The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-02-09

A correspondent in Mondays issue of
The Sentinel addresses a communication
to the legislature attacking the bill which
provides for the substitution Of district
inspectors for county superintendent OF
schools. and makes qualifications salts
factory to the appointing board, a requis-
tie of appointment. The old argument
is used OF denying the people the exercise
of their rights. This argument is a con
fesslon of weakness as it seeks to gain
through prejudice what it cannot through
reason. The correspondent likewise at
tempts to remove an argument favorable
to the bill by suggesting that the legis-
lature fix qualifications for superinten-
dents OF schools. What answer will he
give to the query, can the legislature pre-
scribe qualifications? Has the legisla-
ture any constitutional right to require
| that superintendent be able to read or
| write? Can that body fix any qualifca-
tions for an eIectiveoffice not required by
| the constitution?
| After he has given sufficient thought to
these questions, let him turn bis atten
| ton to TIE condition of our common
schools, and state whether our country
schools are as good to-day as they were
fifteen years ago. How will the county
uperlntendents of to-day average In
point Of ability with those of fifteen
years ago? Is the tendency toward re-
quiring higher qualifications in candi-
dates for the position or toward growing
'axity in this particular?
What does the correspondent know of
the real condition of the common schools
of the state. or of the work the superin
tsndents are dong?
They are not to blame for ineffi-
Gent service, in a majority OF cases,
because they have either too much
to do or are SO poorly paid that
they cannot afford to give their whole
time to their official duties. The salaries
paid offer no inducement to enter the
scramble of political campaign on the
part OF those who are competent.
The funds set apart for the support
of the common schools" must not be d.
verified. OF course not. Nor would they
be it The contemplated bill should become
law Who pays the salaries of the
county superintendent? Does the bill,
which IN the interests of the country
schools should become a law-provide
that the salaries of inspectors of schools
shall be paid out of the school fund?
Here is the section:
"A sum of money sufficient to carry out
the provisions of this act is hereby ap-
propriated out of any money in the treas
ury not otherwise appropriated
Evidently the correspondent attacked
the bill before reading 1t. His knowledge
OF other matters affected by the bill seems
to be as accurate as his acquaintance
with the provisions of the bill.
The bill does not place the fixing of
salaries IN the hands of the appointing
board. A minimum salary Is fixed and
such additional compensation as the in
spector may receive is determined by the
amount of work his district may impose
upon him.
The bill is a good one and if its terms
could be explained to the people of the
state who have a direct interest in the
common schools, it would become a law
or else the members of the legislature re-
sponsible for its defeat would be called
to account.