Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1908-10-22
Letter from Mrs. pesersee.


! As an officer. and as candidate for
reelection. consider It only justice
to submit, fes statements regarding
the office ul county superintendent.
When took tie oath Of oflice did
so with keen sense IT the great re-
sp0nsibility was assuming.
Since that time MY responsibilities
and interest in the work have Inc
creased in proportion with the In
creased number OF scllo Is.
| The growth OF Enmons county in
the past few years has been rapid,
and, likewise, the schools aud school
work have increased as rapidly q
has every other line OF work in the
county.
| The fact that the legislature has
raised the qualifications IT county SUI
perintendent goes to show the import
ance with which this office is re.
garded..
| Higher qualifications and more as-
sistance have done much toward prog
ress, especially in rural schools. Dur
Ing the past two years i have devoted
not only my own time to the work Of
the office, but when necessary, In or.
der to accomplish more work, / have
had assistance.
| 1t is impossible for any one person
TO visit the schools-of which there
are now over one hundre d-and be in
the Office at the same time.
That l might giyer proper super.
vision IS the rural schools, and ct the
same time keep the Office open, as Is
the custom with other county Offices,
| have so planned aud arranged my
work that competent deputy can
carry on the work during my absence
In the country. Thus, double work
has been done, and not | personally,
but the schools of the county, have
received the direct benefit Of this ex-
ira help.
Moreover, consider the amount Of
labor it means fos the county SUPER
intendent to instruct deputy in all
the details OF the office work before
going out to visit schools.
| Do you think this would be done
were it not for the best interests OF
the schools: What would he the OBJ
ject OF this extra labor on the part Of
the superintendent?
| On the other hand, it would be
much less trouble for me to lock the
Office aud 60 out visiting schools, with
no thought OF the office work until
my return. Should you have busi-
ness at the Office it would be locked,
while other county offices would be
open. Correspondence would remain
in the postotfice until my return.
| Would you consider this good SER
vice? Why should the law provide
for two deputies in a county the size
of Emmons, If no assistance is neces-
sary: lSee Article 2, Section III, OF
the General School Laws.) Why
should it provide for a well-qualified
county superintendent " only partial
supervision will do as we'll and fulfill
the requirements Of the law:
| leave it to you to decide.
| have endeayored to he thorough.
deliberate and conscientious in al
matters pertaining to my official du-
ties. Laying aside all personal feel
ings or prejudices, have tried at all
times to administer justice.
Section GAO Of the General School
Laws provides that the county super
intendent shalt visit each public
school under his supervision. He shall
at such visit carefully observe the
condition of the school, the mental
and moral instruction given, the
methods of teaching employed by the
teacher, the teachers ability, and the
progress of the pupils.
| Furthermore, the superintendent
shall provide for school officers meet
ings, and also for teachers meetings,
for the purpose of studying method.
of teaching, organizing, classifying
and governing schools.
This takes considerable work and
preparation on the part of the super.
intendent.
During the past two years these
various lines of work have been taken
up, with favorable results.
This serves as another Illustration
of the need of assistance in the Office.
| After the work has been planned,
the correspondence aud other minor
details, SO necessary 10 the success Of
any meeting, can be done by the dep
uty while the superintendent may be
out visiting schools.
Time enough should he spent with
each school TO get an insight into the
teachers work, and The work of the
pupils as we'll, and thus be able to Of
fer suggestions along whatever line OF
work the teachers may need help.
This, feel, Is real supervision.
Among other duties OF the county
superintendent are the itling and
keeping OF various official records; dc.
Gliding questions OF school 10 =; admin
istertnE OatllS To school officers; appOr-
tionmcnt Of school funds; appralxing
school lands; holding teachers lnsti.
tute and conducting tcacl,e,s cxami.
| nations.