Benton County, Indiana - Chapter 7: The County Surerixtendent Axd County Board of Education, 1906

Chapter 7: The County Surerixtendent Axd County Board of Education

The law of 1852 authorized the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to license teachers and gave him the authority to appoint a deputy in each county to hold examinations and otherwise assist him in organizing the schools of the county. This proving unsatisfactory, a year later the county commissioners were authorized to annually appoint three county examiners to license teachers and aid in school organization. In 1861 a change was made to one examiner to serve three years. In response to the growing demand for better organization and closer county supervision, in 1873 a law was passed directing the township trustees throughout the State "to meet in the county auditor's office in their respective counties on the first Monday in June, and biennially thereafter, and elect a county superintendent of schools." "Since 1873," says Superintendent Cotton, "supervision for the rural schools has meant something in Indiana. The rural schools have been graded, the standard of efficiency has been constantly raised, and through the good work of the county superintendent the children are receiving advantages equal to those of the towns and cities."

The county superintendent is now elected for a term of four 3'ears, and he is eligible for re-election during good behavior. His salary is four and one-half dollars for each day's service and the county i)rovides him with an office, postage and stationery. The expense incurred in visiting schools, and attending township institutes, common and high school commencements, superintendents' and teachers' associations, consultations called by the State Sui)erintendent, and numerous incidental exi)enses, must all be paid out of his salary.

oi'dci'.s and iiiHtiuctions of the State IJoaid of JMluration and the Hlate SiijM'rintendeiit of JMiblic Iiistnictioii, and shall constitute the medium between such State Superintendent and subordinate school ofllcers and the scliools." This extract from the law indicates Ihc central thouj^ht of the duties of the county superintendent. He is not only the medium between the State Superintendc 111 and subordinate school olllcers and schools, but he is the medium, the one who serves between, in many important school mattei-s; he is tin? joiner of the importanl i»arts of that wonderful intellectual palace, the Indiana school system.

In the month of May the county superin Leaden L prepares two complete reports of the entire enumeration of the county, one to go to the State Superintendent as a basis for the distribution of the common school funds, and one for the countv auditor as a basis for the distribution of the congressional township, liquor license, and dog funds. In August the county superintendent must prepare a financial and statistical report to the State Superintendent, which must show the receipts and expenditures for school purposes of each and all of the towns and townships in the county in the last preceding year, together with the sources from which all funds were received and for what expended. This report must also show, bj' towns and townships, separately and collectively, for the same year, the number of pupils enrolled in the schools and the average daily attendance; the number of teachers employed and their daily average, and total salaries; the number of graded and high schools; the number of common and high school graduates; the number of high school teachers and high schools, commissioned and non-commissioned ; the value of schoolhouses. lauds, apparatus, libraries and furniture; the number of books in school libraries; the length of school terms and the average cost for the high school pupils; the number of polls and the valuation of all taxable proi)erty; the dift'erent rates of school tax levies and the amount of tax collected for each fund: the number of township institutes held and the cost of the same: the amount paid trustees for attending to educational affairs: the number of books read by the pupils of the schools: the i^.mount ] aid for transfers, and any additional matters the State Suj>erintendent may ask for.

estimates of all the common school books that will be needed in the schools of the county for the next year, and forwards such estimates to the State Superintendent for him to approve and forward to the publishers; and once in every three months he must make a complete record of all books received and sold, the amount received for the same and the number remaining on hands, and make reports to and settlements with the various publishers. In June a report showing the number of applicants for teachers' license, the number and kinds of licenses issued, and to whom issued, during the last preceding year, is made to the State Superintendent. The county superintendent has the authority to examine the records of the county clerk, auditor and commissioners; and of prosecuting attorneys, justices of the peace, and town and township trustees, to see that there is no raisaj)pli('ation of scliool funds, and to jjroperjy adjust all matters iiertaining to such funds.

It has already been seen that the county su{jerint('ndent should be a good accountant. He should possess legislative ability. He must establish rules and regulations for the use of the school authorities, teachers, and pupils of the county in many important matters ; must arrange courses of study if not provided by trustees, and must preside over the deliberations of the County Board of Education.

"In all controversies of a general nature arising under the school law, the decision of the county superintendent shall first be obtained; and on local questions relating to the legality of school meetings, establishment of schools, and the location, building, repair or removal of schoolhouses, or transfers and resignation and dismissal of teachers," says the law, his decision shall be final ; in other matters an appeal may be taken to the State Superintendent. So the county superintendent must also act judicially, settling controversies between patrons and teachers, teachers and pupils, trustees and patrons, trustees and teachers, trustees and county ofiicers, trustees and trustees, and teachers and teachers.

