Liberia <#- 



do not attract and cannot interest the children, have no enthusiasm 

 for the work, indeed are often otherwise objectionable. The 

 Superintendents, knowing this, are hindered from refusing employment 

 to such persons for fear of offending a good partisan or a local boss. 

 Then it is observed too that the County Superintendents do not 

 inspect the schools in their districts quarterly as is required by the 

 public school law. Hence they can make no suggestions. They 

 do not often remove teachers, many of whom shamefully neglect 



97. PUPlL.b OF A SCHOOL FOR INUlGFiNOL'S NEGROES 



their charges. It is necessary to put life into the dead bones of our 

 system of public instruction. We ought to take the schools out of 

 politics. It is universally recognised that the money spent on public 

 education of the right sort is a national investment of great produc- 

 tive value. It is a gilt-edged national security. We ought not then to 

 be so indifferent about it. If we must make the investment, then we 

 must get full value for the money expended. I recommend that the 

 Superintendent of Public Instruction be created a member of the 



320 



