Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-10-16
The County Superintendent.

The County Superintendent.
Oct. IA, 1918.
Editor, Willmar Tribune:
In the Tribune last week you take
exception to Mr.. Smithson's article
and also invite the people interested
in the welfare of the common schools
to investigate Mr.. Ulvin's record as
school man. It is well nigh impos-
sible for the people of this county to
Investigate his school record as he
has no school record in this county.
None would care to go to Blue Earth
County to investigate. The State Sup
erintendent, however, issues official
reports containing information regard
ing certain features ofschool work in
different counties. Acting on the sug-
gestion in the Tribune we secured
these reports and investigated the
records of Mr.. Ulvin as county super
intendent of Blue Earth County for
ten years. They are interesting so
will submit them to the public
One of the important duties of the
county superintendent demanded by
law is to encourage teachers associ-
atoms" in order to inspire his teachers
to, greater efforts, better work, bring
to- them new ideas of their duties
to their schools and bring to them the
thoughts and experiences of the best
educators in the state. To accom-
plish this county associations or teach
ers' meetings are held. Speakers are
sent at the expense of the State. This
county has had these meetings every
year and sometimes several during the
year. Blue Earth County under Mr..
Ulvin's charge did not have one meet
ing in ten years. Does that indicate
professional interest in the teachers
and the schools? This is taken from
Mr.. Ulvin's own official report to the
State Superintendent.
The best standard for judging the
efficiency of school supervision and
school work in the common schools
is the number of pupils completing
the grades. The State Department has
set a standard for grade work and to
test if the schools come up to that
standard examination questions are
sent by the State Department to the
counties to examine the pupils in the
different subjects. The number of
subjects passed is a good criterion of
the work and supervision in that coun:
ty. Blue Earth County under Mr..
Ulvin received in ten years only 947
state certificates, IAN average OF "a a
year. Our own county under the
present superintendent received In
| ten years 3167 state certificates, an
average of BIG year. The difference
becomes the more striking when we
consider that Blue Earth has about
| 40 more districts than our county
and the attendance of the pupils is
| a shade the better. This Is taken
from official reports of the State De-
| partment.
Another item for comparison. In
Blue Earth county during Mr.. Twins
regime, an average of about 40 percent
of the schools received special state
aid. In our own county during the
first ten years of Mr.. Frederichson
nearly IS percent Of the schools on an
average received special aid. NOW
about "a percent receives the ald
Will add, where we found record Of
the special school tax, it was higher
in Blue Earth County than here, due
no doubt to the fact that FEWER
schools proportionately were getting
the special aid there.
| We have done our investigation
When a reply is made to this article
we hope the people will consider care
fully il that reply is based on facts
and official records or merely personal
opinions and hearsay.
Respectfully submitted,
Horace E. Reese
A. H: Hanson
w. D. FredericksOn.