Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-02

The law creating the Office Of
county superintendent of schools,
was passed at the session Of the
legislature of 1861.
Previous to this time, the duties
assigned to this Office we're perform
ed by town superintendent, elect
ed annually, with other town Off
GERS, at the spring election. This
officer examined and licensed the
teachers for his town, visited the
schools; advised and counseled with
the teachers, suggested the purchase
of apparatus, if needed, distributed
the public school money among the
several districts of his town, add re-
ceived for his services one dollar
and fifty cents for each day actual
ly employed. in his duties.
! At the state election Of the fall Of
1861, David Parsons, of Tafton was
elected, the first county superin-
tendent under the new law.
Mr.. Parsons served for two years,
when D. Gray Purman, of Lancas-
ter, was chosen. Mr. Purman served
for four years, when J. P. Hubbard,
Of Rockville was chosen. Mr.
Hubbard served for two years, and
in 1870, was succeeded by W. Il.
Holford, of Bloomington, who served
for four years, and was followed by
Geo. M. Guernsey, of Platteville,
who, after four years of service,
was succeeded by Cnas. L. Harper,
of Hazel Green, who voluntarily
retired after thirteen years of eff
Gent service. He was succeeded
by Daniel Needham, of Lancaster,
who served for two ears, and was
succeeded by Chas. II. Nye. Of
Platteville, the present incumbent.
Under the town system, ali certi-
fcates were Of the same grade, but
at the next session of the legislat-
ure, certificates Of three grades,
first, second and third, were estab-
lished, and these, with the addition
of severalgbranches and the extern
sion of time to three years, and five
years for second and first grades
respectively, have remained to the
present time.
When the office was created, the
county board fixed the salary at
$500; this, in 1866, Was raised to
$1,000, and in 1896 was further adj
vanced to $1,000, with an allowance
of 5000 a year for travelling ex-
penses. In 1895, law was passed
requiring every person presenting
himself for examination as teacher,
to pay to the county superintendent
a fee of one dollar; also for trans
ferrihg from other counties. and
for countersigning high school
diplomas, a similar fee was required.
The fees created an institute fund,
which the superintendent was re-
quired to hold and disburse, thus
paying the expenses of Institutes
and lectures on educational topics.
The superintendent was required to
give bonds of not less than $1,000
for the faithful performance of his
official duties and the proper use OF
the institute fund.
Many changes have been made,
and laws enacted, relating to the
work of this Office, the general
tendency being to limit the authority
of the county superintendent, and
to confer greater power on the state
department.
Grant county is fairly liberal IN
the matter of salary and allowance,
paying the superintendent $1,000 a
year, and allowing 5000 a year for
travelling expenses, and paying a
deputy $500 year with no allow
ance for expenses. In order to dc
efficient work, both the superin-
tendent and his deputy must keep
one or more horses for travelling,
and the expense of this added to the
travelling expenses of both, even
with the allowance Of 5000 yearly,
reduces the salary of the superin-
tendent to about $11OO. No man,
having Normal training, supple
mented by a university course, can
afford to accept this office, at the
present salary, for men of this
stamp, like Principal SlothOwer, of
Lancaster, and Principal Gray OF
Platteville, receive $500 for nine
months work as principal Of the
high school and supervisor Of the
grades.
The choice Of county superinten-
dent will be made at the spring
election, in April next. There are,
at present, three candidates: Francis
M. Bray, principal of the high
school at Cassville; John Clarence
Brockert, the present deputy super
1ntendent; and John Wood, of Lit
tie Grant. Mr.. Bray IS a twin