The executive duties of the county superintendent are of great importance. He protects the interests of the children in his county by seeing that no unqualified and no immoral person becomes their teacher, that no improper books are placed in school libraries, and that the school premises are in a proper condition for their comfort, if the scliool trustees should neglect this duty. He visits the schools, encouraging the pupils and counseling with the teachers. He provides examinations for the pupils during the school term, and at the close of school provides an examination for the pupils of the eighth grade, grades their manuscripts, and promotes them to the high school. He attends the common school commencements and presents the diplomas. He provides examinations for noncommissioned high schools and attends as man}' high school commencements as possible.

ers of the rural schools and keeps a record of the grades of success of all the teachers of his county. He holds an examination for applicants for teachers' license on the last Saturday in January, February, March, April, May, June, July and August of each year. He grades the manuscripts of applicants, makes a record of the grades made, and issues licenses to all applicants entitled to them. "For incompetence, immorality, cruelty or general neglect of duty on the part of the teacher," he may revoke licenses granted by his predecessor, himself, or the State Superintendent. He employs the instructors and completes all arrangements for the annual county institute required by law, and attends township institutes and county associations. He assists school trustees in procuring and locating teachers when reipiested to do so. At such times as he may deem proper he issues bulletins or circulars to school oflfi- -cers, patrons, pupils, or teachers, setting forth ideas that he l)elieves will improve school conditions.

The County Board of Education was created by a law passed in 1866. It is composed of the township trustees and the pres- -idents of the town school boards. The law directs that it shall meet on the first day of May and September in each year, but it may be called together at other times by the president. Ths council of education is presided over by the county superintendent whose duty it is to place before the board important suggestions, the adoption of which may effect the general educational welfare of the county. This board has power to adopt rules and regulations for the government of pupils and teachers, to adopt a uniform course of study for common and noncommissioned high schools, to adopt regulations for common school and non-commissioned high school commencements, to adopt supplementary work for schools, to provide for the publication of educational information deemed beneficial, to adopt uniform high school text-books and provide such other general regulations as are not established by statutory law. It is the duty of this board to meet on the ttrst Monday in ^lay of each year and aj^point a truant officer to serve the ensuing year.

The law makes it the duty of the county superintendent and all other members of the board to carry out the rules and regulations adopted by the board, and teachers and i)n])ils are required to do so. The work of this board has a great influence on the educational att'airs of the county, especially in developing a proper school spirit.

The State Superintendent And State Hoard Of Education

The office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction was created by the State Constitution that went into effect on November 1, 1851. The first State Superintendent elected was William Clark Larrabee who took his seat November 8, 1852, and at once began the organization of Indiana's present school system. The law authorized him to appoint a deputy in each county in the State to examine teachers and give him such other assistance as he desired. Through his deputies he soon came in touch with all parts of the State and did a great work in awakening an interest in public education. When he began his work there Avere seventh-five thousand men and women in Indiana who could neither read nor write, and as manv more children who had never been in a school of any kind. His greatest difficulty was to get the people in the notion of building suitable schoolhouses. He was succeeded by Caleb Mills, one of the ablest school men of the times. Mr. Mills' successors were John Clark Larrabee, Samuel Lvman Kuoo;, Miles Johnson Fletcher, Samuel Kleinfelder Hoshour, George Washington Hoss, Barnabas Coffin Hobbs, Milton Bledsoe Hopkins, Alexander Campbell Hopkins, James Henry Smart, John McKnight Bloss, John Walker Holcomb, Harvey Marion Lafollette and Hervey Daniel Vories. David M. Geeting. who served from March 15, 1895, to March 15, 1899, proved himself to be a great friend of the countrv school boAS and cirls bv securing the passage of the township high school law. He aided in the passage of the compulsory education law and recommended the law providing for State examination of common school teachers. He will be remembered as an advocate of the best interests of the country schools. Realizing the need of better schoolhouses, Frank L. Jones, who served from ^larch

