The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-19
AN OPEN LETTER.
Reply From j. N. Mcbride to Hudson
Sheldon's Criticism on the Formers
Circular Letter.

Sheld0n's Criticism on the Formers
Circular Letter.
II. SHELDON-Dear Sir: Your answer
concerning my attitude to the Office of school
commissioner consists largely of misappre-
hension and personal abuse. AS to the mis-
apprehension, there is nothing in the crcu-
lar that says the Office of school commits
sioner is useless. The propositions concern
ing that Office are two, one to allow the SUI
perysors to fix the compensation and the
ether to allow the directors to determine the
necessity of visitation. The first PROPOSE
tion is simply allowing the board of super
vis0rs to use their discretion as to the COM
pensation for the Office of school commits
sioner that they do with prosecuting attor-
ney, county treasurer, county clerk, ct. al.
Now the aspersion cast upon the board of
supervisors by your assumption that there
would be no supervision, is certainly not In
Keeping with the high character of our SUI
pervlsOrs. That they would ruthlessly tear
down our educational system is your as
sumption. The facts are that they would
probably reduce the salary in keeping with
other earning capacities, at least that Is
what they did intend to do last fall until the
statute prevented it. There Is nothing in
my letter asserting the absolute worthless
ness of the Office rs now existing, nor any
thing to warrant the statement made by you
that 'yOu cannot understand how l could
have held the Office for TWO years and as
sert there was no chance to do good" That
some good can be done no one doubts, but
that 1t could not be done at less expense,
aud under the provisions Of House Bill 900
just as we'll, is my contention. l credit
myself with having instituted in this county
the district school examination system and
entrance to the high school on diploma
iherefrom, thus extending the school system
to the remotest learner. But all this would
not be disturbed by the enactment Of House
Bill 900, nor would its inception have been
interfered with if such a measure had beer
then enforced.
Now as to your connection with the
schools of Shiawassee county. In my pre-
yious letter | allowed charity to cover null
titude of unfortunate transactions on your
part. Intentionally imputed good so as to
secure the united action for the passage of
this law and to prevent any reflections on
individuals, or personal mention that would
provoke personalities.
You as a member OF the board of school
examiners, and as then the law, this body
elected the executive officer Of the schools,
viz: the secretary of the board, an Office
practically the same as the commissioner
now, and you voted for and forced upon the
county a man who had never been in the
district schools day as teacher or even as
a pupil, who by experience absolutely knew
nothing OF the duties or the work, and this
very thing among others of similar charac-
ter in the state compelled the Legislature to
provide, i'm addition to an educational quail
fcation, an experience qualification. That
the good of schools was at heart with you,
is somewhat oblterated by the fact that it
was commonly understood that your ''man"
was to retire in your favor, when you
would be in line. At least that was actual
iy.what was done. 1t may be stated that
have allowed the officer of your creation to
have had another year. so that natural ac
quaiDtance with the duties of the Office
would have made him more efficient for
t,an ha Hrct pnt gka,, OF
that time you wanted the Office, SO the pub
Tic gain was not considered, or else you
deemed yourself better qualified without ex
perience in this Office, than your previous
and you became his candidate, he getting
out Of the way gracefully.
The records in the county clerks Office
show that in the last year of your incum-
bency as commissioner, that you, during
the last five months OF your term, visited Is
schools. Or, as the reports show in the
third quarter, you visited in March, April,
aud May, the above referred to, IS schools,
while in July and August you did not visit
any. BY the way, some of those reports on
file are curiosity in the utter lack of COM
prehension of what the statute requires.
The statute reads as follows:
Provided further, that no commissioner
shall receive an order for compensation I'M
til he shall have filed with the county clerk
q detailed statement under oath, showing
what schools have been visited by him dur
ing the preceding quarter, and what amount
of time was employed in each school, nam
ing township and school district.
Here is copy of your last report
CORUNNA, Sept. IL, 1894
TO THE COUNTY CLERK:
hereby certify, that the following is a
srrect account of the work done by me in
the discharge of the duties of Commissioner
of Schools for the months of July and
August, 1894:
Aug. 2, 8, 4, attending regular examina-
lions.
Aug. 10, Ii, marking papers and making