Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-10-22

tendents authority could hardly fur
nish material for either a very in
teresting discourse. However, sine
this was the theme assigned me.
must at least, l presume, fill the time
if not with a discussion of what it is.
of what would be desirable that it
should be.
There is little doubt that most of
the powers exercised by the county
superintendent is authorized by the
section of the school laws that de-
clares that he shall have "the general
superintendent of the public schools
of the county," that is his powers are
more amplitied ones than expressly
delegated ones. For il we stop t.,
examine into the expressly delegate!
powers we find that in nearly every
case their exercise is so hampcred
by provisions as to become alnlos,
imperative. In fact, it would SEEN
that the only authority that is alb
solute in the superintendent is that
of granting or Withholding a permit.
and that of carrying out out the in
structions of the superintendent Of
public instruction given within his
authority.
Hardly another section of our school
law delegating powers to the super
indent but falls far short of confer
ring any real authority since 1t does
not attach any really adequate pen
atty that assists in the enforcement
of measures with the possible excep
ton of the one giving the supelin-
tendent authority to hold an institute
or training school and oblige the
teachers Of county to attend under
penalty of revocation Of thetir cert.
ticates.
For instance, the clause in our
school law empowering the county
superintendent to convene the teach.
ers of his county monthly or as he
deems expedient for normal 1nstruc-
ton and the study Of methods of
teaching, organizing, classifying and
governing schools, practically confers
no authority since the next sentence
appends no greater penalty on the
teachers failing to attend the con-
vention than the forfeiture of the days
salary, afact resulting in the teach
er who might be most benefited by
such a convention and whom the coun-
ty superintendent most desires to
reach, absenting himself as the loss
of the days salary is inconsequental
compared with the sacrifice it might
be necessary to make to do his share
in the work of the association. Most
superintendent find the teachers lack
natural professional spirit most DIM.
cult to reach and no doubt would
gladly welcome an amendment to this
section that would increase their au-
thority.
Thus the fact is patent to every
careful reader of our present school
Jaws that the authority conferred
by them is only a modicum of what
1t is desirable that it should be or
rather that their authority does not
extend to the really vial matters per-
tanning to our public schools.
For the purpose Of discussion 1t
will be permissible no doubt, to de-
clare the three vitality essential ele-
ments of a school to be the teachers,
the school building and the equip
ment, and then to dwell for some lit
tie time on how much authority the
superintendent can legally exercise
over these three factors.
Under our present system of the
school board employing the tetacher
many mistakes occur which may pos
sibly be unavoidable, but which It
would seem might be remedied if each
school boards list of teachers had to
hi nv tho c,1norin.
tendent. To illustrate every superin.
tendent can recall instances where
they have a good teacher doing ex-
cellent work, but whom they wish
could be transported to another To-
cality where their particular talent
could be more fully employed. Then
again, we all have had to contend
with the school board who will hire
the first applicant, that they may have
the matter of securing teachers safely
off their minds. Not evidence of the
teachers exact fitness for the condi
lions existing in that particular
school required. Then again so many
school boards are not conversant
enough with the qualifications that
mark different degrees of efficiency
teachers to be able to make
wise selection. Not long ago the
president of school board in CON-
nenting on the hiring of certain
teacher, remarked: "She had one of
hem diplomas - that was the first
one of them things ever Seed" Yet
he was the most capable of a board
who essayed to employ competent
:eachers for school needing five
teachers and doing one year high
school work.
1t speaks we'll for the humility of
many men in such cases that they
apply to the superintendent to get
hem a teacher and much good work
s done by superintendent assuming |
his as one of their duties to supply
he schools of their county with COM
oetent teachers. But may we not
we'll question if it would not result
n much better schools if this work
we're not entirely delegated to the
county superintendent, or at least,
lie be given the authority to approve
he selection of teachers.
The school law has happily dele
gated to the superintendent just a
title authority over the second fac
building where school is
held. but not enough to successfully i