Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-01-17

mandatory. and properly so,
County boards ofeducatien must
obey the law. The compensation
allowed is nowsufficient to justify
the superintendent in visiting the
schools. In no other way can he
acquaint himself so well with the
educational condition and needs
OF every part of the county, with
the merits and defects, the dis.
position and character of t h G
teachers, and acquire such a
knowledge of the people and the1
views as will make him a help.
full advisor in the selection ol
teachers and committeeman and
q wise and effective leader in all
educational matters of the county
If there be a county superinten.
dent whose visits to his schools
would not be benificial to himself
his teachers, his schools, his peo-
pie, no surer evidence of his in
competency is needed, and his re-
signation should be asked at
once. The mostvaluable part OF
the work of a living, competent
superintedent will be his visits to
the schools and people. Without
such visits the work of super
vision is a misnomer and largely
a farce, and the county superin-
tendent little more than q clerk
to the board of education and q
mechanical examiner. of teach
ers.
1t will be observed that county
superintendents are required to
attend the annual session of the
state association of county super
intendents, and that provision is
made for their expenses.
There is among us too much
ignorance concerning the laws
governing the public schools.
Not only parents but teachers
and even county superintendent
and school boards, now and then,
tail to acquaint themselves with
their obligations. These very per
sons would probably read a lee
ture to a girl or boy for breaking
a school regulation and would
not excuse the child pleading ig
horace OF the exist ence OF such q
regulation.
They will enter into active SER
vice in behalf Of the children.
They will see to it that comforta.
BILE and attractive school houses
are built; that teachers and su-
perlnteadents abide by the law;
that only first-grade teachers are
licensed to teach; that only first
grade men or women are elected
TO superintend the teachers; that
q nine months term is assured in
every public school district; that
the parent who does not vote a
tax to provide t h ese
necessities or who does not keep
his children in school shall love
caste as a citizen. When the faith
srs and mOthers-but more the
mothers than the fathers deter
mine upon the elevation of their
schools IN the public estimate,
there will be no compulsory law
needed. There will be fewer little
ones toiling amid the heat. the
lust. the lint and the poisoned
air OF the shops and of the iacto-
'ies. There will be lever pale.
pinch-iaced, listless cigarette smo
sers and snuff dippers among our
children. There will be fewer bread.
winners among the babies a n d
more among the tathers.
The time has passed when an
gnorant man can hold his own,
even in the mountain covea. The
telegraph, tslepone, steam-cars,
Ind electric motors now pene.
rate many Of these formerly &C.
,luded snots aud are filling them
With the busy lite OF the day. The
Sild, iree life Of. the illiterate MO
neer OF back-woodsman isknown
hut in books in these days of ru.