Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-10-22
Address of
COUNTY SUPT. BESSIE M. KANE
of Montrail County on
THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT AUTHORITY
of MOntrail County on

greatest asset OF nation is the
health of it's citizens" and though
this opinion is possibly a little ex.
treme there can be no doub, that it
is one OF the greatest assets and it
should be conserved by every means
within the power of the state. This
, being the case and the allegation be.
ing made by learned medical men,
that the greater part OF the ills that
affect adults are by conditions mi
mial to good health surrounding them
while children in school. 1t is of par
an ounr Importance that first of all
the building be hygenic and sanitary,
we'll lighted and ventilated This,
10 doubt, was recognized by the
f'amers Of the law that provided that
school boards should consult with the
county superintendent and county
health officer in regard to plans when
ever now school house is built. But
the law is inadequate, since a most
lengthy consultation is of little avail
in securing the ideal building when
no penalty attaches save the one of
doubtful legal application; allowing
the superintendent, If his rccommen-
dations are not complied with, to
condemn the building, providing re
can get the other two officials com.
prising the condemnation board to act
in conjunction with him.
How easily and effiectualIy ideal
conditions might be secured if that
law could be made to read so the
county superintendent might furnish
plans and specifications which the
school boards must make selection
subject to any minor change, approx
ed by the superintendent.
The third factor. equipment, comes
under the superintendent authority
to certain extent, but not enough
to accomplish perfect results. True,
a school board must furnish all nee
essary furniture, maps, charts and
apparatus, including a standard die
tionary, but from the very nature of
things these men are not competent
to Judge what is suitable in these
lines as the county superintendent,
yet there is no provision compelling
them even to seek the superintend-
ent's advice respecting these essent-
ial features to the successful much
less their approval. How much more
efficient work might be done were the
apparatus and text books of county's
schools at least within the range of
a superintendent advice.
Then it would seem If the supcrin-
tendent is supposed to have the gen.
eral superintendent of the schools
of the county, it Is surely advisable
that the factors over which his super
intendence is most potent for good
should be included within the reading
Of his authority to a greater extent.
1t is no doubt true that in some
counties where the public schools are
most flourishing the great good ac-
complished is due largely to the fact
that this official assumes large share
Of the authority that it is doubtful
if warrant could be found in the
code.
Then there Is one more thing that
has a large bearing on the county
superintendent authority, or rather
litical nature of the office at present.
There is no question that this Off
calls sphere of influence would be
greatly widened if the Office were
taken out of politics. 1t would seem
if this officer were elected at the
time of other school officers in June
and his candidacy were announced
by petitions not stating the party af-
filiations of the candidate, much
greater independence in the exercise
of present authority even might be
possible.
Then let US most earnestly hope
that the code commission have been
cognizant of some of the desirable
extensions of authority herein sug-
gested and let us even more earnest
ly hope their recommendation in
these respects be headed this winter
by the august body on whom we, as
educators, so greatly depend for our
opportunity to do our share in the
uplifting of our state-our legislat'
ure.