15. 1899. to March 15, 1903, labored to secure better school' architecture, better sanitary conditions in connection with school buildings, and more attractive school decoration. He strongly advocated rural school consolidation, and secured the passage of the teachers' minimum wage law. Fassett A. Cotton, the present State Superintendent, entered office March 15, 1903. Having filled the positions of country teacher, town teacher, town superintendent, county superintendent, and assistant State superintendent previous to his election, he came into the office with an experience that is making his work thoroughly practical and very beneficial to the public schools. He is the possessor of almost tireless industry and is a ceaseless worker. Without neglecting his many other important duties,, he took a leading part in the organization of Indiana's great educational exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition. Monthly bulletins of his excellent and practical ideas in reference to school matters are sent to all of the county superintendents in the State, and by them forwarded to the teachers, so it can be truthfully said that he is in direct touch with every teacher in the State. He will, perhaps, be the longest remembered for his advocacy of the interests of the pupils in the country schools. He says he ^'believes that equal privileges ought to be secured to the children of country and town. The boys and girls on the farm have a right to the best there is in education.""

The State Superintendent is elected by the people for a term of two years. There is no limit to the number of terms he may be elected. His salary is |:{.(IOO.(IO a year. He has three deputies with salaries of |1,500.00, |1,20().00, and |750.00. He occupies well-furnished and commodious offices in the State House at Indianapolis, and his traveling and office expense* are paid by the State. The following quotations are taken from. Superintendent Cotton's statement of the duties of a State Superintendent: "He has charge of the system of public instruction and a general sujierintendence of the business relating to the common schools of the State and of the school fund* and school revenues set apart and apportioned for their support. At the request of school officials it is his duty to render, in writing, ojtinions touching all phases of administration or construction of school laws.

school funds and revenues. Ue meets with teachers and officers in various i)arts of llie State, counsels with them and lectjires upon topics calculated to subserve the interests of popular education.

Eacli year the General Assembly is not in session he reports, in January, to the Governor, the enumeralion of children, the additions to the permanent school fund and amount of school revenue collected during the year, and the amount of money distributed to the schools of the State.

"Each year the General Assembly is in regular session, on the 15th of January, he presents to that body a printed biennial report of his administration, which shows: The results of his labor, experience and observation while in office, and suggestions of remedies for imperfections; the amount of permanent school funds and how invested; the revenue derived therefrom and the value of all other school property; plans for bettering the organization of schools and better management of school funds; comparison of results of last year's administration as compared with the year or years preceding; statistical tables showing the condition of school affairs throughout the State, and such other matters as he deems of sufficient importance to be placed in his report."

In compliance with a resolution passed at the county superintendents' State association in June, 1894, he prepares the State course of study. He prepares township institute outlines, Arbor and Bird Day programs, teachers' schedules of success and forms of contracts, and enforces the teachers' minimum wage law. He grades teachers' manuscripts received from every county in the State, and issues license good anywhere in the State. By right of his office, he is a memlier of the State Beading Circle Board, the Board of Trustees of the State Normal School, and is the president of the State Board of Education.

The State Board of Education is tlie grand educati»mal council of Indiana and is far reaching in its influence upon our school system. It was created in 1852 and was then composed exclusively of State officers. Various changes have been nmde in the law, and as it now stands this board is composed of the State Superintendent, the Governor, the presidents of Purdue and Indiana universities and the State Normal School, the superintendents of the schools of the three largest cities in the state, and three other i;ei-soiis appointed by the Uovernor, all of whom shall be engaged iu educational work, and one at least of whom shall be a county superintendent.

Fassett A. Cotton

llic mannscrix)ts of all ajtplicants for professional and life State licenses. It selects and adopts for periods of flvt' years the text-books used in Ihe common schools of tlie State, and contracts witli the piiblislicrs to supply the books to the various schools of the State througli the county superintendents. It establishes llic coiidil ions on wliicii coiriinisHions are issued to high schools, and directs the issuing of the same when the requireinenls liav(i heeii nicl. I'.i fore a sdiool <;iii obtain a coinniission it must esiabiish a course of study long enough, strong enough, and liioi-ougii enough to i)ro|)erly prefiare its students for admission into Die fresliman (first) class in the higher institutions of learning. The standard fixed is aimed to meet tlie requirements of Indiana and Purdue universities and is accepted by other colleges in the State. A di|)Ioma from a commissioned high school does not admit the holder into the Indiana University without examination. It is a certificate of the loork done that admits the student to the freshman year if that work meets the university's refjuirements in high school work. The principal requirements for securing a commission are the adoption by the school board or trustee of a course of study which includes ''three years of language, three years of history, three years of mathematics, two years of science, four years of English, and electives to complete a course of four years of not less than eight months each," and the giving of the whole time of at least two teachers to high school work, one of whom ''must be a college graduate." When these conditions have been established the State Superintendent is requested to present the school's application for a commission to the State board. After due consideration of the application a member of the board visits the school and inspects its physical conditions, library, apparatus, enrollment and course of study; inquiries into the educational qualifications of the teachers and the work each one is doing, and ascertains the condition of such other affairs as may be of value in considering the question of granting a. commission. If the report of the member of the board that inspects the school is favorable the board authorizes the State Superintendent to issue to the superintendent of the school a commission which authorizes the latter to ''certify'' the graduates of the school to the State and other colleges. The State Board of Education does not require that the course suggested by them must be the only course maintained by a commissioned school, but simply requires that the course outlined by the board, or its equivalent, must be maintained as a standard of admission to the freshman year in higher institutions of learning. Commissioned high schools may grant dijdomas for other full four years" courses of high school work.

