346 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



tional opportunities would prevail .throughout the county. It 

 must be clearly recognized that education is a matter of concern 

 not only to the local district but also to the county, and to the 

 state and nation as well. 



The ideal county system, judging from the most successful 

 elements in various state systems where the county is the unit of 

 organization, is probably as follows: The entire management 

 and control of the schools of the county rests in the hands of a 

 county board of education composed of three, six, or nine mem- 

 bers, one-third of whom are elected by the voters of the county 

 at each annual or biennial election. This insures a continuing 

 board. The county board should have the selection of a county 

 superintendent of schools, who becomes the agent of the board 

 in the management of school affairs. In the administration of 

 the course of study, however, the county superintendent should 

 be independent of the county board, as that is a professional task 

 which requires the expert judgment of a professionally trained 

 man. The county superintendent should be a man who has had 

 a good general education, professional education in psychology 

 and pedagogy, and successful experience as a teacher. In the 

 administration of the course of study his only responsibility 

 should be to the state department of education. 



The county superintendent should select all teachers for the 

 county, final election being a prerogative of the county board. 



The county board of education should divide the county into 

 school districts, for convenience in locating schools and assigning 

 pupils to the various buildings. In each district there should be 

 a trustee or a board of trustees, either appointed by the county 

 board or elected by the people of the district. This local board 

 would have no absolute power, but would have the immediate 

 oversight of the local school and act in a supervisory capacity to 

 the county board in all affairs dealing with their school. 



School funds should be assessed and expended on the county 

 as a unit. If the county contains independent school districts, 

 the school tax should be levied on all taxable property in the 

 county including that in the city districts. The funds collected 

 should be divided between the county as a whole and the inde- 

 pendent districts, probably on the basis of school population. 

 The basis of division would depend upon local conditions in 



