The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-03-03


the beard and Nelson, the member of
Waupaca is too new in the quintette
TO avail in opposition if he wanted to,
: hlch is altogether unlikely. The
women car carry this point, if they
work hard enough, but the place to be-
gin is in the governors office and with
the board itself What they say goes
with the legislature.
1t must be conceded that some good
men in the state are opposed to the in
novation. They would welcome a sensi
BILE, well-informed woman or two on
the board, but they fear a ''faddist" or
a sentimentalist
Supt. Harvey Hits the BulPs-Eye.
State Superintendent Harvey has
lived quietly enough since he came from
the Milwaukee normal school to man
age the educational interests of the
state. But when he has introduced his
bill to shake up the county superinten-
dent system, he started an agitation
that will stir the state to it's circumfer-
ence before it dies out. Mr.. Gillian of
Milwaukee and some other educational
paper editors have grappled with him;
but Superintendent Harvey is a quiet
dynamo Though his opponents have
He is to ask the legislature to listen to
him some evening, I understand Can oc-
casional custon.) He is a man charm
er in an interview, and would have
made a giant politician had education
not pre-empted him.
The best ground, however, is that he
is apparently right. His bill provides
for the abolition of the seventy county
superintendent Officials elected in the
counties), and the substitution of not
more than lis district superintendent.
who shall be appointed.
The present system was inaugurated
in January, 1862. The superintendent
examine some 5000 persons annually,
who, as teachers, become the school
companions during eight months of each
of ten years of more than 100000 chill
dren who are annually instructed by
them in rural schools. Inspection is
farce. since the superintendent are able
to visit so infreqUently and to afford
so little aid, either by comparisons and
direction. It is well-known that many
superintendent are themselves incom-
petent, and get the office only because
they get the delegates.
To succeed this elective system the
bill provides for the creation of a state
board of supervision of common schools.
composed of ex officio personages who
hold positions as follows: The professor
Of pedagogy in the state university,
who is nominated thereto by the preSl-
dent Of the university and is commits
stoned by the board Of university re-
gents the examiners of candidates for
state certificates, appointed thereto by
the state superintendent, and the chief
conductors of teachers institutes of the
seven normal schools, who are nom1-
mated by the respective normal presl-
dents and are commissioned by the
board of regents of normal schools. This
board of supervision of common schools
is the strongest pedagogical body in the
state, is so stable as to insure wise,
permanent action, and is removed from
personal, political or commercial bias
It's dignity will be recognized at
glance, as the names of the persons that
would at once come to membership are
DR. J. w. Stearns of the university,
Professor A J. Hutton of Whitewater,
Professor Albert Hardy Of Platteville,
Professor w. c. Hewitt of Oshkosh,
Professor j. w. Livingston of Stevens
Point, Professor E. w. Walker of Su
perior, and Professor H. A Adrian of
River Falls.
Half Our Teachers Serve but One Year.
When it is known that more than one
half of Wisconsin's IL, 900 teachers serve
less than an average of one year in
school, and that like number of teach
els hold the lowest (third grade Of
certificates, that next to all teachers of
rural schools are licensed and are su-
pervised by some county superinten-
dents, some of whom can not write sue
cessfully for the certificate which, by
present law. they are authorized to
grant to others, the claims of the bill
are worthy Of consideration.
The new plan makes the school super
intendents appointive instead of cleo
tive, and brings the supervision of the
board of the Brainy Eleven to bear on
those country schools which now "go it
alone,' and go it very badly. Some
will object to the expense. The inspec-
tors are to receive $1,000 EACH plus IS
for each school in their district. There
is also an assistant to the state super
intendent 70 be appointed at $4,000
year, who will also act as secretary to
the Brainy Eleven Some are afraid
InlS secretary Will UGCOI1C d OGSpOl.
Others think the rural schools are i'm
proving fast enough. and believe in
Evolution rather than Revolution.
Others think that the people are sur
rendering their democracy" when the
county superintendent ceases to be an
elective office. These DIRECTORS ought
to push a bill to provide for the cleo
ton at the polls of school teachers
Personally 1 hope that Superintendent
Harvey will win He was elected to bet
ter the country schools and he has told
the people how.
Rest Found in Going Away.
Governor Scofield writes from Pasa-
dena that the thermometer is at 80.
Am we'll. How are your" This is en-
couraging. He will be home in few
days. Change of scene is the great cure
for mental overwork and nervous ex-
haustion. Just to sit in the train and
look out the window on cowsheds, made
I beautiful by snow, and an old farmer ro