The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-16
Some Things Country superinten-
dent Must Do"

S. f. Venable of Buncombe County.
With the existing conditions over,
may safely say the entire State, the
county superintendent, who undertakes
to do his honest duty, and that to the
fullest extent as demanded for the wei
fare of those committed to his charge,
can expect no bed of roses, no smooth
sailing, but on the contrary he will find
a certain character of hostility at every
step. He has necessarily to tread upon
the toes of those who desire to plumber
the revenues of the schools, or those,
who not only plumber where they can,
but desire to gain some, either political
or local notoriety, surrounded by an
apparent but not real authority, and
that of the most transient characters;
men who otherwise would never be
heard of either in or out of their neigh
borhood. However much he may have
impressed With respect and high regard,
the best element of his country. he will
find that these in many ways can and
WILL but fortunately only to a temper
airy and limited extent, give him great
deal of trouble. The cross road politi-
clan, like the city ward politician, is a
man always on the surface and seeking
whom he may devour. A true superin-
tendent, conscious of his own integrity,
and strong in that integrity, will go on
conquering and to conquer, but in do
ing SO, experience teaches me that he
will have some very unhappy moments.
The education of the children in the
rural schools of the county being the I'LL
innate object that he, has in view, and
that necessarily requiring money, his
most important duty that next presents
itself is to provide as ample means as
the resources of his county as provided
by law will yield. The school law makes
that principal part of his duty and
demands of him to do it. Here most di.
rectly he runs counter to the cross road
politician and especially a certain crowd
that everywhere in this or any other
State that / have ever seen, hangs
around the court house and fattens
metaphorically upon those little pick
ings that the superintendent is after.
The little fines that no return is made
of to the treasurer the bonds that are
made by the professional bond maker
for consideration for those required to
appear at court. and who never intend
to and never do it. To these men and
many others the superintendent is a
is done, he breaks up all of these little
extra sources of income, but in doing sc
adds largely to the school revenues. His
attending to the Sci Pa docket of the
Superior and Criminal court is another
Objectionable feature in his conduct, but
it too adds to the justly due school rev.
enues. Taxes are not always assessed
properly, and then he can present
another very Objectionable feature in
the execution of his duty. and to a GER
tain class he will be very offensive.
Nevertheless, well attended to he win
find this very fruitful source of in
creased revenue. Having fully perform
ed these duties he will find his reward
in increased length of term of school,
and this to the superintendent / have
described will be recompense to his
heart. and an ample repayment for all
of the hard points he has met with in
travelling the proverbial Jordan road
These duties are irksome but the re-
suits, when they are properly perform
ed, make ample and happy returns.