Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-18
supt. Humbargar's Complaint.

School and Home this month dey0tes
space to complaint against the new
law Of the Legislature compelling
county superintendent Of schools to
spend at least two hours in each
school in the course Of a year or for
felt Is for each school not so visited.
He thinks it unjust and unfair. Our
Pop friend has good reason for his
complaint. 1t means an amount Of
work that is simply overwhelming and
we do not blame him for Directing.
Just think Of it,
The county superintendent OF this
county will get under the new law
$1,000 year but Mr.. Hnmbargar ex-
poets an additional allowance Of 5000
from the commissioners because OF
the severity Of his labors. There are
1923 school districts in the county. To
spend two hours in each means 246
hours work. or Al days Of six hours
each, the length Of the school day.
Think Of that ye men who only have
to work 3l2 days in the year and ten
hours day-the superintendent must
put in Al whole days Of six hours
day sitting on the platform Of a
school and giving suggestions to
teachers II any are needed. Why it
only leaves him 1924 days to spend in
town and in his office. Only $1,000
for Al days, 1926 day--no wonder
Brother Humbargar objects. 1t is
starvation-that what II is.
The average length of the school
term in Dickinson county 10 81
months, or 1856 days Of six hours each.
The average salary Of the teachers is
$241.s7 year. This is for 1856 days
in the school room, wrestling with the
restless boys and girls and trying to
instil into their busy young brains
the elements Of the worlds knowl-
edge. 1t means WEAKNESS and care,
responsibility and anxiety, it means
examinations, visits to school boards,
normal institute and often disap-
pointed hopes.
And the superintendent is eompell-
ed-actually compelled "in spite Of
sickness and billiards" as Mr.. Hum
bargar pathetically puts ito spend
Al days in the year sitting on the
platform and watching this; and for a
paltry s1,2OO No wonder our Popa-
list officer objects.
What the Legislature should have
done-and we believe Mr.. Humbargar
will agree with us in this-was tor
provide that the superintendent need
visit no schools; that the teachers
should call on him between the hours
of 9 and o'clock on alternate satur-
days from November to April to con-
fess their faults and receive advice,
punishment or absolution; and that
the teacher failing to report at least
once in two years should be fined not
more than 800 and confined in Jail
not to exceed 80 days, the sentence to
be fixed by the superintendent This
would give the poor, overworked (D|
superintendent chance to fix up his
fences for reelection and conduce
greatly to his happiness
We hope that Supt. Humbargar
will keep up the fight on making his
duties so onerous but if no change is
made we infer from the earnestness of
his complaint that he will refuse to be
a candidate for a second term. 1t is
little wonder with such a bill pending
and threatening passage that our
worthy superintendent considered 1t
necessary to spend considerable time
in Topeka this winter. No one who
considers the enormity Of its provi-
sions can blame him.