The Mankato free press., 1904-11-04

From Mondays Daily.
Non-partisan election of county super
intendents of schools will be the key
note of an educational bill to be pre-
sented to the next legislature. Politics
is to be avoided by the school men if
they can lobby the bill through the leg
islature Nothing short of bill max
ing it impossible for them to yield to
the allurements of politics, it is assert
ed, will keep them out of the game,
saws The st. Paul Pioneer Press. After
discussion which lasted most of the
day the legislative committee of the
Minnesota Educational association in a
framed the skeleton of an educational
bill. which, after it has been approved
and revised by the educators of the
state, will be substituted to the legisla
ture.
The most prominent feature of the bill
is regarding the election of county SUI
perintendents of schools. At present
they are elected the same as other coun-
ty officials Under the proposed scheme
they are to be elected by body, known
as the county board of education, which
will be elected at the regular annual
school election, which at present is non
partisan. Five members are to be elect
ed from the five county commissioner
districts of the county, who will form
the county board of education and elect
the county superintendent. In this way
the trainers of the bill think the county
superintendents will be taken out of
politics and the tenure of the office
made so stable that better men will be
attracted into the service. 1t is main
tanned that the county superintendents
get too small a salary to make a cam
paign every two years, and that good
men who would fill the offices with
credit are often kept out of the pro-
fession.
1t is also intended to raise the stand
ard of the county superintendent. Only
those who hold frst-grade certificate
will be qualified to be elected by the
county board of education. This, how
ever, will not affect those already hold
ing positions, who will be eligible to of
flee as long as they remain in the office,
but new candidates must have first
grade certificate. Under the present sys-
tenn there is no educational qualifica
tion demanded Any person may file
at the primaries and become a county
superintendent of schools.
The bill will provide for a substantial
increase in salaries, which will make
it possible for the county superin-
tendent to live in a manner in keeping
with the dignity of his position which it
is claimed is impossible under salaries
now allowed some county superintend-
ents. The salary is to be increased from
$40 district to SIS district. Some
counties have as many as 200 districts
and the smallest county has about
eighty school districts, so that the in
crease will range $40O to $1,000 per
year.
Another indirect increase in the salary
of the county superintendent is aimed
at by the bill. The superintendent at
present are not allowed travelling ex-
penses and as it is necessary to make
regular visits to the schools some super
intendents maintain that most of their
salaries is eaten up in livery hire and
other travelling expenses. 1t is proposed
to allow them not less than So dis
trict year which means that they
are to be allowed $24O to 5000 year
for travelling expenses. At one time
travelling expenses were allowed in some
of the counties but recently no ex-
penses have been allowed.
Certain powers will be given the coun-
ty board of education which are desig-
ned to help improve vastly the condition
of the scrools through the state. The
board is given the power to condemn
schoolhouses pronounced unfit for the
pupils.
"There are at present in the state,"
said one of the members of the commit
tee, yesterday. Schools that are not
fit for corncribs. Children are taught
in these and an attempt made amid such
surroundingto create in their minds high
ideals and lofty aspirations. A large
number of the schools are poorly ven
tilated, badly lighted and atrociously
heated in the winter. If the county
superintendents condemn the buildings,
as is their duty to do, it would bring
such odium upon them that life would
not be worth living in the county"
Plans for new schools must be sub