The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-07-27
School Commissioner.

heir late convention, held in Dayton, when
they nominated Lorin Andrews "a the no
party candidate for School Commissioner.
In performing this movement they made
themselves the tool for the whig party, as
it is well known, that Mr. Andrews is a
strenuOuswhig, and one too that stumped
speeched in favor of Gen. Scott during the
last Presidential campaign. We do not OBJ
ject to Mr.. Aandrews because he has indie
pcndenre enough to declare his opinions on
proper aad fitting occasions. Bat we do
object TO the hypoCritical position he occu-
pies as a no-party candidate. If the wings
desire him as their candidate, why can they
not nominate him? as great party, such as
the the wings profess to be, should do. Or
are they so nearly disbanded as a party, that
THEN only hope of elecdng one whig to Of
flee lies in trying to persuade the people
that Lorn Andrews is Il no party man.
But it seems some of the tea achers of the
State have taken this matter in hand, as
being within their peculiar province. Now
look at this for moment. Whose inter-
ests is this Scoool Commissioner to guard?
The interests Of parents and children, or
boards of education, or teachers? or all to-
gether? The duties that will devolve upon
this officer, will, we think, be as much to
watch over the interests of parents anG
scholars, and confer with boards of educa-
ton, as to lecture, counsel and advise teach
ers. In truth teachers are less interested,
in our humble judgment, in having an able
and efficient Commissioner, than are either
Of the other parties named above. And yet
they assume the high hprerogative of saying to
the people "Lorin Andrews is the man you
muste elect tot that importants station" But who
are the teachers that assembled at Dayton
to say who must bo elected to that office? =?
Why, Presidents and Professors of Col
leges, Principals of Academies, and Teach
ers of High Schools, who are receiving
such salaries as enable them to travel to
State Conventions at long distances from
home, AMI not the hundreds, and we may
say thousands, of male and female teach
ers who are engaged in the very laborious
and honorable calling OF teaching in the
country districts at satares that will hardly
keep soul and body togather.
Suppose the Lawyers were to claim that
it was within their peculiar province tc
nominate all the judges Of the variou,
courts of the State, what would the people
think Of it? A! once such hue and cry
would be raised from one end of the State
to The other, as would most e49ctuaIly put
down any such movement. Just os witt
the assumption of the Teachers. Were
they the only parties interested, they nigh
with some show of reason dictate to the
people. Bat being as little, or perha p,
less, interested than the great body of the
people, We see no object in giving then
the say OF who shall or shall not be candi
dates, unless the people are prepared tt
elect man who shall feel under oblga
| tous to the teachers and not to the people
| for his advancement to oAice. And bcng
SO obligated whose interest would such t
| Commissioner look aftero Most assured
ly the interests of such teachers as PLACED
him in power, and not that of parents ant
scholars.
Then let the people of the State-and al
such as feel interested in having a Com
missioner who will prelorm his duty, with
out fear, favor or affection, to teachers a.
we'll as to school officers, and parents .ant
chldren-look at this matter in its prope
light, and see whether they can, consist
entity with their duty to themselves, vot
for man who has received nomination
at the hands of only one OF the parties in
tercsted.
The Dayton Empire says the Woods6elt
esprit Of Democracy" speaks the senti
ments Of the "people" when it says tha
"the action Of the convention in reference
to the Commissioner of Common Schools
was such we hesitate not to say, as will
meet with the strong and emphatic dissap
probation of great majority of the people
of the State. The teachers, in our iudg
ment, departed widely from their legitimat
sphere of duty, in taking the action they
did. The people, it strikes us, are quit
as deeply interested in the selection @
this officer as the teachers possibly car
be, and quite as competent to make the
choice. 1t should likewise be borne in
mind, that the people require man fo
this place who is qualified and competent
to exercise salutary supervision over tn
teachers themselves and it would be strange
inueed, if they should tamely consent t.
leave the matter where the convention en-
deayored to place it. Such will not be til,
case. If Mr.. Andrews stood the leas
chance of an election before, it has been en-
tirel ly dissipated by what every man, who
rightly regards the subject, must consider
very mistaken and ill-advsed course of