The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-01-30
County Supervision of schools.


A phamphlet published by authority
of the State Teachers Association OF
Missouri contains u strong array of
facts in favor of a county supervision
of schools 10 take the place of the
separate district system now in use.
The public schools of Missouri repre-
sent an investment OF Sit, 600. 600, and
about 5000, 900 is spent annually for
salaries of teachers and incidental
supplies. There are nearly 10000
separate school districts in the State,
governed by 10000 school directors,
and no fewer than $500 teachers work
APART from the others, with no sort OF
supervision, and with nothing worthy
to be called a comparison of results
1t is true that a State law permits the
ink bitants of any county. BY a ma
jea.ity vote. to establish county su-
pervisiOn, but taus far only five OF
the ia counties have availed them
selves of its provisions.
The public schools of Missouri,
consequently, are divided into thOus-
iands of units. and deprived of the
inspections and trained direction that
have been found highly beneficial in
many other states Some of our ru-
ra! schools could not stand the test oI
inspection in any respect, and iae-
qualities often exist III the same cOun-
ty that would disappear If all we're
required to reach a fair standard.
But with no criterion, ana no one TO
apply it. each district stands apart,
subject only to the approval of the
three directors. who are al
most invariably worthy citizens,
but not familiar with educational
affairs in any district except their
own. The spirit of emulation is alb
sent, and as long as more than half
the teachers of the State are in schools
where there is but one instructor, the
results vary according to the individ-
ual, laborinc apart from the influences
and the tests that are not to be Sc
cured withoES general supervision.
1t may be asked why the option of
county supervision has not been sub
mitted to the voters in more than five
counties. There are ia counties in the |
state, and it is no small undertaking |
to carry q campaign of education into
each of them, convincing voters that
the cost of a county supervisor, in the
end, should be an economy as we'll as
an educational benefit. Even a slight |
increase of taxation is unwelcome, and
it is always wise to subject it to close
scrutiny. But competent supervision
is a necessary part of all organized
business affairs, and the expenditure
of IS, 900, 900 annually for one purpose
is business transaction of exception
al Importance. The tax argument, I
however. is the one that proves most
in the operation of the
county option law.
An estimate of the increase of taxes
under general law providing for
supervision in every county does not
Indicate that it would be burdensome. |,
Against its cost may be credited a
more economical purchase of books
and school supplies, a more skillful ;
ARE of school property, and closer at
ention to the collection of moneys ,
payable to the school fund. If reform !
"A supervision is desirable, a state
aw would reach the mark with but |
slight delay. Laws of this kind are {
10 common elsewhere that their good |
.esults are known to be beyond the 1
stage. An earnest con- 1
of their merits is timely in (
-Globe-Democrat. {