Year: 1877

PiaHc VI ID" Dy way VI pIdCtiCdl
work. He can learn by practice;
give him chance. He may leave
many of the mitres and joints rather
open, but then you can putty these
up, and when the paint is applied
these won't show-for awhile. The
doors may be put in askance, but
then you can pass through ; the light
can pass through the windows wheth-
er they are perpendicular or not
The floors may not be well matched,
but then the dust can pass through;
it will save Il deal of sweeping.-
Some OF the timbers may be cut too
short; you can splice them, and by
so doing you will save many pieces.
Your house is not to be very large.
He can do the work. What! you
won't employ him? You give the
other man three times as much for
doing the same work? Are you
afraid of your logic, or is it too fine
to be carried out?


| think we are scarcely ready to do
away with the examinations. Then
this work must be done by some
body.


Why should we have any Coun-
ty Superintendent I cannot better
answer this question than to extract
from the report, 1875, of the State
Superintendent of Minnesota:


cit is said that the supervision Of
schools by County Superlntendents
is not satisfactory to all our people.
The question should be candidly met,
is there valid ground for dlssatistac-
ton? Is there for us in Minnesota a
better plan, or can the present plan
be made better than any other?


cit may be well to inquire how
this office is viewed in neighboring
States. There have been rumors of
dissatisfaction with the system in
Iowa. Upon careful inquiry it ap-
pears that the opponents of the sys-
tenn in that State have not stood
among the most enlightened and
earnest friends Of popular education.
Objections have arisen from false
views of popular rights, and OF econ
omy, rather than from the results of
the system itself. The Superintend-
ent of Public Instruction in that
State Qowa) says: 'The county su-
perintendency is, in my opinion, more
efficacious and more highly valued
at present in Iowa than at any former
time


"In Illinois the question was agi-
tated to some extent last winter, re-
sulting, not in revealing defects in
the plan for county supervision, but
in the conclusion on the part of edu-
Gators that the present law should be
improved.' \ n


"The action in Missouri against
all supervision did not result from
special objection to county superin-
tendency. 1t was a part of the olden
time hostility to free schools in any
form, and it would not have any
Northern State to make such action
a precedent for antaeonism to coun-
ty supervision


"To form a just opinion of the
cause of Michigan on this question,
we should understand the circum-
stances under which the law repealed
last winter came into existence; its
provisions and the popular prejudices
that they were calculated to awaken.


"The old plan for school supervis-
ion existing eight years ago in Mich
lgan, had certain features that were
very pleasing to persons not much
interested in popular education, and
not favorable to efficient, well-paid
examiners and visitors. 1t required
no definite standard of qualification
in the township examiner. He
might be the most unsuitable in the
town for the position. The plan was
cheap. The inspector of schools
was paid only one dollar a day, and
he was required to visit each school
but once in term. Under such
management it was easy for school
officers to secure the schools for their
daughters and cousins and wives sis
ters. The system was popular SOW
ereignty in school management, gone
to seed for the pecuniary benefit OF
school officers; and its cheapness IN
respect to teachers wages and the
inspection of schools, made it very
dear to those who value money above
learning"


"Such was the cheap and easy
law that was supplanted in Michigan
by the law of 1867, providing for
county superintendeucy. A mere
glance at the provisions of this new
law discloses the reasons why it was
not popular with many Of the com
mon people. 1t took the power OF
licensing candidates for teaching out
of the hands Of persons often having
direct pecuniary interest in secur-
ing schools for them, and placed it
in the hands of county examiner,
whose conditions for granting were
generally more thorough than those
of the old inspectors. a higher
standard Of examination diminished
the number of applicants for certifi-


If person go to bank to borrow
money, he is examined. The appli.
cant must produce evidence that he
controls property; that his title is
good; that he has the ability to pay.
In order to bring out these facts,
many questions may be asked. All
say this is right; the lender must
protect himself. Why not take
mans note who wants an accommo
datlon, and hand him over the mon.
ey? What is the use of such an cx-
animation? The examination may
be strict and sharp. Many questions,
in many cases, are asked which seem
to have no direct bearing, yet, to the
leader, they are of prime Importance.
Again: What is the use of this ex.
animation? Many men have been
accommodated without this examin
alton, and yet, they have paid the
lender his principal and interest,"
So, too, some men, who could not
give this clear and full evidence OF
their ability to pay, have been &C.
commodated, and yet, by their fixed
ness of purpose indefatigable indust
ry, and uprightness of heart, they
mined success from the adamantine