The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-07-24
MEETING Of COUNTY
SUP[R|NT[ND[NTS
IN CONVENTION ASSEMBLED
A FINE BODY OF WIDE
AWAKE PEOPLE.
Many Questions Considered-super
intendent H. A. Ustrud Gives
Address.

The Semi-Annual meeting of the
state superintendents was held in
Rapid City Tuesday and Wednesday
of this week. The day meetings
were held in the courthouse, and
the first meeting was opened by State
Superintendent H. A. Ustrud. During
his remarks Mr.. Ustrud said he
considered the Office of superin-
tendent of schools the most i'm
portant in the county, although it
Is not generally so recognized. In
the court house, the Office of the
superintendent is usually in the
smallest room, in an out of the way
location, while every other officer
has all possible conveniences. OF
all the county offices, the superin-
tendent of schools alone has legal
requirements for filling office-such
officers must be in possession of a
teachers certificate of first grade or
higher. A sheriff may possibly be
man who cannot write his name,
but by force of political circum-
stances he may receive a majority
vote, be elected, and serve his term
of office. But the county superin-
tendent of schools must have certain
educational requirements that rep
resent both time and money in ac-
quiring. Furthermore, ali county
officers, excepting the superintend-
ent of schools are entitled to neces-
sary clerk help or deputy, and all
bills of Office are paid without mur-
mur. But the superintendent is
expected to run his Office on small
salary, deputy or clerk grudgingly
granted or not at all, he has to pay
all his expenses relative to perform
ance of duty in visiting schools, and
other necessary expenses are met
only after the commissioners have
complained because of the "heavy
expense" of the office. Much of the
superintendent's time has to be
spent away from his Office visiting
schools, and officers, during which
time, correspondence lags behind,
and work accumulates, which might
be avoided were the Office supplied
with deputy or clerk. Superintend-
ent Ustrud suggested that it was
time for the county superintendents
to demand their rights and secure
the recognition they deserve. These
suggestions were well received by
those present
The secretary of the Association
being absent, Mrs. Stella Kahl, of
Vermillion, superintendent of Clay
county, was elected secretary pro
TEN. The roll was called and it was
found that fourteen out of the fifty
three counties were not represented.
Deputy Superintendent G. S. Sven
son took up a practical discussion
Of the details of the annual report
Of county superintendent to the
state department, covering much
valuable ground, and giving helpful
suggestions for making the report,
to which there is no end of trouble
to all concerned.
AT the afternoon session Prof;
Swenson finished his discussion.
Supt. "A. H. Seymore lead in dis
cussion on Supply of Teachers .
From his point of view he is unde-
termined as to the supply of teach
ers this next year, although he
thinks conditions as good now as
they were a year ago. If necessity
demands, he deems it advisable to
secure teachers from other states, al
though the superintendent should
play fair with the applicants, and
not have one come from the east only
to fail in examination, or fail in Sc.
I curing position. It is not advis.
able to make teachers Of Eighth
grade graduates, although some Of
these may have adaptations and dc
we'll. Normal graduates are moi
looking for rural schools, rather fol
city positions, hence many rura
teachers must be taken from the
rural and high schools Prof. Sey.
mour is an enthusiastic speaker anG
his remarks were received with ap
plause.
The subject was further discussed
by Superintendents schellenger
Ransom, Muller. Woodbury. and 9th
ers. Supt. Ustrud urged that higher
wages be paid to teachers, thus hold
ing them as teachers. Supt. Moir in
dicated a laxity on the teachers par
in intellectual development. At j.
recent examination he had Al ap
plicants, none of whom had rea,
any professional books during th'
year; five or six had read littl
standard literature, while all the res
had read literature OF lower grade
Until teachers can be brought up t,
a higher intellectual grade, the pric
N paid for wages, he thinks, is sui
Acient for service rendered. Othe
superintendents gave interestin,
suggestions tending to the help o
the rural schools. II condition
could be remedied, which could b
done By the school officers by the Ell
pendfture of a little more money.
II An intermission Of fifteen minute