Chai'Tek Ix The Truant Officer

The position of the State is that the purpose of au education is to make manly men and womanl}^ women out of the boys and girls - to lead them to be good citizens of their State and country. For this the State requires a part of the taxes paid in the richer counties to be distributed in the poorer counties ; for this the man without children is asked to pay that the children of his neighbors may be educated to be good citizens and have a proper regard for the rights of property and life. "Ignorance," says Superintendent Cotton, ''is the ally of crime and poverty, and jails and almshouses and sorrow and death follow in their wake. Illiteracy has no rights. Truancy is the primary school of crime. This is the substance of the testimony of the judges of many courts. Most of the cases of juvenile delinquency begin with truancy." Nearly thirty per cent, of the criminals in the State Prison at Jeffersonville in 1895 could neither read nor write. Next to ignorance, idleness is the greatest producer of crime. The truant is usually an idler. The State felt that every effort should be made to prevent crime and the result was the passage of a law creating an officer whose duty it is to go forth armed with the power of the State - the big stick - to bring the truant into school, where his idleness may be changed to a ])reparation for the life of a useful and intelligent citizen. The important parts of the compulsory education law are as follows :

''Every parent, guardian or other person in the State of Indiana having control or charge of any child or children between the ages of seven (7) and fourteen (14) years, inclusive, shall be required to send such child or children to a ])ublic, private or parochial school or to two or all (more) of these schools each year, for a term or period not less than that of the public schools of the school corporation where the child or children reside: Provided, further, That no child in good mental and jjhysical condition shall for any cause, any rule or law to the contrary be precluded from attending school when such school is in session.

''The County Board of Education of each county shall constitute a Board of Truancy, whose duty it shall be to appoint -on the first Monday in May of each year one truant officer in -each county. The truant officer shall sec that the provisions of this act are complied with, and when from personal knowledge or by report or complaint from any resident or teacher of the township under his supervision he believes that any child subject to the provisions of this act is habitually tardy or absent from school he shall immediately give written notice to the parents, guardian or custodian of such child that the attendance of such child at school is required, and if within five (5) days such parent, guardian or custodian of said child -does not comply with the provisions of this section, then such truant officer shall make complaint against such parent, guardian or custodian of such child in any court of record for violation of the provisions of this act: Promded, That only one notice shall be required for any child in any one year. Any such parent, guardian or custodian of child who shall violate the provisions of this act shall be adjudged guilty a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than five dollars (|5.00) nor more than twenty-five dollars (|25.00), to which may be added, in the discretion of the court, imprisonment in the county jail not less than two nor more than ninety days." Each truant officer reports to the Board of State Truancy and the county and State superintendents.

"Counting the day a child is one year old as its first birthday. it is not subject to this law after its fourteenth birtliday. The law provides that if any parent, guardian or custodian of a -child or children is too poor to furnish such child or children with the necessary books and clothing to attend school, then the school trustee or School Board must furnish temporary aid until the next regular meeting of the county comniissiouers, who shall make such provisions for such child or children as will en- -able them to continue in school. On the first day of school it is the duty of trustees and school boards to furnish the truant

The truant officer receives two dollars per day for his services. The first law was passed in 1897, and the first truant officer in Benton county was Capt. Warren B. Sheetz. His successors have been John Seymour, Joel F. White, J. Lee Martin and Philip Fisher. In the school year of 1903-1904, 22,597 children were brought into the schools of Indiana by truant officers, at a cost of about ninety-nine cents for each pupil brought in; the sum of |17,836.50 was expended in aiding pool children - 12.28 for each child so aided.