Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1921-11-03
Volume 50
LENGTHY DISCUSSION OF
PRESENT SCHOOL SYSTEM
Malta. Ohio. Rt. 2.


since l have been a member Of the
County Board four years. But, since
/ have been asked where l stand on
certain school questions, believe
/ should declare my position.
] stand for the best things for
boys and girls of Morgan county.
want our children to have as good
schools as any other children In
Ohio believe that the schools
should be progressive. The young
people must be educated to meet
conditions Of the present and future.
While I do not believe the present
school system is perfect, I believe it
is as good as we can have at the
present time. I wonder if it is clear
in the minds Of those people who OPP
pose the present system, just what
they are opposed to. If they mean
what they say these are some of the
things they are opposed to: A course
Of study for the schools, use of the
same kinds of books throughout the
county, trained teachers for our
children, rural high schools, a
county normal school. supervision of
all schools in the county, a library
for every school in the county; for
these are some things the present
school system stands for. Do Nor
gan county people believe that $780,
600 should be spent for schools an
nually with no definite aim? Should
there be no educational policy pur-
sued throughout the school life of
the individual pupil? Should there
be a change of course of study, a
change of text books, change of
aims in each individual school with
each change of teachers? Should
teachers, many of them beginners
be placed in the schools each year
and then no further attention given
them until time to hire teachers
again? Simply because one is op-
posed is not sufficient reason for us
to agree with him. Why is he op-
posed? What has he to offer that is
better?
l believe the system is good, and
l have faith that it will be better.
The defects are being remedied as
they are discovered. Our schools are
graded, and the promotion OF
the pupils is controlled by the teach
ers and superintendent. We have
uniform text books and uniform
course of study throughout the coun.
ty. We have superintendents who
visit and supervise the work of the
teachers, meet with boards of edu-
cation and assist them in their du-
ties, hold teachers meetings, assist
in community meetings, etc. We
have a county normal school which
will supply our county with trained
teachers There is no question that
the schools are becoming better,
that opportunities for securing more
and better education are being offer
ed. The rural high schools are bring
ing these opportunities to country
children.
It is true that our schools have
been passing through period of de-
preston. High wages in other
lines during the war took from us
more than half of our experienced
teachers before salaries could be ad-
justed to stop the loss. Now hOwev-
er, we are rapidly recovering from
this depression, and our teachers
teach more subjects and teach them
better than ever before. The de-
preston could hardly be credited to
the school laws, as it was obviously
the result of war times. The recov-
cry, however, could be credited to
nothing but the laws that increased
teachers salaries and gave state aid
to weak districts such as Morgan
county.
The question of the number Of
assistant superintendent has been
mentioned. / feel that my position
oh no Cfo
the county should have an educa-
tional policy that should be carried
out in all schools. l do not believe
that one superintendent can be of
much value to schools in actually
visiting them and helping them in
their work. There is a great deal of
clerical work in administering
school system as large as a county,
and this must be done in the coun-
ty superintendent's office. 1t is true
that the writing. keeping files, etc,
might be done by secretary. But,
even so, the superintendent would
have to plan this work which would
necessarily require a great deal of
his time. Each school would get lit
tie in the way of supervision under
such a plan. Therefore if the cost to
the county is not beyond reason, the
number of uperintendentS should be
sufficient to insure adequate super
vision. The county has two assist
ant superintendent each of whom
receives $500, making total cost
of $4,000 for such superintendent.
Mr.. Taylor is employed as attendance
officer, not assistant superintendent.
Io1f Of 10 G
paid directly by the state, and the
county auditor holds out of funds OF
various boards of education of the
county, according to the number Of
teachers employed, sum sufficient
to pay the other half. But most
districts of this county receive state
aid, and in this case they are REIN
bursed to the extent of their share
of superintendent salaries. Thus
supervision does not cost these dis
tricts anything. Where does this
state aid money come from? Do we
not help to create this fund? Yes, all
taxable property in the state is as
sessed to the extentof 15-hundredths
of mill for this purpose. Thus,
Morgan county with tax duplicate
of less than $20.000,000, pays less
than $4,000 into this fund. And last
year this county received from the
state treasury for school purposes.
over and above the amount paid in.
more than $4,000. This year $40,
600 would be conservative estimate
of the amount we will receive. But
whether we receive any state aid de-
pends upon whether we meet condi-
tiOns prescribed by the State Su-
ir,fo nf n,tr 4