The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-01-26
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.
A Matter of Interest to Many Readers oil
the Chronicle.

the Chronicle.
The following timely article OF
County Superintendent is from the
recent report of State School Superin-
tendent Baxter
A County Superin. endent is by Law
required to exercise the threefold
functions of executive officer, Judicial
officer and school supervisor.
AS an executive officer it devolvef
upon him to apportion school money
and issue orders for the same; to APP
point under certain contingencies both
members and officers of boards of edu.
cation and call meetings of such
boards; to create by order, when he
shall deem it expedient, new school
districts and fix their boundaries; tc
appoint county boards of examiners,
issue teachers licenses and profession
al and school diplomas; to appoint
two members of the library committee
in each school district and serve upon
such committee; to issue transfers to
pupils entitled to attend school in adj
joining districts; to condemn school
buildings and withhold school moneys
when such action is approved by the
State Superintendent and in general
and comprehensive sense to enforce the
school law, and carry out the rules
and regulations of the State Board OF
Education.
AS judicial officer he is required
to render opinions and give advice in
all questions arising under the school
law; to give decisions in all contro-
versies arising from the suspension of
pupils and the dismissal of teachers;
to administer all necessary oaths or
affirmations to school officers; and to
consult with and advise patrons,
scnool officers and teachers. ~
As school supervisor his sphere of
activity is still more comprehensive.
1t is his duty to preside at all sessions
of the county teachers institute; to
prepare programs for the annual OBJ
servance of Arbor Day; to examine
for scholarships to the
State Agricultural Colleges to prepare
a uniform course of study for the
schools under his supervision estab-
lish standard of graduation and con-
duct examinations therefor; to estab-
lish pedagogical libraries, prescribe a
course of professional reading for each
of the several grades of teachers and
judge as to it's intelligent completion ;
to act as chairman of the County
Board of Examiners, supervise the
and perplexing task Of grad
ing examination papers and make q
final appraisement of all answers of
doubtful value; to advise the Estate
Board of Examiners of the standing
and efficiency of candidates for State
certificates; to prepare and issue circu-
lars of information and instruction to
teachers and school officers, and dis
tribute all such documents received
from the Department of Public In
to direct boards of educa-
ton in the matter of bonding districts
for building and repairing school
houses; to collect and tabulate the
school statistics of his county and
forward the same, together with a
comprehensive report, specifically
setting forth the progress and condi-
tion of it's schools and the sanitary
of it's school buildings; and
last but not least to exercise general
supervision over from 40 to 1870 schools
and visit each school an average of
twice per year. AS though all the
preceding executive, judicial and
professional duties of the County SUI
perintendent were not sufficiently
comprehensive and explicit and he
might fail to earn his princely salary,
he is further enjoined "'to labor to
elevate the standard of teaching and
improve the condition of the schools
in his county, and as means to
such end, /" to give such directions in
the science, art and methods of teach
ing as he may deem expedient f"
For uperlntendent to make fair
approach to meeting all of the afore-
said requirements he should be a
skillful accountant and must needs
possess exceptional executive ability,
quick apprehension and unerring
Judgment; large technical knowledge
and professional skill, Astounding
health, force of character, energy,
courage, tact and then devote all his
time and consecrate all the power of
such broad and strong equipment to
his official duties. That services so
necessary and of so high an order
may not go unrequitted, section 1st,
page 1854, p l.. 1892, provides as fol-
lows: Gin order to enable County
Superintendent of Schools to devote
more time to the discharge of the
duties of their office, and to properly
examine and, direct the schools under
their charge, by frequent visits to said
schools and counsel and direction tc
teachers in proper methods of instruc-
ton, their yearly salary shall be al
the rate of 1919 cents for each child in
the county, between the ages of and
Is years, as aseertained by the last
annual report of the State Superin-
tendent; provided, that the salary
shall in no case be less than $500 OF