The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-03-16
The District School Bill.

For some time the present system
of district school administration has
been the subject Of almost universal
criticism. The office of county super
intendent has become so identified
with politics that it has been the vic
tim of partisanship. Many man has
been elected to this most responsible
position, who in reality had no qualiti-
cations whatever for the Office and was
simply carried in with the party wave.
AS as result of existing conditions, and
with the purpose of improving them, If
possible, Senator Whitehead has intro
Guced into the Senate, a5 the sugges-
ton of State Superintendent Harvey,
bill which provides for some radical
changes in this branch of school work.
The provisions of the bill have already
been mentioned in these columns.
Briefly again they are as follows:
l. The abolition of the office of
county superintendent, and the estab-
lishment of that of district Inspector.
2. The division of the state into not
more than 115, nor less than II such
districts.
3. A state board to appoint district
inspectors, said board to consist of the
professor of pedagogy at Sta Univer-
sity, the three examiners for state
certificates and the institute conductors
from the various Normal schools.
4. A salary for inspectors of about
ST., 400.
The proposed system certainly has
some advantages over the old. There
are laws existing today which require
CERTAIN qualifications for county super
intendents, but they are usually disre
garded. Under the new system these
same laws would govern the appoint
ment of inspectors, and would no doubt,
be respected. Furthermore the salary
of the district inspector will exceed the
salary at present paid the county
superintendent. Under the present
conditions an increase of salary might
be rather hurtful than helpful for the
simple reason that the law in the
matter is so frequently ard fagrantly
broken in the interest of party pur-
poses. But with the appointing
power in the hands of committee
of educators thoroughly fitted for
the work, and with a reputation to
sustain the superior inducements of
fered by larger salary, would result
beneficially. It will take the CONTROL
of district schools out of the hands of
the voters, but it is a question if it is
not best SO to do. In the past the
people have not exercised their au
thorIty in that direction with the best
possible results. In fact, the signifi-
canoe of the district school has been to
a large degree, overlooked since the
people have had it in charge. The
objection frequently made to the pro-
posed bill on the ground that it will
tend to put the district school into the
hands of a machine, seems of little
consideration. The gentlemen COM
prising the committee having in charge
the appointment of inspectors are edu-
Gators. They owe nothing to politics
aud will get nothing from it. The
State superintendent will, if we under
stand the bill correctly, have nothing
to do with the appointment of the
district inspectors.
On the whole, the plan seems to be
plausible one. At any rate trial of
it can do no harm. If it fails in it's
purpose or overleaps it, it can be modi-
fed or repealed. The existing system
is not a success. The Importance of
our district school grows daily. Any
step toward an improved district school
system will be heartily welcome.