Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1915-04-16
THE RURAL SUPERVISOR

AL well attenQeQ meeting or
the Siletz Bay Parents-Teachers'
Association on Saturday, April
10, 1915, the following expr, S.
sion was unanimously adopted:
To the School Boards of Lincoln
County:
You are aware of the fact
that during the recent session of
the State Legislature an Act was
passed annulling the law which
compelled county of sixty dis
tricts to maintain a Rural School
Supervisor, and providing for an
election in the several counties,
by the School Boards, for the
purpose of deciding the question.
Shall the Office of Rural
School Supervisor be continued
so far as our county is con-
cerned? This act was passed
mainly in the cause of economy,
and so far as the State is con-
cerned, 1t is plain to be seen that
it deems the many essential and
lasting benefits Of a Supervisors
work as not worth the expendi-
ture. But it can be shown that
for our own needs in Lincoln
county we could well do away
with some other things before
making an end to one of the big
gest helps that our schools
have.
Our Supervisor is a man who
makes the teachers of our coun-
ty, especially in out-of-the-way
| rural districts, feel that they are
a. part of a great organization
that is working for the better
ment Of the whole country and
reminds us that we are not
working merely for the benefit
of one small place, but in the
interest of all places. 1t is he
who brings the first announce
ments, with thorough explana-
tions, of new movements and
plans in school work and assists
in seeing that these things are
properly started and continued.
A visit, coming on an average
Of once a month, is a thing
which may adjust a wrong
method in some difficult phase
of school work, for the Super
visorvisor has a fresh point of
view, has perhaps just had op-
portunity to see through the
same difficulty, with better sue
cess, while the teacher, al
though doing her best, fails
from daily drudgery with the
same problem to see the rem
edy. With a man at work
whose business It is to be con-
tinually watching for new ideas
and conveying them throughout
the county, it is hard to estimate
the immense good that is ac-
complished. A Rural Supervis-
or makes his specially "The
needs OF the Rural School," and
1t would be hard to do without
him. Who can predict what a
wealth OF good that Babcock
milk tester in the hands Of Mr..
Davis may do, not only for the
present owner of dairy cattle.
but see what vision II gives to
scores Of eager youths! II 1t
were not for such a man as the
Rural Supervisor with the pur-
pose of overseeing instruction
as II is carried on, and opening
up new avenues Of learning,
many advantages now enjoyed
In our schools would most GER
tainly be lacking and rapid ad-
vancement along the newer
lines of education would be re-
tarded. The teacher is not In
a position to accomplish all Of
these ends for her time Is taken
up with the regular routine OF
work, and as to viewing meth
ods in other schools, she has no
opportunity at all. To do away
with the Rural Supervisor
! would be as detrimental to rural
: teaching In Lincoln county as II
= would be for a city school sys.
!. TEN to be without a Superin'
, tendent.
= The only reason which is up.
: held as a justification Of abol
{; ishing the Office in question !!
the one of economy. In othel
words, Does the SUPERVISOR
I work return a value equal tt
the expenditure involved?" ant
d why could not our Count!
Z Superintendent manage the af
d fairs of both ofiices?" Surel,
since Education Is a Republic
'e chief business" an answer 20 IN
j. first question is found In an
'e other: Are not the future prob
rnn