The Forrest City times., 1891-03-06

From our county examiners annual re- port, which is now on file in the clerk s office. we learn that during the year 1890 there were only twenty visits made in the entire county by the directors of the several districts while their respective schools were in session. If We properly understand the spirit and letter of our school law we believe it contemplates that the board of directors are to be the custodians of the school interests of their several districts, and are to guard with jealous care everything that pertains to the management and more perfect ossani- zation of the schools under their charge.
 Now just how any board of directors can
 judieiously execute their official duties
 as public men and never go near the
 school while it is in operation is aues- ton we never yet have been able to an swer satisfactorily. In fact, We do not believe that there is any intelligent an swer to it, for in the very nature of the case 1t stands to reason that no one can form proper conceptions of any work done
 unless he gives it personal inspection.
 Would a merchant hire clerk in his
 store and never look after him to see whether or not he was an able and eff cient clerk? Would any farmer hire Il hand and send him out in the field and
 never go near him to see whether or not his work is well done? Would any sane man hire any one to do any specified
 work and never look after him? Men do not do business that way. The successful businnss man or the progressive farmer
 watch their laborcrs and watch them closely.
 ,s. many of the farmers i'll this locality tO
 take all their stock and tarn them loose over in the bottoms after the spring work Is done. Do these farmers never go near
 their stock while roaming in the bottoms?
 No, we know they do not. but on the contrary they make frequent visits over there to see that all Is we'll and none of
 the stock is gone astray. If men guard their worldly possessions with such zeal ous care how much more important is it that they should look after the welfare
 Of their chldren's interests while in
 school. Many director will ride through mud and water all day looking after his mules, but never think of going near the school where his children go day after day. What is true of a director Is true of
 every parent, and 1t is for the sake of the children and the best interests of our
 schools that we herein insist upon the ne- cessty of more faithful diligence upon the l part of directors and all the patrons in visiting their schools. One of the duties
 of every director is to visit his school, and
 that as often as he possibly can. How can he tell whether the teacher is doing
 good work if he don't go? The old maxim,
 seeing is believing ever was and still Is true. Surely the directors of St. Francis county are all interested in the prosperity of our public schools, and, if so. surely there should be more than twenty visits
 reported for the year 1890.
 True. the office of director is not re- munerative one, and we regret that it is not so. Still the responsibilities are none the less. We do speak out for the ehil- dren of every school, and insist upon every director visiting the schools of his district while school is m operation. The children's welfare is more important than
 business. See to it that they are receiv- ing proper care and watchfuness while in school. Go and see for yourself. Doa't depend upon the word of pupil or teacher, but go and see; then base your conclu sions accordingly.