The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-23
County OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

The new school law for the selec-
| ton of county superintendent prom
Uses to be a marked Improvement up
on the old system, says the buriins-
ton Hawk-Eye. 1t is revolutionary IN
some degree. but not detlimentaily. II
takes another school officer out OF
politics and puts the choice in the
hands of the persons most dlrectiy
and intimately interested In the pup
lie schools. A county convention OF
the presidents of school boards is
really more representative OF the Peo-
ple than by vote at general eiec-
ton. And for this reason, the great
mass of citizens, busy with their own
affairs, give very little thought or at
tention to the schools. Even the par
ents with children in the scnools. SCI
dom visit them The success OF the
school depends upon the teachers SUI
perintendents and school boards.
They are actuated not only by
sense of duty, but they become deep
Nv interested in the work. They be-
come familiar with all the details OF
school work in their own neighbor-
hood. and are led into the wider field
of vision through conferences ana
conventions. Surely. it is This class
of citizens that is the best qualihed
to pass upon the merits OF april
cants for the county superintendent
The public interest-the develop
ment of the public school system
will be better served than under the
former, plan. There will be less par
ty politics and more of merit, expert
ence and personal character taken IN
to consideration.
That the prerogatives OF the voters
at large will not be impunged is easily
demonstrated. If county superlntend-
ents were to be chosen at special cleo
tons. called exclusively for that pur-
nose. it Is safe TO estimate that, as a
rule. not ten per cent of the voters
would go to the polls. II ninety per
cent of the voters would let the cleo
ton go by default, we can rest as
sured they will be still more content
when they understand the wise pro
visions of the new law by which the
closest friends of the schools VIII
make the selection.
Mr.. Bernard Murphy reviews the
situation in his paper, the Vinton
Eagle:
Those who feared the new law
providing for the election OF
couny slIDerintendents would be
ed. In nearly every case where
there was good official, he or
she was retained. 1t was proven
in Benton county that the presi-
dents of school boards VINO
formed the convention body were
well posted. They knew the
value Of the present occupant OF
the office and retained her. They
were also posted as to the quail
fcations of the applicants. In this
county it was a question OF los
ing or retaining good official
She was not an applicant for the
place. The convention insisted
on retaining her. She was elect
ed. A committee then waited
upon her and asked her in the
name of the convention, to accept
the place. She first refused be-
cause she had not been candi-
date. The committee told her
under the new law it was the
duty of the convention to select
Superintendent regardless of
candidates She replied that as 1t
was the wish Of the convention
that she accept, she would obey
the wishes of the convention.
She considered it a duty. There
was but little preliminary can
wasting. The several applicants
presented their credentials and
they were passed upon by the
members OF the convention. OF
course, a smaller body of men
might make the selection, but