The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-03-07
OF INTEREST TO ALL CITIZENS
To The Voters


The office of County Superintendent
Of Schols is not an eleemosyna1y in
situation. The great state Of Mis-
souri, has not designated it or any 9th.
e, public Office for the benefit 81 any
particular group Of people. The
schol law de3ignatcs certain things
that must be done by the County Sup
orintendent and the State Depar ment
of Education determines the efficiency
OF what is accomplished. The extent
to which the Superintendent work
meets state approval marks his abil-
ity to serve the public in the Office he
holds.
The County Superintendent has
jurisdiction only over the rural schools
hence it is of their standing that
shall write. You know, Mr.. Voter, how
st. Francois County ranks with the
other counties of the State in live
stock, agriculture, business, neral
products, ETC. If not at the top, we're
50 near the top in all these things that
it is recommendation to any OF US to
he able to say we're from St. Francois
County. Don't you think, Mr.. Farmer
that our rural schools ought to rank
as high proportionally since is is in
them that your boys and girls will be
educated to take your places later on?
Don't you think the same, Mr.. Bust
ness-Mar, since these boys and girls
will be youf best customers ten years
from now?
To enable the rural schools to train
the boys and girls properly for their
duties in life the State Department of
Education has provided method for
approving rural schools. A repre-
sentative of the State Superintend-
ent is sent to visit the schoo' and if
he finds that you voters are getting
value received for the taxes you pau
out he approves the school so that
grades made by your children there
will be accepted if you move to some
other locality. To approve school
certain things must be done by the
citizens but the bulk of the WORK lies
with the County Superintendent.
Now read this carefully!
st. Francois County has not O sin
gle approved rural school. Only nine
teen counties in the whole state are
in as bad shape AS this and most of
them are so poor that thy are not in
our class. You know that st. Fran
co.'s County is as rich or richer than
all our surrounding counties Yet
Iron County has THREE approved
schools, Madison FIVE, Ste. Genevieve
THIRTEEN, and jefferson SEVEN
TEEN, We rank seventeenth in
rxyan1kk L. # he
state and you voters pay the sixth
highest average tax levy fol school
purposes. 85 per cent of your dis
tricts vote the maximum levy. It's
not a question of money, is it,
Every town school in the county
and they're not under the jurisdiction
of the County Superintendent ap-
= proved. Parents and teachers tell me
that children moving into town from
the country districts are usually put
back a grade or so. Wouldn't it be
better if your rural schools were APP
proved so your children, Mr.. Farmer,
would have equal advantages with
town children? In many cases you
pay your teachers better salaries than
grade teachers in towns receive. Does
it look like you are getting your mon
ey's worth? 80 per cont of our teach
ers with county certificates are quail
ihed as far as certificate ic concerned
to teach in approved rural schools.
II becomes the duty of the County
Superintendent then to see tfat the
teaching and grading Of the school is
god enough to met state require
ments. He owes this to your children.
These figures that I have quoted,
Mr.. Voter, arc not some that I have
made myself but are taken from the
last report of the State Superintend-
ent of Public Schools and are there
fore absolutely official I would be
very glad if you would get copy of
the report and look these FACTS up
yourself. You ought to be ahle to
get it at your school house. A large
number of citizens have already inves-
tigated these facts and have found
them just as / have said.
As citizen, am ashamed fer our
surrounding counties to be so far |
ahead of us in the matter of approved |
rural schools. have received prac-
tically all my elementary education |
ia country schools and certainly have !!
a deep interest in the work Of the
country boy and girl. have had
enough experience in town schools.
too, to know the hardships that result |
from the fact that our children in the
rural communities should lack advan-
tages they are entitled to simply be-
cause the matter of approval Of rur-
III schools hasn't been pushed here as
it has been in other counties.
| am making my campaign strictly
or the facts have set forth. II cleo
ted my whole aim will be to put our
rural schools where they rigatfully /
kciong. ! know that you Al, just
Is much interested in rural schools as
! am and it Is on this interest that
am depending for election. 4
Thanking you for your support, I
an. Very truly yours, "
w. E. 6BENNICK.