The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-20
ASKS / s'sQUARE| DEAL
FOR RURAL SCHOOL
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OLSEN
MAKES MANY SUGGESTIONS. .
Recommendation Made to Legislature
That Lew Be Changed to Permit,
Electionso Boards of Education by
Votes, and Selection Of County SUI
perintendents on Merit.

State Superintendent Of Schools John
/ w. Olsen, IN his regular report to the
legislature for the department of pub
llic instruction, will advocate a number
LOT radical changes relative to the gov
eminent of schools in the country dis
tricts.A Chief of these will be rec
Communication calling for the election of
county school boards, and the selection,
Lot the3county superintendent by these
boards rather than their election by
popular vote. This is urged for the
tbetterment of the service, as it is main
tanned that It. will raise the grade of
county. superintendent, attract Better
| men, give the country school children a.
square deal, and will take the schools
out Of politics.. In his report Mr.. Olsen
says: a
! The country child is entitled to teaching just
| as inspiring, environments Just as !healthful
| and comfortable and supervision just as eff
fcfent as is the city child. At present he ID
not getting these. The city schools of Mime
sofa are; noted for the scholarship, professional
attachments and high character Of their super
| intendents, who elected strictly upon their
| merits, regardless Of politics or the accident
OF residence, and who without professional GER
Utica ties secured under rigid supervision Of the
! state examining board would be Ineligible
| Is No Chance to Advance. ii i;
We have professional city superintendent,
college-bred, who q rule have served their
apprenticeship as teachers, graded school prin-
cipals, secured their promotion to the super
| 1ntendency Of small cities and gradually adj
yanced to the most desirable positions in the
state. Young men of thoro qualifications and
natural fitness may enter the field with reason
ape expectations OF promotion; the prospects
| OF advancement retaining them and melting
them to their best efforts. .ss-ss . EE-ht -
Superintendent of the 1872 state high-school
aistricfs including the high-school principals in
sfy Pifi 1zo-y
] year., and under their expert supervision the
schools have 'fourished; meanwhile our county
schools, In which the majority must reNive
thelr education, have been left to shameful.>s
underpa1d supervision, that has too often lacked
scholarship, experience, culture and intelligent
! interest. 2. d.. ~ - 221.E - =
! Nor Is 1t surprising that the county super
lntendency fails to attract and retain our best
educators If compelled to go thru the turmoil
| OF party contests and If the salary in prospect
We're SO inadequate as to be beggarly it would
pc impossible to have such superintendent as
/ nave made our city schools the best in the
union The plan of selecting and licensing city
! superintendent is success. No one thinks of
changing it: Why not adapt it to the needs
4 OF the country schools ~: y: Is H. . r. II
( ! - Proposed Changes.
| Why. not permit the voters of each county
| at the annual school meetings when party Is
sues are not an issue to elect county board
| Of education? Provision could be made for q
board Of five members, one or two to be elect.
ed each year. The expense of such an election
would be slight. The same tellers that count
the votes on the incoming member of the local
board could make the proper returns to the
county auditor. This plan has been under dis
cussfon Tor some time and generally commends
| itself to progressive educators and others in
terested in education turnout the state. Such
/ a board should assume the school duties now
resting upon the board of county commissioners.
and should also select the county superintend-
| ent in the same manner as a city board of edu-
| cation selects its superintendent, without re-
gard to any consideration other than the best
many advantages. 20. 0'E ~ =.
Incidentally 1T would increase the attendance
and interest In the annual school meetings so
| Under our constitution no educational uua1i-
fcations can be legally prescribed for the county
superintendent, as he Is an elective officer Elec-
ton by a board would provide a. method where.
qualifications -. .2tsS'@ y
! 1t would build up professional county Sd.
perintendent Unlike city superintendent, the
county; superintendent cannot look tforward to
| any. promotion in his speciality. His official
experience does not logically lead to promo.
| ton. AS already stated,ra man who gives q
smaller city competent supervision may expect
! advancement; but county superintendent of ex.
| ceptiona1 ability in a smaller county cannot ex
pect advancement to larger one. -
| Some Common Difficulties
Speaking Of conditions in the coun-
try, Mr.. Olsen calls attention to the
fact that many counties have no suit
able talent, and in cases where there is
| in the county suitable material for
superintendent it hesitates to enter a
political campaign for an office where