The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-03-20

the effect that resident of Duluth
can be appointed but that, before tax.
ing the office, thirty days must be
used in which to gain residence out.
side the city limits of Duluth. Mr.
8 former association with Supt
Young make him unacceptable to at
least some of the commissioners as well
as great many patrons Of the county
schools.
j. s. Root, present purchasing agent
is represented as having boosted that
he has the appointment nailed down
Mr.. Roots present relations with Supt
Young do not make him acceptable to
most of those who are not satisfied
with Mr.. Young. It is feared, too
that Mr.. Root would make too clean a
sweep of the present employees of the
department.
Objection is made to Mr.. Root be.
cause he is not qualified teacher. He
has no certificate and is not even a
high school graduate. The law does
not require that county superintend.
ent be either an educated man or an
experienced educator. Custom and the
public welfare, however, dictate that a
superintendent should be both educated
and a real educator.
One Lunn, of Biwabik, is an appli.
cant at last. Even if he proves not to
be related to Mr.. Young, it is feared
that his personal relations are entirely
too close for best benefit of the
schools. There is a rumor to the eff.
feet that, if Mr.. Lunn is appointed, he
will acquire and publish Young's Mag.
azine.
Mrs. Kunerth, principal of the Fair.
mont school in Duluth, also is an ap.
plicant. Commissioner McMahon is
represented as believing that the SUI.
perintendency in st. Louis county hard
ly is woman's job and, presumably
other commissioners agree with him
Still others are credited with holding
that the appointment should 60 to
some competent educator from the
Ranges.
Miss Newland, at present principal
OF schools in unorganized districts by
appointment of Mr.. Young, is another
applicant. Any objections to Mrs. Ku.
nerth will apply, in the main, to Miss
Newland. Supt. Young and Miss New.
land formerly were in fine accord but
for some months, there has been a cool
ness between them.
There are two highly qualified ap
plicants from the iron ranges, both of
them reputable, successful, highly
qualified educators, with much expert
ence to their credit. One of these men
is G. Lee Fleming, superintendent of
the Tower schools, and the other is
Wesley Thurman, head of the science
department in the Virginia high school
Both of these aspirants are men OF
superior attainments. Mr.. Fleming, fol
example could and undoubtedly would
bring that sweet boon Of economy tc
the front, something utterly beyond
Supt. Young. At Tower, for example
Mr.. Fleming has made a great success
in a district of ten townships, -four
schools and thirty teachers, with an in
come Of only $40 a pupil per year
Some educators on the ranges have
done no better with anywhere from
5000 to $500 a year per pupil.
When it comes to making money fly
Mr.. Young is considered an artist. In
1919, his record in expenditures was as
follows, viz:
| Teachers salaries ........ 1871 POI. go
Lands and buildings. ........ 69, 124. 16
Administration expenses -. S6,43O.41
The administration costs were exclu.
sive Of the superintendent statutory
salary, travelling expenses and, also, Of
certain assistants designated by law.
Can you beat it, poor old taxpayer'
At the last session of the legislature
a law was passed, requiring the county
superintendent to make an annual fl.
nancial report. This fact, alone, may
have seriously influenced Mr.. Young
to quit. Even Miss Newland has not
shown sympathy for that safeguard
around the peoples money. When the
time came to make the statement, it is
alleged that the accomplished lady stat.
ed that she saw no need Of the county
superintendent being compelled to pub
lish such a financial statement.
It's good stuff for the taxpayers
just the same.