Oxford eagle., 1908-06-25
SCHOOL AFFAIRS IN MISsIcA
SIPPI-SLIP-SHOD
METHODS.

Aiississippi Is making rapid
strides along educational lines
lnd we want 70 see her progress
yet more rapidly. but it seems in
many places those in authority
are using very dangerous and
methods in dealing with
the schools of the country. The
surerintendents in many places
in the state, as We getit from au-
then'lc sources. are running the
schools not in accordance with
the laws in many instances, but
nave taken this important work
into hand and are running things
IN very dangerous way. For
instance: many superintendent
are handling all the money, that
IS, paying it out to teachers,
without taking the pains to make
single contract OF any kind.
Strange way t. run so important
a business. The law says. Sec
ton 1850, Code 1906. the super
intendent shall make contracts in
duplicate with the teachers and
that / shall be unlawful to issue
n certificate for services until
this is done. Hence the super
intendent is subject to indict-
ment for failing to comply with
the law in this regard. We learn
that even in our own county the
superintendent has pursued such
a careless dangerous policy. This
is taking too much responsibility:
the law says teachers must have
contracts, yet they have none
and thousands OF dollars are be-
ing paid out TO them: some one
should see to this. We do not
desire to criticise unjustly-this
policy is being pursued in many
places, we learn, but one can
easily see the dangers that might
follow such 4 system.
Again, We learn that the school
funds in this and other counties
have been so badly handled that
the teachers get only part pay
for certain months and then ex-
pect t. get the balance in other
months; this does not look right.
when was such system ever
used before? We accuse no one
of wrong doing save failing to
comply with the lava slight
error can always be excused: the
law does net cover every little
item of right and justice, but in
the main it Is correct-little
things can be overlooked. they
do no harm, but the fla; refusal
to obey a plain system marked
out to follow seems 10 Us to 90
beyond the power Of any official
ID violate.
In many instances, we learn.
there are superintendent who
have other business that demands
their attention-this should not
be, a superintendent should at
tend to no other business; ALL
his time is necessary to produce
the best results-many superin-
tendents are under contract to
use all their time in school work,
yet they ignore this. In our own
county, Of course, we have much
interest and want to be helpful
to all officers but must be just to
the people first, and mean not to
criueise unfairly anyone, but
justice demands that superin-
te3dents attend strictly to the
work OF the schools. How can a
man run his store. his farm. or a
newspaper on the side and at
tend to the Office of Superintend-
ent? lie cannot. Yet some men
are doing this. We learn, not only
financially Interested but actual
ly doing the work in such enter
prises as the above.
Our own county, we think. is
perhaps in as good shape As the
majority, but the fact remains
the law should be rigidly enforc-
&c. Let the people everywhere
have contracts with teachers.
equal systematic payment Of
teachers as well as attention to
the business Of the Office and az
iention to other matters should
rot be tolerated.
These matters are OF such vita,
importance that we shall from
time to time make such COM
ments as the welfare OF tine peo-