Arizona republican., 1911-06-04
FULTON |S BUSY MAN. Though OVerWorked He
 Wears a Smile
 COUNTY SCHOOL CONDITIONS They Could Not Be More Satisfactory, Except That Their Growing Demands Are Hard to Meet With the Present Resources.

Now that Sle commencement season is at its height and school matters are to the fore it is timely to take some cogniZance of the activities ol the oyeryyorked county school superln- tendent who has so much to do Just now he has no opportunity to get out and enjoy the fun. Ii keeps nm grinding awaNs at his desk m the not corner of the county courthouse per forming those clerical functions oi ms office that make life possible Tor the great host of generals who are leading the army of education.
 The superintendent's daily mail IS flooded with vouchers from the teach CTS throughout the county, all or whom are yearning for their salaries for the closing month Of the year. All these vouchers have to be checked anu warrants drawn on the treasury 10 the order of the respective teachers During the last two days the superln- tendent has received vouchers to total of approximately $l0,OOO. But there is q source of satisfaction Tn the fact that there is money in the treasury to meet them all, so the teachers are happy and the superin- tendent is happy. but tired.
 Speaking of the work of the school year the county over 1t has been most successful one. There is now a demand for three more new school districts and for a high school at Glendale. there being now three high schools. m Phoenix. Tempe and Mesa City respectively. In addition there is a never ending procession of plans and contracts for new school buildings and improvements on those already in use. The schools are crowded in many country districts. just as they are in the towns. and something must be done.
 There is great satisfaction also in tine scccess that has attended the ef- forts to grade the country schools during recent years. It was regarded as an impossibility by many only d few years ago. but the superinten- dent insisted that it could be done. and to a very large extent It has been done, some of the country schools be- ing just as well graded as the town schools. The superintendent says that 1t is rarely now that one will meet an S-year-Old yOungster even in the country districts. who cannot tell questioner just how far advanced he is, what grade he is in, etc. And this showing would be a great deal better if the superintendent had the time to get out and visit the schools as the law contemplates he shall and as he dearly loves to Oo. However, the clerical and routine work of the of flee must be kept up, and for some months past the superintendent has found it impossible to do any visiting at all. however much he knows the teachers would like it and he would like to do it. and the children would be encouraged by such intentions.
 Speaking of the development of the schools there is little need to dwell on the growth in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa and the increasing demand on the high schools Here in Phoenix about a hundred left the eighth grade last week fitted for high school work, to take the places of half as many who graduated from the high school. In Tempe and Mesa there are fifty to seYenty-five who will be knocking at the high school doors, and in the country districts there were 103 eighth grade graduates, whose diplomas had to be issued by the county school those in the three city districts being issued by the local trustees. This. makes a total of ap- proximateiy PTS eighth grade graduates who will be knocking at the high
 .f f.all And the crop in the lower grades is flourishing better than any other pro- duct of the Salt River valley, not excepting alfalfa. This is by no means a matter regret, for it is the finest resource the county has. but it is a question that is put right up to the men and women of today to study diligently and handle with thoughtful consideration.
 Reverting to the work in the of flee of the superintendent, few peo- pie have an adequate conception of what that official has to take care of Beside the continuous laborS of keeping in touch with the teachers. paying them their money. settling their little troubles, smoothing out district matters. approving plans for new buildings and improvements. help ing in the establishment of new dis tricts, recommending teachers and placing the maround where they are needed. advising trustees and a host of other details. the superintendent has to keep a weather eye constantly on the finances, partly because the law says so and partly because he does not want to go to jail
 During the present year thus far between seven hundred and eight hum dred thousand dollars has passed through his office for school mainte- nance and for bonds and building en- terprises. This money has to be carefully accounted for and when it is paid out in all sums from a dollar