The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-04-29

of education composed of five members.
The chairman of the county board of
supervisors is to be ex officio member of
this board and the other four members
are to be elected by the people at the
spring election for term of four years,
two members to be elected every other
year. If the blu passes the first board
is to be elected in the spring of 1910, all
of the four members being elected at
the same time. When the board organ
ICES (soon after election) they decide by
lot who shall serve for two and who for
four years.
This board has in charge the school
affairs of the county as n city board of
education now has in charge the school
affairs of a city. They hire the county
superintendent, submit budget to the
county board of supervisors suggesting
the amount Of money to be spent for the
department of education, make report
to the county board of the condition of
the school affairs of the county, audit
all bills pertaining to the superinten.
dent, and rs far as possible keep in close
touch with the general educational
work of the county. They receive 4 pei
diem salary and the number of days for
which they can draw this salary is limit
ed.
Regarding the selection of superinten-
A.. i, Al.
as city board of education is now.
Comparison may also be made to the
voters of the school district who meet to
select a school board one of whose func
tons is to select teacher. just as the
district board hires a teacher, this new
county board of education hires the
superintendent, and they may select any
person having the proper qualifications
whether such one be resident of the
county or not.
The superintendent thus becomes re-
ponsble to the board for the perform
ance of his duties He advises with the
board as to the needs of the school and
they have the power to provide him help
as far as the money goes that has been
voted by the county board of supervis
ors In large counties they may provide
an assistant or two to aid in the work of
school supervision. They may also pro,
vide for clerk help aud a board of ex
aminers for county school diplomas. The
board fixes the salary of the superinten-
dent and any assistants that may be pro-
vided
The board hires the superintendent in
spring for two years. His term of ser
vice will begin in July.
These are the principal features of the
bill Since this is an important meas
: ure it might be we'll to consider some of
the arguments for and against the meas
ure. 1t should be understood first, how
ever, that this matter affecting the
whole state and that the conditions pre-
vailing in some portions may be entire,
ly unknown in other parts. An argu.
ment for the bill in one county might
not be an argument in another county.
1t should be mentioned also that Mani.
towoc County has been one of the fore
most counties in Wisconsin regarding
the interest that both the county board
and the people have taken in the work
of this office.
The arguments for the bill may be
summarized as follows;
/. There will be a tendency to keep
strong workers in the Office for a longer
time thus building up a profession of
county superintendent. The county
sup erintendency will thus become an
Office on the same plan as the city super
intendency and competent men can
then afford to remain IN it and devote
their whole time to the work instead of
using it rs u stepping stone to some
other position or as sideline to some
other occupation or profession.
In connection with this argument it
can be stated that the highest salary
paid any county superintendent in the
state at present is Sl400, next school
year Manitowoc county will pay $500,
the county board voting an additional
500 last November). Additional mp.
propriations are made in most counties
for travelling expenses and other extras
such AS diploma examinations, but this
cannot be figured into the superinten
dents salary. Many of the superinten.
dents get less than $1,000 year In
contrast to this, a city superintendent
gets more than $1,000 Racine with an
area Of few square miles and popu.
lation of about 10000 pays its superin-
tendent S2500 while Manitowoc county
with anarea of 600 square miles and a
population Of 40, 600 pays $500.
Leaving the county superutendency
for other positions iscommon. Mr. Patzer
of Manitowoc county resigned to take the
principalship of the First Ward School.
Supt w Il. Smith Of Waupaca county
resigned to take the principalship Of the
Wauskara Co. Training School Many
other instances could be enumerated
2. 1t is also claimed by some that nm.
der the present system the county super.
intendent is responsible to no one in
particular, that he can do IA much or