The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-01-03
January ). eos
they do not want any state inspector
'nosing" around their county.

Will commend 1GSell TO every county
superintendent of the state regardless
Of the number of schools under his
supervision. would advocate the ap-
pointment or election of two inspec-
tors whose duty it would be to 90 into
any part of the state at any time and
inspect the schools that come under
their charge. These inspectors should
not be required to visit all the schools
under their charge in any one county,
but they may visit all the schools lin
one county while they visit none in
another. These inspectors should be
given the power to refuse state aid to
any district inspected by themselves
or to any district where conditions
not warranting the giving of the aid
are known to exist, notwithstanding
the endorsement of the county super
intendent. The moral influence of
such officers with such power will do
more to stimulate county superinten-
dents and school officers than can be
hoped for by the most sanguine.
Such an officer can and would be
power in the hands of all county su-
perintendents. A very large per cent
of the schools now receiving state aid
are not equipped as they should be,
neither is the teaching in many of
them up to an excellent standard. In
many cases the county superintendent
is unable to bring his schools up to the
standard in equipment and teaching
that he would have them from the
mere fast that his Office is in politics
and he cannot afford to ALLEVIATE a
whole district to secure better condi-
tion of things demanding the expendi
ture of a few dollars It is unfair
to blame the county superintendent for
: failure to stand up against this poll
tical pressure. They are simply hu-
man. In most cases they are dependent
upon the salary they receive for their
, support, therefore it becomes matter
!, of self preservation. They do what
nineteen people out of every twenty
would do under similar circumstances,
stife their own convictions, yield to
the pressure and subject the schools to
the rule of insuficiency.
A typical case and not an intrequent
one came under my personal observa-
tion not more than a month ago. A
certain school district, having secured
a first grade teacher desires to make
!, application for the state aid the pre-
sent year, and informed me that they
had complied with the law and were
when l visited their school 1 might
| find things in commepdable condition.
Upon my visit l found most things
in paseable condition in the school
; room but when 1 went to the rear of
the school house, 1 found one of those
incubators of every evil-a double par
| titioned outbuilding, where the jack
} knife held in wicked hands and guided
/ by filthy mind and eye had made di-
J verse and sundry holes. 1 sent for the
board and proceeded to try to convince
them that the condition of their out
, building was bsrbarous. My argu-
ment was entirely lost sight of for
} there arose at once before their minds
/ eye the vision of that almighty dollar
} that would be required to construct
/ another outbuilding. Those officers
were not slow in informing me that l
would be less particular if [ had to
: bear part of the burden of making the
change Evidently those deluded Off
GERS hoped to silence me by one vOlley
and never dreamed that would be
, able to respond to such powerful argu-
ment. informed them that in case
, the district was too poor to bear the
g burden l would gladly head subscrip-
, tion list to the extent of IS for the
: purpose of erecting decent outbuild-
!, ing for the girls of that school They
q were ashamed to accept my offer.
, am not informed. that the nuisance
y has been or will be changed. did not
n tell them that [ would or that would
not sign their application this year. If
: L do not sign it, they will proceed to
h get even with me should L be candi-
date for reelection the coming year.
4 What would you do about it2 How
many can say that not one district un-
+ der your charge has been permitted to
4 receive the state aid under similar and
f other manifold conditions that arise
Here is a remedy for all such cases
v aid any others that may arise. Let a
n state inspector be appointed and the
" county superintendent in such cases
g as the above or others can simply say
|, "Gentlemen, there is state inspector
having jurisdiction over your school
e and in case he comes this way, as he
h is likely to do, am certain that your
+ district will be denied the aid this
q year." In case the district failed tt
comply, the superintendent could send
. for the inspector and have him visit
q the school. Thus it will be seen with
f. out further argument or other ex
, amples that such inspector instead OF
! curtailing the power of the county
superintendent would be power il
o his hand to bring about a wholesome
ii condition in which he would like tt
t keep his schools. Beside all this the
o inspector could secure uniformity
= Throughout the state. by holding private
+ and public conferences with the
% county superintendents
re For fifty years the rural schools have
At been under the present system o.
" supervision. The state has had mar
~ voIous daveIonment Growth in every