Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-03-09
CountY superyision of Schools.

mexico, Mo-, Feb. 25, '05.-What
does it mean? 1t means to pay man
s700 year to put in his time faithful
ly in visiting schools, in holding town
ship institutes, In comforting with
patrons and teachers upon all import
ant school matters, In making special
visits to all districts where his pres
ence and council can be Of any service
to either teacher or patrons, In exam
lining and ascertaining the condition
of each school as to its needs and sug-
gesting to proper parties the best rem
edies In providing and helping to es-
tablish an uniform course of study In
all the schools Of the county, In hold
ing frequent patrons meeting to dis
cuss school questions, in protecting
teachers and unsuspecting patrons
against fraudulent schemes, In saving
districts from 20 to so per cent Of the
money spent for school furnishings, in
providing many methods and plans to
estimate and encourage teachers and
pupils to better and more satisfactory
work.
Teachers and pupils are like other
human beings and are moved to do
their best by encouragement and slim.
ulation. Think OF tht! Under our
present system, is there proper de-
velopment Uf school sentiment 10 our
different cJmmunitie =? No, II you
nope 10 educate your children you are
not pending much on the rural
school Why? The rural schools Of
Kansas, Ilinoi, and Iowa are much
ahead Of our schoul, l defy any one
to find man or woman, who, being
familiar with the present work Of sup
ervislon in these states, is against 1t
In Audrain.
II you have not studied this question
and have not time to do so, should you
not take the evidence Of those who
have studied 1t and witnessed its
workings?
Mexico pays 81, 800 a year for school
superintendent. The county ought
to pay as much and secure equally as
good talent. But as we cannot do this
under our present law, let's do the
best we can.
Cannot a man beginning to fit or
prepare himself for any business in
life, be greatly benefited by the coun-
sci and help of those who are exper-
fenced in that same business? This
same rule applies, perhaps, with great
er force to teaching than to any other
occupation.
So many young teachers going out
every year to begin new work, need
and appeal for guiding hand.
Every intelligent man or woman,
who has studied this vital question,
knows that this is true.
There can be no uniformity Of work
without supervisor. A superinten-
dent can spend at least a day In each
school in the county, spending more
time in those schools that need his at
tentlon most. This time with each
should be divided into two or three
visits. Everybody knows that these
visits would prove beneficial to our
schools.
Some people are constitutionally
against every measure that means
PROGRESS. They are against this,
and SO, also, are incompetent or care
less teachers. 1t means hard times for
this latter class, for they will have to
wake up or quit the business.
County supervision has been voted
down twice in Audrain, the last time
by 1876 majority, but it was not de-
feated by men who understood the
question. Several prominent men
who voted against it are now for it. l
have been asked to preyare an article
covering this subject and this is as
short as / can make it.
l could furnish volumes upon this
question, but / do not care to ask too
much space in our newspapers, whose
editors have always treated this ques-
tion very generously.
II any man wants to be convinced,
let him take time to investigate the
points | have mentioned.
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