The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-03
HOGAN MAY CUT IN
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT MAY IN
SPECT THE CITY SCHOOLS
ONCE A MONTH.
He GETS PAID FOR THE WORK,
AND GENERAL LAW MAKES NO
EXCEPTION OF CITY SCHOOLS
AT ALL.
GENERAL CHILDs
Refers the Ramsey County Superin-
tendent to the Special Law Gov
erning the st. Paul District.

An opinion of interest to the schools
of the larger cities Of the state was
given to Superintendent of Public In
struction Pendergast by Attorney Gen
eral Childs yesterday.
County Superintendent Hogan, of
Ramsey county, recently asked the
state superintendent whether his duties
involved the inspection Of the indepen-
dent and special districts in his county,
and the opinion of the attorney general,
without reference to the local condi-
lions, is that the county superintendent
shall inspect all these schools, unless
there is something in the law creating
any particular special district directly
contradictory of the law governing the
duties of the county superintendent.
Attorney General Childs opinion in
full, is as fellows:
communication of the 18th ult., IN which you
refer to section 129 of the compilation of
school laws of 1897, and ask, whether lit IS
the duty of county superintendent to visit
the independent and special districts, as well
as the common school districts, of his coun-
ty'
tendents of schools shall examine and license
teachers and annul certificates for cause
Shown; visit and instruct the scohols in their
counties at least once in each term, and
give such advice to the teachers as may be
requested and necessary. 1t is the duty of
county superintendent to visit and instruct
all schools in his county, whether common,
independent or special, in the absence of eX
press language in the act creating particu
lar district evincing a contrary view
Your department has long held, | am ad-
v:sed that the compensation of such an Off
Ger is determined upon the basis Of common,
Independent and special districts in the coun-
To nah 11ff I
1t Is to be held that he is not required to
visit Independent and special districts. The
purpose of the law is obvious. 1t aims at
having the schools benefited by the instruc
ton and advice of the chief school officer of
the county. All schools, public in character,
receiving public support, are entitled to such
visitation and instruction. I find nothing in
the law providing for the organization of indie
pendent districts Incompatible with such
view. l note that the superintendent Of
schools in an independent district is required
to- make such reports as may be required
through the county superintendent of schools
nor is it incumbent upon an Independent s.
trict to elect a superintendent Of schools
therein, the statute being in such regard,
merely permissve. The Independent school
law further provides that, any district organ
ized Hereunder shall be governed by the
provisions Of this chapter and by the general
school laws not inconsistent with the gem
eral provisions OF this chapter
This implies that so far as the terms of
the independent law are not expressed or
necessarily implied to the contrary, an indie
pendent district shall be governed by the
provisions CT the general school law | have
not examined the various acts creating special
districts with view to ascertaining to what
extent the question may be affected By the
the legislation regulating the government of
the schools of the city Of ST. Paul and other
large cities of the state, and cannot there
fore state whether a county superintendent
has any official relations herewith Any
special act Of such a nature so framed as to
provide for the entire government of the
negative, in the absence Of express provisions
to the contrary, the idea of visitation by
county superintendent of schools.
From the nature Of the views above ex-
pressed, the superintendent will determine for
himself by reference to material legislation,
the scope of his duties in such regard