Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1918-10-23

determine an accurate comparison.
He states that during the whole time
l was in office l did not have single
teachers meeting or county assocla-
ton. We have at Mankato, the county
seat of Blue Earth county, state nor
NAL school, where every year was in
Office we had a normal summer train
ing school lasting from six to twelve
weeks. Every phase of school work
taken up and taught by the best in
duce. Besides this, every year the
Southern Minnesota Teachers Associ-
ati6n met at Mankato for several days,
when we had special programs for
rural school teachers. It was consider
ed unnecessary to hold the county
teachers meetings when we had some
thing better to take the place.
Next, he classes my work as infer
ior to his own and uses as proof that
the schools in Kandiyohi county re-
ceived more state certificates than in
Blue Earth county This, he says, is
due to good supervision and work is
the schools. AS before stated, Blue
Earth county has the normal school,
and besides that, one of the largest
business colleges in the north west;
two large Catholic schools; one large
German Lutheran school and a large
young girls seminary. The aggregate
enrolment in these schools was several
thousand, many coming from the sew
enth and eighth grades in the rural
districts. Then too, he does not COM
pare the same periods of time in the
two counties, but includes the two
years l was in Office before him. This
alone would blast his whole argument
AS reported to me, Mr.. Frederickson
was elected in 1906 and has held the
office for twelve years. During the
two years l was in Office before him,
no state examinations were offered in
the rural schools, and later when they
were introduced, it was optional, and
the majority of the schools did not
take them, owing to the fact that our
county examinations answered the
same purpose. The certificates receiv.
ed were accepted for entrance in
schools where they were presented for
entrance outside of the county, even in
the twin cities.
The next item he takes up is the
number of schools drawing special
state aid and taxes. In Blue Earth
county several schools were closed for
lack of pupils, and many of those in
operation had too few in attendance
to meet with the requirements for
drawing the state aid. The tax rate
varies in different counties due
entirely to local conditions.
No county superintendent in the state
is responsible in any way for either
the raising or lowering of taxes. All
the equipments and requirements for
the schools are specified by the state,
it matters not whether Mr. Frederick
son is superintendent or Tom Jones,
the taxes will be precisely the same.
There is only one thing that will bring
our taxes down, and that is 1egisla-
tive act placing tonnage tax on iron
ore mined In this state. This should
be done at the next session of the
legislature.
Another item he is making capital
Of is, that I am not entitled to the
Office. We haveTa state law that spe.
cities that ANY man or woman, Am
erican citizen and twenty-one years
of age, who has resided in the state
six months and in the county thirty
days, is eligible to file for the office
Of county superintendent of schools
and be elected to the position" This
certainly is plain. / know of coun
ty in this state where even this was
exceeded in practice. The county
superintendent resigned and the ,cOun
ty commissioners appointed a man
from another county to fill the vacan
cy.
l have answered his article and
proved every one of his charges K
be incorrect and false, and this com
ing from the highest educational posi-
ton in the county, where hundreds @
young boys and girls are looking up K
as an example. Example is q power
full factor in moulding the character
Of the young. Every mother and faith
er are anxious that their. childrea
should grow up to become honorable
and respected men and women.
Is it fitting at this time to resor
to observation-disclosures, when we are II
the midst Of the most tragic peri0t
in the history of our country? Will
disasters, epidemics and q most tel
rible war confronting us. When ever!
thinking mind should be turned ii
! God IN earnest prayer for our country
,z - &C. 3.+s..ss = - O. @. ULNIN,
: Candidate tor co. ssupt., Of schoo1a