Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-03-30
County School Superintendent.

To the Editor OF the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo, March %, 1905 -
Would you allow me space in your
paper to say a few words in regard to
supervision OF our common schools, as
it seems to be the opinion, OF many are
laboring under, that it is necessary for
a superintendent 10 visit every school
In the county.
Under the system the superintend-
ent should know at all times how each
and every school in the county is pro-
crossing, and stay at his Office the
same as a train dispatcher knows at
all times where his trains are going.
l know whereof / speak, having
lived under the system for twenty
years, and was director and clerk OF
the school board twelve years, also
township trustee for six years.
Now, to outline some Of the duties
iof the office. The superintendent
sends out each month to the teachers
the work TO be gone over. At the end
of the month he sen is out blanks with
questions for each pupil to answer,
and they are returned to him. Both
are sent to the clerk Of the school
board, and he presents them to the
school on examination day. The
pupils or teachers have no chance to
be better posted on one question than
another. Therefore their work is
more thorough and complete. The
examintion papers are returned to the
clerk and be sends them to the super
intendent. He grades them and re-
turns their standing.
Each parent knows just how bis
child is progressing. This is done
once month, or every two months,
and serves to keep every child urged
forward to keep up with the rest OF the
pupils 1t is also incentive for each
teacher TO urge his school to thorough
and complete work, as be or she does
not wish to be found tagging behind
the adjoining district, as the record In
the superintendent Office will show
who is the progressive one,
Another advantage. In case pupil
moves to some other part Of the county
or to another state he has bis grades
with him, and is not put back week
or two In order to ascertain where he
belongs, as the teacher will see at a
glance just where TO assign him. The
same In regard to a new teacher CON-
ing in to take charge Of the school.
No time is lost, and the work is taken
up from the last "peg" they drove.
Then, it will give us better qualified
teachers, as they must undergo more
thorough examination. A part Of the
blame would rest on the superintend-
ent for sending out those not compe-
tent. 1t stops the $500 bribe fees
from each and every one who thinks
they could impose on some district.
The officer is paid out Of the county
treasury, and well earns bis money.
Schools are fifty per cent better where
this is adopted.
So is the report Of counties that
have already adopted it, and such is
the report Of State Superintendent of
this State. They do not wish to go
back to the old system. The small
pittance it pays the officers in the
county is not drop In the bucket. To
some 1t does not reach cent and a
half taxation in addition to our county
taxes on each one hundred dollars, as
1t is only a s750.0O office. In Cham
paign county, ILL.,, 81 $50 per year, and
no Office returns as much back to the
people as this gives; and no officer is
more busy.
should have said further that it is
only necessary for the superintendent
to visit the schools that are tagging,
and not every school in the county.
1t is only where his presence is needed
to advise and find out the cause OF
poor progress. This is another incen-
tive to urge both the teacher and
pupil not knowing when the superin-
tendent might drop in on them.
My kind friends this is only a part
Of the good derived from this office,
and 1t is stepping stone to graded
schools.
think this is sufficient for an in
telligent people who wish their child
rem to have all the advantages neces-
sary 10 a good education.
| n w Rrrrr Er