East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-05-17

Acting in accordance with the law
passed by the last legislature which
has for its purpose the raising of the
standard of rural schools, County
School Superintendent Frank K.
Welles has just created the Umatilla
County School Board, consisting of
the following members: Colonel H.
G. Newport of Hermiston, J..B. Saylor
of Ferndale, Manuel Fredly of North
Cold Springs and Thomas Jaques of
Pilot Rock. All of these men are we'll
known citizens and have been prom
inently identified with things educa-
tional for years.
The principal duty of the educa-
tional board, of which the county su-
perintendent is chairman, will be to
employ supervisors for the schools
and to make rules and regulations for
their guidance. The law provides
that one supervisor shall have juris-
diction over the schools in not less
than twenty nor more than fifty dis
tricts. Thus Umatilla county can
have a minimum of two and a maxi
mum Of four supervisors. At pres
ent It is the intention to employ the
minimum number as it is deemed suf-
fictent to test the merits of the new
law. These two supervisors will be
hired by the first of the month. in
fact one has already been tentatively
selected.
Law Is Compulsory.
In speaking Of the new law, Coun-
ty superintendent Welles said:
The new law makes it the duty of
the county superintendent to appoint
on or before the first day of June a
county e32c2tinal board of four MEM
bers who will serve without pay.
These men will meet from time
10 time for consultation with the
county superintendent and will be
allowed their necessary travelling ex-
penses, not to exceed twenty-five dol
lars year. They will assist me in
forming the supervisory districts, in
selecting the supervisors, and in manv
other ways.
All of the men whom 1 have ap-
pointed on this board are strong sun
porters of the public schools. They
and persons in whom I am sure the
people will have entire confidence.
have selected two republicans and two
democrats, and have made the an
pointments in such a manner that
each section of the county will have
a representative"
To Be in Field All Time
Ihe supervisors will have no office
work to perform as does the county
and will spend their
entire time in visiting the schools and
assisting the teachers and pupils in
their work This, together with the
school visits which are made bv the
county superintendent will provide n
reasonably close supervision for all
Of the schools. The supervisors are
TO be paid by the county"
Up to this time the only school in
Cmatilla county which has been close
" supervised is the Pendleton dis
trict. For many years the law has re-
luired districts of the first class to
employ a special supervisor. In PEN
ileton one man gives the whole of
his time to supervising about thirty
teachers. He is an expert in his line
and is paid salary of S225O per
ear"
Pendleton's Superiority.
In addition to the supervision given
)y the city superintendent and the
'ounty superintendent, each building
las a principal who assists in super
Using the teachers of his building.
The city schools have not only
lad this advantage over the county
chools, but as rule the cities have
'mployed the best and most exper-
enced teachers, while the country
districts have generally taken the
'ounger teachers. many of whom
laVe had neither special training nor
experience. Frequently the only Wis
tor during the term has been the
county superintendent, as he has made
lis official visit to the district. Thus
We have had about thirty teachers
Who have had the advantage Of close
and about 145 teachers
Who have not"
VIII Cost But Little.
In speaking Of the cost TO the tax
'ayers Of the Inauguration of this new
yS.em. Mr.. Wel,es said:
"Umaulla county IS the second
county in the state in wealth. A tax
# one-tenth of one mill would prob
IDLY more than pay for the superyi-