Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1879 — EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]

EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

’ The l«w makes it the duty ot tnuleea to select and hire teachers. Hrheold law permitted the people of a diatthl to select. Although the old has been superseded by the new for more than six it is aliU in force in mor* than half the townships of the state. The tens tees of these townships do not like to assume the responsibility which the new law imposes, and so the district meeting for the pnrpose of eeleetiaft loachera still hold• sway. The evils growing out of those meetings can not easily be exaggerated. There are almost always several candidates for the same school, one or more often having relatives in the district. Thu canwass is generally hot, and the meeting exciting. The defeated candidates are usually dissatisfied, and unfrequeutly charge fraud upon she succesefhl party. The success ftil candidate frequently has to enter school with nearly half the district bitterly opposed to him : and, much as it is to be 'regretted, this opposition does not cease when school bogins. Family and neigh norhood feuds are often genera*ed in tliia way that last for years. Under such circumstance*, schools can do but little good. It is the testimony of all stale superintendents, that under the old law more questions and more appeals come to them, growing out of these meetings, than from all others combined. To avoid these contentions, the new law was passed, and while it is not quite se democratic, it is much the best for the schools. If the trustee eelects the teachers, as a rule, the name ones will remain in each township as if the people selected them, but there would probably be some difference in the ’ arranging of them; and the probahililies are strongly hi favor of ihe trustees' makingj.be more equitable distribution. But the principal ar gumcut in favor of the present law is that it puts each teacher in a school without the excitement and prejudice against him generated by the meeting. The present law may not be the best possible, but it is, without question, a great improvement upon the old one. Both the oath of office and the good or the schools, for which the trustees are responsible, demand that they ateff carry ouf Ute law at it tianjf.