Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-20

Friday, October 20. IS4s.
superintendent OF Public schoOi,
c. l.. SHOLEs, EDITOR.

va S&AVpAS'
ELEAzAR Roor, of Walk -sha. is put forward by
several of the papers OF the state, candidate for
superintendent OF schools, and will probably be ge
neraIly supported by the opposition to Mr.. Codding
But why should Mr., Codding be opposed! Those
who put forward Mr. Root, distinctly disclaim all
party considerations, and we therefore infer that
they do not object 10 Mr.. Codding because of his
Free Soil predictions. Mr.. Codding is probably
no more Free Soil man than Mr. Root is a Taylor
mai. SO far as their feelings are concerned one is
quite as much OF party man as the Other. 50 that
Mr.. Root has superior claims in that respect.
That Mr.. Codding recommended by a Free
Soil Convention, makes no difference, for it was
his ability to lill the place, much more than his
party predictions that dictated the selection The
two men must be Judged solely by their merits for
The place, and we presume this is what the men
who have put forward Mr. Root mean, when hey
dsclam ali party alliances and influences. Let us
then examine the matter in this light
We know but little about Mr. Root except what
we gather from his public life, when member OF
the late Constitutional convention He was, in
that body member of the committee on schools,
and is understood to have been the author of the
article on schools. II we are correctly informed,
he is one Of that kind of men who put their trust
mainly in academies and high schools as the best
system Of instruction, and find in the report al
luded to, the following recommendation
Sec. T. When the population of any county in
this state shall exceed twenty thousand in number,
provision shall be made by law for the erection of
/ an academy in such county, with male and female
departments.
Such vas the original recommendation OF the
committee. 1t was modified subsequently and
adopted, as follows:
list. To the support and maintenance of com
mon schools in each school district, and the pur-
chase OF suitable libraries and apparatus therefor.
"2d, The residue shall be appropriated to the
support aud maintenance OF academies and normal
! schools, and suitable apparatus therefor.
We say we have understood by those acquainted
with him, that Mr.. Roots predictions are all in
favor of high school system of instruction, and
we find here provision for academies out Of the
common school fund, which should not be in the
constitution.
Again we find that the original report Of the com
! mittee, recommendation that the Superintendent
! be appointed by the Governor, by and with the ad
vice and consent of the Senate. In support of this
proposition Mr. Root remarked in Convention as
/ follows:
81 The appointment would have TO be done by
some agency or delegated power-and, il so, what
more proper than the governor and senate who
were the immediate agents of the people? If II
were done BY eiection-nominally by the people
! themselves-it would work thus. Each political
party would assemble in their town meetings and
choose delegates 10 a county convention; the coun
! ~ convention would choose delegates 10 State
Convention, and the State Convention would nom
mate the Superintendent. Thus he would really
be appointed by a large and irresponsible body
three removes from the people, instead of being
! appointed by their immediate and responsible
agents.
No one must accuse US OF any purpose TO descend
to patry electioneering, with regard to this Office
|, is trust too high and important TO be approach
ed in any other light than that OF strict candor and
truth. and 50 we propose to speak OF II. II is de-
signed TO commit this portant trust to MI Roo
and il is both right and proper that the people
should have all the information with regard to thu
character and qualifications OF this man, that car
be furnished them from undoubted sources Gu
own opinion is, that Mr.. Root, from the evidence
here furnished does not possess that compFehen
sjve. liberal and democratic mind, which should
distinguish especially, this officer The common
school is the field IN which is to be wrought ou
all of good that our immense fund promises, anf
,ha s,nerintendent OF schools should lie eSpeclaii
a devoted friend of cannon schools 10 MS pos
,ion with reference TO the appointment OF this ON
GER Mr. Roo, occupies the narrow hhbeFsI, OF
EoeraI ground, Of dis,rust Of tie capacity OF ih'