Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

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County superintendent Of Schools.
cial preparation have been required
to fit him for the work.
Teaching in the country schools is
a field now left almost entirely TO
women. 1t is a significant fact that
in the year 1s59-6O there were So male
and but 73 female teachers in the
county. Now there are but three men
teaching in the schools outside the
cities and villages
EARLY PROVISION MADE.
Rock Island county schools had
their crude beginning as early as there
were children to educate, which was
in the 3O's State funds 10 assist in
the work were available before that
time.
In 1860 the legislature passed an
act providing that three per cent of
the proceeds OF the sale of public
lands in the state from that time on
be devoted 10 an educational fund,
fve-sixths 10 be used for common
/ schools and one-siyth for colleges. In
/ 1886 congress made a division of sur
plus funds in the national treasury
for the same purpose, and Illinois Sc
! cured S335.000 from this fund. The
money from both sources was borrow
ed by the state at six per cent and
in the income from this source is
divided among the counties. This
county received in this way last year
SG20.3l. This does not lcok very
large now. but 20 or so years ago it
was Of materia. assistance in getting
q public school system started.
GOT LITTLE FOR LAND.
OF course, each township in the
county had a section of land set aside
by the government TO be used eyclus-
lively for school purposes. All this
early day and for comparatively small
returns. In EdGington township for
instance. the school section which
was one Of the best in the district,
brought $1,000. Now the owners of a
portion CT the same section have 4
standing offer OF $500 per acre for
their holdings, and decline 20 sell. II
Is probable that this section, if placed
on the market now, would bring at
least s175,Oo0. There has been a
similar Increase in value elsewhere.
In 1915 county organization OF
schools was provided for BY act Of
the Legislature. At the head was
placed a school commissioner. whose
duties were much the same as those
OF the superintendent of today, and
included the examining of candidates
for teachers certificates and gen,
eral supervision of the schools of the
county. In 1866 the title was chang
ed 10 superintendent. and minor
changes were made in the duties OF
the office. The late Judge w. H. Gest
was the first TO hold the Office after
, the title had been changed.
, In 1859 the records show that r
NJ. Grinnell was just completing his
term as county commissioner. Fol
; lowing him came the following for
, the terms indicated:
. c. NJ. Hardy .............. 1S59-ls6-
? W. n. Gest ................ l6b5-lSb.
> NJ. NJ. Sturgeon ......... 1S691SS.
= James II. Southwell ... 1SS2-1S9C
= c. b. Marshall ...... 1S9O-IS94
> +. b. MCKeever ..... 1S94-1S9S
r s. ]. Ferguson ....... 1898
! There has been more or less agi
tation TO make the township the schoo
unit in place Of the district AS early
as 1855 State Superintendent Edwards
p recommended this to the legislature
but no action was ever taken, despit,
r repeated efforts on the part OF thos,
| engaged in public school work in tn,
q state The advantages of having the
?. township the unit mainly pertain t,
: revenues. Under the present arrange
Z ment the school must subsist upor
p the taxes collected within the district
r In some populous districts the LIANT
!, is poor and there are few improve
ments. giving an insufficient incom,
j to provide for the education of tn,
4 children. In adjoining districts il
p the same township il may be tha
/. there are big industrial or other en-
|. terpTises. paying TO the school fun,
q yearly. large sums, which are NOR
: than sufficient for school purposes. In
!. stances Of this exist in different dis
II tricts in this county.
Y STANDARD Is FIXED.
o The state superintendent OF school
!. has fixed a standard which gradual,
Il the country schools OF this county ar
a attaining. Last year for the first tim
s an examination OF the schools wa
e made with a view Of ascertaining j
It any was entitled 10 q diploma certify
l. ing that all the requirements had bee
d met Three country schools wer
a found satisfactory, and this numbe
l. will be increased as the people lear
II what is necessary TO meet conditions
" The schools picked for exceIlenc