The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-21
Twelve Pages.
THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

Yearly the educational department of
the state is growing in Importance, and the
burden of its business and responsibility
is increasing. This is comparatively
young department, aud its duties and re-
sponsibilities are not generally well under
stood Everyone recognizes how close to
the interests of every county are the
comptroller's, the treasurer's and the gen
eral land Offices; but it is not appreciated,
it seems, that the educational department
comes even closer to the people than any
of those mentioned. The superintendent
OF public instruction ia the recognized
head OF the educational system Of the
state. As one OF the four members of
the state board of education, he
helps make ont the apportionment
of all the school moneys of the state, and
then through his department he notifies
each county and city of its apportion-
ment and forwards them blanks by which
the money can be obtained. There were
last year apportioned in this way very
nearly $2,3OO,OOO. His department sends
out through the state annually some $780,
600 blanks of inquiry on all subjects
touching the conduct of schools, which
blanks, when returned, furnish complete
and accurate information on all school
questions. The handling of this immense
volume of questions and answers is
stupendous piece of work. In addition to
all this detailed Office work, this depart
to cover. To the superintendent
o. of public instruction are referred all ques-
tions OF the proper construction of the
school laws. These questions, many of
them, are matters Of extreme Importance
and gravity, requiring the most searching
and exhaustive investigation to arrive at
their correct ascer tainment and decision.
The average of letters daily leaving that
department dealing with construction
OF the school laws in all their details is
thirty. Thirty GASES day is no mean
work for any judge on earth. 1t is, be-
sides, q fact that during the summer
months, when business is slack in all the
other departments of the government,
this Office is turning off work under the
greatest pressure.
But this is not all the duty
of this Office. Given as he is
complete charge of the school interests
of the state, the superintendent of public
Instruction is expected to inspect most
rigidly the returns Of all treasurers made
to him, and upon necessity TO investigate
those returns, comparing them with the
data to be found only in the counties
themselves. In cases of conflict of au-
thority and in material discrepancies in re-
turns, his personal supervision and medi-
alton in the respective counties not only
secures speedier adjustment but settles
disputes and saves costly litigation. He
is expected to make these journeyings in
the interest of the school system. In fine,
let any one read the biennial report of
the superintendent of public instruc-
ton and he will be utterly sur
prised at the scope of the
duties and the magnitude and importance
of the work done by that department.
And year by year, as the public schools
grow in number and more funds are re-
quired for their maintenance, graver and
more laborious will be the duties of that
department. The legislature cannot be
too mindful of its demands and zsslous in
furthering its interests.