New-York tribune., 1911-02-04
81 PERTISION OF RURAL SCHOOLS.


II is now everywhere recognized that
the excellence of the public schools de-
pendS upon the efficiency of the super
vision. Heretofore the rural schools in
the State of New York have been with
out supervision, as that term is now un-
derStood. The country school commits
SionerS have been nominated at party
conventions and elected mt the general
election. They have been chosen for dis
tricts so large in territory and having
50 many schools that there COULD he no
actual Superintendence While many of
the commissioners are, of course. excel
lent men. there are many not at all
adapted 10 the supervision Of schools. for
there have been no requirements con
cerning eligibility. and party conventions
are not always discriminating. Nor has
il been required. or even expected, that
they would give their entire time To
the service of the schools and accord
insly ii has often happened that the paid
school commissioner has neglected his
official for his personal business. or even
used his official station to promote his
business enterprises
The evils Of all this have long been
seen. Since the organization of the
State Education Department. the Board
of Regents and the Commissioner Of
Education have proposed 10 make
smaller supervisory districts. 50 that Il
superintendent would not have more
than fifty or sixty schools where he now
commonly has hundred and fifty. and
often more than two hundred schools:
and also TO require that the superin-
tendents shall have at least fixed
minimum of educational qualifications
and shall not carry on any other business
while holding the Office. They have also
proposed that the rural superintendentS
Of schools should hc chosen by boards
of education elected by the people, as in
the cities and villages.
While the Education Department has
pcrSiStently urged this great reform. it
has refused to push the bill cmbodying
# ia the Legislature until the State
Grange and other influential farmers
organizations i'm the state were ready 10
support it, That support came to the
measure last winter with such force
that the hll passed both houses and
was approved by Governor Hughes Tn
der this law the organization for real
supervision Of the rural schools + being
created and the boards which are TO
appoint thc.SUperintendentS were chosen
at the last election. These boards will
meet in May 10 organize and I'm August
to appoint supcrintcndents who will
tGke Office on January /. when the Office
oi school commissioner viii terminate.
The boards which appoint the superin-
tcndcnts have no other function. I'm
Ipcdiatclv following the election the
Commissioner of Education addressed
communication 10 each member Of these
several boards urging him 10 refrain
from committing himself 10 any candi-
date FOR superintendent in advance of
of the matter by the board.
and. without bending 10 political parti-
san ar personal Influences. 10 seek.
wherever he might be found. the super
intendent who gave promise Of the best
work.
So The matter stands. but we observe
that the boards Of supervisors in several
ConnticS have passed resolutions recon-
mending the repeal Of The law, and bills
10 that end have been introduced i'm She
I Legislature. The county supervisors
have. Il is said. acted hastily and upon
The suupoSiti0n that the new plan will
involve the counties in additional eX-
pcnee. This argument ought not 10 count
anyway. hut II the suppOSition exists il
j. erroneous, for all of the expense an
der The new plan is 10 be borne by the
state OF course the expenses Of the
state fall back upon the counties. but
under our system Of indirect state tSa-
ton The amount which corld fall back
upon any rural county because Of the
added expense 10 the state would neccS-
sariy De less than that county pays now,