Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-02-26

the children. When they come to tho dsy of,Is
ing superniendenis Of common schools ws 80
them TO perform it wisely. Elect no neom,.,.''
man-for thus you will rob the children plo.,
man simply because he belongs to your parv.-..'
can crow over no victory which sacrifices ,b. ,,.'
Of education Ia short, elect your best uo, 49,
ofice-and LET that man consider the ofB,.
sponsble and an honorable one, aud enter /, v,s'
firm resolve 10 do his best.
From the St Albans Messenge,
TOWN SUPERINTENDENTs
1t will be borne in mind that the periosa a..
preaching for the appointment Of town Supe,,r,'ry
dents Of common schools, as they are 10 be- cbo'.'
BY the several towns az their annual March ~
ings And since the Office cannot be re,ordsS,,e
erwise than as very important one under opr n,s.
ent school system, ii appears desirable that the.
pie should in advance, settle in their mind, En-.
definite principles by which they may be gove,,si
in their selection. And for the purpose of ,,H
ing public attention TO the subject and inviting a,
cussion propose TO offer my own opinion
In the first place, then, | believe our Tor, G.
periniendents should be men Of good eem.,t,,,
education--well acquainted with first prineipIs,E
and il possible, men who have had some eXDetisr,.
in actual teaching. We do not consider Il Al Il
essential that they should be-to use f,m7,,
phrase" college learned men," for ALLOWING ,bg
such could be found in every town who could In
duced to undertake the duties Of the Office M,
would not BY any means necessarily be the 10
qualified. EHteh Of learning we should regard !,
a matter OF less consequence tssa-af thcs.svhneu
Of acquaintance with those branches usually l,u,,
in schools. Without this Superinter.s,
would not be competent to test the SCHOLARSHIP q
those who are to teach those branches, or to io5s
when schools are correctly and properly INSTRUCTED
/ Still, the more Superintendent knows The be,e-
provided always that he knows il peH
/ Ia the next place it would seem desirable thg
those officers should feel deep interest in the ,ssS
Of common school education We would mo-, bo..
ever, set this down as an indispensable prereogi,t.
in case the other qualifications are secured; for w
scarcely think il possible that one should labor o,,
/ in such delightful and interesting field as nm
without his feelings becoming deeply enlisted. ID!
/ his soul kinded in view of the interest that s-.
rounds it. 1t is grea, law OF our nature that vha
we have aided and fostered and cherished We sosa
learn to love. And this general law mus, espsci,.
y hold good in regard to an object Of such lnrinas
and essential interest as this That nature must ).
cold indeed which could resist the genial influence
Of such an occupation as that which we are contsn.
/ plating Still we should regard good deal Of H.
terest on this subject. in advance, as very exec
lent piece Of capital to commence business with
and perhaps moderate amount might be deena
| essential.
| Again. Town Superintendents should be msud
good common sense, sound judgement, prudsua
and discretion. Mere learning and zeal would Ii
be sufficient to ensure the best and most efeisi
discharge Of their duties. They should be capaas
OF giving good, judicious, and suitable advice nrs
gard to multitude Of matters connected with Ii,
instruction and Management of schools Indss
we regard the usefulness and success Of our prsss
school system as depending in no small degree c.,
on the manner in which they discharge tie vsrios
duties growing out Of their close and intimate CO...
nection with our common schools.
And now we will venture TO express our con6dsi
belief that there may be found in all our towns usl
uniting, IN competent degree, all these impOn@
qualifications.
Having said thus much in regard 10 reouss
qualifications, we propose TO offer few suggesioa
with reference TO the proper number to be sppOia,
ed in each town. By the act authorizing their Ip
pointment it is provided that each town may cleo
one or more not exceeding three. But we woal
recommend the appointment Of only one prOrdS
one can be found who may be relied on to dsehug.
the duties. One Of the advantages Of this PIN
would be that one, thus appointed solely, would IL
a deeper responsibility resting on him than if hsrs
sponslbiity and obligations were divided beseS
two or three. Another advantage would be thai
the labors were performed by one, he would acqaV
an experience and facility in the performance OH
And another and very important advantage wost
be that the more one labored in his vocation la
more deeply would his feelings become engigs
the more deeply would his love for his employnss
be increased, and the more actively would his
gies be exerted. And Just in that proportion soal
his substantial usefulness be increased IT, hoEE'
err from any cause, there should be doubt whsia
the individual on whom the first preference might
fall, would be able 10 discharge alone the duties
the appointment, an additional one should be y
pointed.
1t cannot be objected to this plan of conferl:
the appointment of one individual that il is g'a.
HIM, exclusively, "a fat office" The compensate
allowed being not 10 exceed one dollar per DAY.
cannot be deemed to hold out any strong Tempt
ton to any individual to seek the office for The sake
oil It's peeuniary profits. 1t was the intent douf
less OF our Legislature to place the compensate
SO low that no town could reasonably regard sl
burden to pay it-while on the other hand il hOpe
that, saving as it does the individual from maxim,
an entire sacrifice Of his time and labor for the pub
lie veal, there might be found those who would
leel sufficiently interested TO be willing to eng'g'
IN the exalted and ennoblng enterprise
A FRIEND OF COMMON Schools