Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-26
Daily gtuutbee soaraal.
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
VIA, State Superintendent Stetson Has to
Saw About the New Law.

Ar Sfetson introduces II DS saying.
..r,ne most progressive law enacted by
tho Legislature during the past winter
w. ...as the one providing for the grouping
~ towns for the purpose OF employing
s,,neYintendent of SCHOOLS. -,
III is hoped that the people Will make ~
careful study of the statute ana then take
The necessary steps to AVIAN themselves
~ the advantages granted 70 the towns
uhi,.h accept the States tender of assist
ance. .. = ,.., .,,.,,- ser,
..arisions of the law but the explanation
ppautained in this circular may be read
with profit
,,,u I lSg7. the school committees of two
Nv more towns having under their care
an aggregate of not less than twenty-five
ar more than fifty schools may unite in
the employment of superintendent of
snbools provided they have been so au-
ssnr;1ad hy a vote OF their towns at the
rag,,lar town meetings or at special town
meetings called for that purpose.
The school committees of the towns
oamnrising the union shall form Joint
committee and shall be the agents OF the
towns comprising the union. The join.
Committee shall meet annually on day
and at a place agreed upon py the chalr-
men of the committees OF the several
towns comprising the union. and shall
organize by the choice OF a chairman and
s,,nerintendent of schools. in which choice
the committee of each town shall have
a vote proportional to the town 5 share
of the expenditure for the superintend-
ent,s salary They Shall determine the
amount of service to be performed by the
Superintendent in each town, fix his sal
ory and apportion the amount thereof to
he paid by the several towns. which
amount shall be certified to the treasur-
ers of said towns. respectively. The
amount to be paid by each town shall
he determined by dividing the entire sum
expended for superintendent among the
towns comprising the union in the pro-
norton of the service performed in each
town.
Whenever the chairman and secretary
of the Joint committee shall certify under
oath to the State superintendent of pub
lie schools that a union has been effect
cd, that the towns unitediy have raised
by taxation sum not less Khan tive nun
dred dollars for the support of super
intendent of schools, that a supcrinten-
dent of schools has been employed
for one year, and That the full amount
appropriated for Superintendence has
been expended for that purpose, then the
governor and council shall draw 4 war
rart on the treasurer of the State Tor the
payment to the treasurerS of the several
towns of a sum equal to one-half the
amount expended for superintendent by
e3ch of the several towns provided that
not more than two hundred and fifty dol
lars shall be paid to any one town or
more than seven hundred and fifty dol
lars to all the towns comprising any
union.
Persons employed 20 serve as superin-
tendents of schools under this act shall
hold State certificates under the act Of
1885 providing for the State examination
Of teachers, and shall devote their entire
time TO superintendent. The powers and
duties of superintendent elected under
this act shall be the same as those pre-
scribed for town superintendent.
No town shall receive State aid under
this act, unless its appropriation and eX-
penditure for superintendent has been
exclusive of the amount required by law
for public school purposes.
Superintendent Stetson appendS eX-
tracts from the last report of the depart
ment. wherein the need of this law was
urged. He said among other things:
"A casual study Of the special returns
made by the local superintendent and
tabulated in the first section of the re-
port, of this department for 1896, makes
it entirely clear that the time has come
when it is necessary to provide for ex-
pert superintendent of the public schools
of Maine.
''The returns show that So per cent of
these superintendent are engaged in
some other occupation, and only give to
this work such time as they can spare
from their regular business. The work
done by such persons must necessarily be,
to great extent, haphazard in character.
unsatisfactory in results and wanting in
those elements which insure good service.
To superintend schools intelligently one
needs scholarship, professional training
and experience in the work of the school
room he needs TO know the subjects
studied. the methods used in giving in
struction. and to be familiar with the
history, science and art of education.
lie must not only be familiar with the
1acts taught in textbooks. but he must
also be a student of science, art. litera-
ture. history. economy. He must know
what the world has DONE what it is do
ing, what it is capable of doing. He
must know men. things, means. He must
De strong OF mind, rugged of body, rich
IN personality. His work must be his alb
sorbng devotion. To it he must give his
entire time and devote his best thought
he must study schools: he must study
teachers; he must study children. One
cannot do and be all these things unless
ne mas an aptitude for the work. has pre-
pared Tor II, and gives his whole time to
1t. If ones best thought is devoted to his
patients, his parishioners. his business,
OF MS farming, it is not possible for him
10 serve the schools in such way as to
help the teachers to give the best instruc-
tion; and the children to do the best
work
The amount expended annually for the
superintendent of schools in the State
OF Maine is about $50 600. This is a sum
large enough to give to each town about
VIZ Tor this purpose. The State offers to
supplement this amount with an equal
amount If a number of towns Join in
employing superintendent of schools.
ne contribution made by the State add
ed to the amount raised by the town
would give a sum large enough to en-
abe the towns to secure a competent
person to perform these duties
Pernaps the plan of procedure can be
mace clearer by using the following illus
tratlon. suppose the towns of Turner.
LVermore, Leeds and Greene unite and
employ superintendent. Suppose Tur-
ner contributes 1925, Livermorc sliJ.
Leeds SM and Greene $50 making total
OF seoO If an equal sum We're furnished
by the State, the amount would be sl1e0
on this basis Turner would be entitled
10 fve votes. Livermore to three. Leeds
10 TWO. and Greene to two in the selec-
uon OF Superintendent. If the schools
were consolidated even to Il reasonabl
extent IN these towns, the whole number
would not exceed twenty-five and in no
vase would they exceed thirty The
amounts apportioned to each of the
towns named above is not materially in
Excess OF the sums now appropriated for
tnls purpose. This union of towns and
pacing all the schools in the charge OF
one person who would be expected to de-
sote ms entire time to the work would
insure the employment of an official who
wouid nave personal interest and pro.
tessionai pride in making the schools the
peSt winch the means placed at his dispo
sal would allow