Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-02-28
COUNTY SUPERVISION.
An Interesting Letter From Prof J.
u. Cross.
To the Editor of the Ledger.

To the Editor of the Ledger.
MEXICO, Feb. 25. The time for
voting on County School Supervision
draws ear and the people desire to
inform themselves thoroughly on the
subject. l beg space to summarize
what has been said and add a few
more points.
1. Counties Of this State may, at
their option, elect a County School
Superintendent, who would perform
the duties now resting upon the Coun-
ty Commissioner and various other
duties and whose whole time
would be given to the work. tSee
laws published this week.
2. In this county his salary would
be 5000 raised from taxation, besides,
perhaps 800 from other sources. Each
taxpayer will pay nearly I cents
more on each 81 1000 valuation.
3. His Jurisdiction would not ex-
tend over Mexico schools, but, in an
indirect way, they would receive
much benefit. The work of the
country schools would be arranged to
harmonic with that of the high
schools of Mexico and the other
schools of the county. Ask those con-
nected with this work Of the adj
vantages in this correction. Mexico
cheerfully pays $500 year for an
efficient superintendent, then why
cannot the 100 country schools Of this
county have a 5000 supervisor?
4. We have an able man at the
head Of school affairs of the State, in
the person of Prof. w. T. Darlington.
He can have no possible selfish inter
est in this matter, and yet he volun-
teers to say 81 have recently visited
200 rural schools, and l unhesitatingly
declare that schools in counties hav-
ing Supervision are so per cent. bet
ter than in other counties visited"
(Also notice what our former Repre-
sentative says.) Coming from such
high authority should not these state
ments have some weight with the
voters who endeavor to secure the
greatest good to the greatest num-
Der?
5. The change would not interfere
with the duties Of the directors of
rural schools. They could still decide
what studies should be taught in
their respective schools, but the
superintendent would provide for ex-
animation and graduation in that
work.
Q. Nine counties in the State have
supervision and not n havediscarded
it. Some of these counties has worked
under this plan for several years.
Would this be the cas- If the laws
were detrimental to the best interests
of the people?
7. What is the opinion of every
progressive, up-to-date teacher on
this question? l have heard of n
man saying that he wished he had a
thousand votes to cast against it, for
he had taught under a superintendent
in this State and the superintendent
only visited him once and spent only
one hour. Now IL seems to me that
this teacher should have taken that
as a high compliment. He did not
need supervising, But the fact is that
this gentleman quit teaching nearly
20 years ago and 10 years before this
law was enacted. l believe that we
should be given credit for some pro-
gress in that time. Certainly we have
remedied some of the defects of the
old law.
8. The charge that incompetent,
unsatisfactory persons might secure
the place and thereby injure the work
Of the schools, is fully guarded against
in the provision which says the Coun-
ty Court shall order warrents for the
payment of his salary 'if satisfied
he has faithfully performed the duties
of his office.n Our County Court is
composed of the best men of the coun-
ty. Complaints would o o reach
their ears and cut short the "incompe-
tents career. Respectfully,
N CRoSs