The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-07
MOST USEFUL OFFICE
Care Should be Taken in
Choosing Co. Supt.
If He is Well Qualified He Does The County
More Good Than Any 0thtr County
Official.


To the Editor: Although l have been
engaged in private or denominationa
school work, since my term of office ex-
pired, yet l have lost none of my inter-
est and concern for the welfare and pro-
gress of our public school work Instead
of resting during the vacations i have
Joined gladly in carrying on the educa-
tional campaigns, giving whatever of
strength and influence | have for the
cause and / expect to continue to do so
in the future.
In view of these facts, / trust it viii not
be considered out of order for me to write
few lines setting forth my opinion of
this office which is so soon to be filled by
the respective county boards of educa-
ton throughout the State.
The first proposition / make is that the
office of county superintendent of public
schools is the most important one in any
county in North Carolina, whether the
county be large or small.
is this office more important than that
of sheriff? This man who collects our
taxes, and looks after evil-doers?
Does the office in any sense equal in i'm
portance the office of sheriff?
The county superintendent can make it
easier for the sheriff to collect his taxes,
by intoxicating the spirit of patriotism and
creating in the minds of the people a
county pride. He viii teach his people
that local taxes locally applied will not
make them poor. but will make them
stronger people and make their county
model for others to follow.
He viii have special taxes for schools,
which will be seen by the tax payer, for
good roads which will be seen and used
by the tax payer When our people can
see something for the taxes they pay, be-
sides jails and court houses, and few
offices around the court houses, then they
will be more willing to pay taxes.
This officer will be gong over the coun-
ty for law and order. A school and it's
influence stands for law and order and
against the evil doer. The county su-
perintendent, and those teachers whom he
leads, will make it easier to collect taxes,
and viii diminish the number and the
power of the evil-doers. Therefore, /
think the office OF more importance than
that of sheriff
Is the office of more Importance than
the clerk of the Superior Court?
The Clerk keeps the recor ; of the
court. The records of proceedings in
criminal and civil cases disposed of at
each term of court. Records of wills, re-
cords of corporations. etc.
The county superintendent and his work
will lessen the criminal docket, promote
the brotherhood of man and cause men to
settle their civil matters among them
selves as fellow citizens and friends.
thereby saving lawyers fees and hard
sayings of each other, therefore. the Of
flee of county superintendent is of more
Importance than the clerk Of the court
Is the office Of more Importance than
the office of register of deeds?
This officer keeps the records of deeds
to all real estate. Records of mortgages,
makes abstracts of taxes, etc
The county superintendent keeps a re-
cord Of the contract between the county
treasurer and each child in the county
as to what is due each child Looks after
the fines that should go to the school
fund. He should write for the public
each year a record of the fines as record
ed by the clerk Of the court Give the
record as to how fines are after once inn
posed cut down or entirely taken off the
offender. Let the people of his county
know that the children receive all the
public money that legally belongs to them,
and therefore this office of county SUI
perintendent is of more Importance than
the register of deeds.
7 u.,1I fol r,O,,r 1yoI,,ot,lo 4
mention the remaining county officers
but rest the case and assume that the
verdict of the public is and will be that
the office of county superintendent is the
most important one in the county.
1t is, therefore, of vital Importance that
the greatest caution and care should be
used in the selection of these officers.
II were a member of a county board
of education. and I consider it an honor
to man to have this office. / would try
to get my associates to join me in Sc
lecting a man who had the qualifications
for the peculiar work that needed to be
done in my county, each county has its
own peculiar conditions and special work
to be done. and if we. after seeing just
what ought to be done. did not have
man such as we needed. then / would
insist that we do as the city school boards
do, go after the man, no matter where he
comes from.
This would be new move in North
Carolina. but I now predict that it will
be done before many more years roll
around
We have had some faithful. self-sacrific-
ing men in some of the counties for years
but in some counties the boards haye not
realized how very important this office is.
The work done has been vim most of the
counties merely supplementary to some
thing else.
From the Southern Education ! get
these remarkable figures
Nine counties pay Co. Supt less than
800.
Eighteen counties pay Co. Supt less
than 5000.
Eighteen counties pay Co Supt less
! than $500.