districts, two of which are inde-
pendent, excluded from nay supervision.
During the year 143 schools have
been visited, by special demand.
The condition of the various schools
varied greatly, but the same evil pre-
sented itself almost all over the county,
namely: poor enrolment and still
poorer attendance. The compulsory
law seemed to be without effect.
might right here direct your atten-
ton to the new law, whereby no child
will be entitled to the state moneys in
the new year except il has visited the
public schools at least 40 days. If the
same evil will repeat itself in the coun.
ty during the coming year, the county
will have to sustain n loss of a great a.
mount of money not taking in its account
or consideration the detrimental effects
upon the education of our children
Therefore should solicit your infu-
ence in your respective districts to help
10 remedy this evil and Herewith pro-
mote the cause of education. > "
Our teaching craft has done nobly
and improved, although there is great
deal yet to be wished for, but to their
honor l must state that especially those
who have received professional train
ing in some of our higher educational
institutions, or who have gained prof.
cheney by long experience in teaching,
deserve all the praise and proved
themselves worthy to be employed all
over the county, encouraged by a prop
err compensation for their valuable
and most honorable work.
| Teachers examinations were held in
Spring and Fall at three places. viz: at
New Ulm five days; at Sleepy Eye five
days, and at Springfield six days.
There were examined Isl persons
with differing results.
! A State teachers institute was held
at Springfield during one week with an
enrolment of 70.
The results of an institute may be
compared to those of a sermon in
church: good many attend and listen,
but there are few who apply the prin-
ciples taught, following the call be-
cause it is fashion or because they live
under the impression that they must do
it, but verify, verily,I say unto you, the
result of the harvest of such is naught.
The State Superintendent call to a
convention of Co. Supts. and to the
state teachers association to be held at
St. Paul during the week between
Christmas and New Year to my utmost
regret could not be responded to on &C.
count Of frosted limbs and q severe
cold contracted in a snow storm the
week preceding the conventions. A
most honoring part of discussion in this
!, convention was allotted to Brown Co.,
but the Gnmerciful gods of a severe
Minnesota winter had decided other
wise and left me at home. T., ~
The office.room work CD comprises
the official correspondence, the grading
of examination papers, the recording
and dispatching of certificates, the re.
/ ceiving, correcting and compiling OF
teachers and school clerks reports in.
to a general state report, and the pri
vate examinations.
The official correspondence is very
extensive and expensive.
To show the extensiveness of incom-
ing mail let me state that I received
since January 1, 1887, 103 postal cards,
1876 letters, Is communications from
the educational department and 81
packages. ~ ..-.
My official communications and pack
ages transmitted amount to over one
thousand letters and parcels. Official
documents were received 124 teachers
and II school clerks reports, which
were compiled into the state report as
published and reported before.
! During the year 961 examination pa
pers were graded and private exami-
nations held, lnese last occupying 8
days.
! To CHS part OF duties may also be
mentioned the private individual con-
versations of scores OF people who come
to impart their JOY and grief, and a
few, very few, with dishonoring insin-
uations having some FAX to grind y
Besides these dark spots there / find
visitors who are gentlemen, fathers of
large or small families, or gentlemen
whom nature denied the blessings of
family life, but who are always fore
most for the education of their
neighbors' children and who al