Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1917 — SUPERINTENDENTS WOULD PERPETUATE SELVES [ARTICLE]

SUPERINTENDENTS WOULD PERPETUATE SELVES

Ask Increase in Wages and for Higher Qualification for Outside Candidates

The county school superintendents of the state of Indiana have again appeared before the state legislature. They are, as they have been for mahyyears, thoroughly organized and have succeeded in having passed by the House of Representatives, a bill intended to perpetuate themselves in office at least another four years. — With greatiy reduced number of schools to visit on account of the consolidation and discontinuance of small schools, with a much less number of teacher’s examination manuscripts to grade, bn account of a less number of teachers and a greater number having their manuscripts sent to be graded sby the State department, with a greatly <1 im inished amount of office work on account of the text books being handled by a county agent instead of all the township trustees, yet the county superintendents are asking for increased salaries and added office and traveling expenses. So unbearable are the present conditions under w hich our county school superintendents are -working that .Legislature to lengthen their terms while they cannot again ask the of office they are asking for a law that will so circumscribe the qualifi■mtions of candidates that it practically means Hie re-election of the present incumbents. That wise provision of each law asked bv this prolessional political lobby always contains a clause making the present holder of the office eligible to reelection.

If there is cause to raise the qualification for persons to be entrusted with the duties of county school superintendent, why should they not apply to all alike, whether in or out of that office ? There may be necessary qualifications for county school superintendent that cannot be written in the law. Certain iron-clad requirements may prevent, rather than help, in the election of the person best suited for the duties of school.. superintendent. That the present salarv is sufficient is proven by the number of well qualified candidates at each election. The McClaskey bill which passed the House by the na.now margin of one vote more than the constitutional requirement should be killed by the Senate or vetoed by the governor; who should be against a raise of salary of any officer, state, countv or township. Mrs. F. Weightman, mother of Mrs. Russell Van Hook is very low with pneumonia an J her chance for recovery see ol's- slight. ■