The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-24
FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
STATE INSPECTION FOR COUNTRY
DISTRICTS A NECESSARY
AID
EDUCATORS IN FAVOR OF IT
VIII Again Ask Legislature to Grant
It-VieVys of County Superin-
tendent Freeman, of
Blue Earth.

Although the last session of the Leg
islature killed the bin providing for ru-
raj school inspectors the idea has not
been killed but has been agitated more
extensively than ever before, and the
county superintendent desiring it are
preparing to bring it before the next SEES
sion of the legislature, when they feel
sure that it will be passed. When the
bill was introduced last year the idea
was a new one and it had never been
discussed to any extent and there was
no systematic effort to secure its favor
able consideration
A number of county superintendent,
who have been in st. Paul during the
past week, express entire confidence that
the next legislature will act favorably
upon the proposition.
County Superintendent w. e. Freeman,
of Blue Earth county, is among the most
enthusiastic champions of the bill.
He thinks that if the state high and
graded schools need inspectors, much
more do the normal schools. lie says ru-
raj schools are not what they should
be and help is needed. He says:
Those who have given the matter OF
state inspection of high and graded
schools some consideration will not ques-
ton that the greatest good has come
from it. The inspectors of these schools
go from one town or city to another,
carrying with them the best ideas and
methods of all the schools inspected. tx
cept in very extraordinary and higniy
juStifiable cases, these inspectors do not
attempt to dictate to the principals or
superintendent of such city schools. A
wise inspector will unite his authority
with the influence Of the principal or
superintendent and togther Will secure
through the board of education such
building, such apparatus and such teach
ers as the conditions of the school may
require. How many times have l, and
how many times have you, heard prdci-
pals and superintendent express wish
that the inspector would come in order
that necessary changes might be made in
teachers or school equipment?
Before passing to the real question at
issue, it will be well to compare the con-
ditions governing the inspection and SUI
perviSion of the common schools of q
county with those Of the city For this
purpose I shall take the city of Mankato
and the county of Blue Earth. select
these two because of q personal knowl-
edge Of each. 1 believe perfectly paraI-
lei case may be drawn from any county
in the state. Some may say there are
few counties in the state with as many
teachers as Blue Earth. In answer TO
which l must say that there are rev
cities in the state with as many teachers
as Mankato.
Mankato has one superintendent, Blue
Earth has one. MdUhdJO Hd5 AOL ~ OA4O
rooms to be visited, Blue Earth has one
hundred forty three, excluding I'VE lnde-
pendent districts. Mankato schools are
confined to five buildings, no two OF
which are more than two miles apart
Blue Earth has one hundred forty-tnree
buildings scattered over nine hundred
square miles. Mankato has nine months
school, during all of which time inspec-
ton and supervision may be carried on;
Blue Earth has less than eight months
school on the average; ManKat0 scnoeiS
open, nave their VACATION, and close uni uni
the Isl of September to the 18th of No
vember, and close at sundry times e Man
Blue Earth has one hundred forty-three
teachers, 20 per cent Of whom are profess
sionally trained, 90 per cent are
without any experience Whatever,
and many of them with no
more than a very elementary education.
Mankato has few changes among Us
teaching force. Blue Earth changes ful-
iv one-third every year. BY a similar
comparison with some OF the smaller
towns of the county much greater differ
ences would appear, but l consider the
comparison a typical one.