Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-08-18
[For the Bradford Reporter.l
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT.

the Office of County Superintendent Of Common
Schools has been indnging himself in man
ner which may justify my asking you to pub
lsh reply. With his personalities in speak
ing of the superintendent, have nothing to
say or do-he is fully able to answer for him
self; but will endeavor to show your readers
that his charges and inSinuations against those
school directors who are in favor of general
education, are unjust, and indccorouS. The
gentlemen WHO took part in fixing the salary
Of the superintendent are the real friends OF
GOOD system of education-for the rich and for
the poor: and their standing in society, both
for integrity and intelligence, ought to shield
them from the Sneering charges of ignorance,
resorted to by an arrogant and dictatorial news
paper scribbler The chairman of the conven-
ton is man of education, and possesses talents
of high order, and no one doubts his integri-
ty. The secretaries are men who would do
credit to themselves in any county convention.
The chairman Of the committee to draft reso-
lutions is Professor of education in high stand
the {" two others with him" were, your CORE
spondent has not told us but l would think
well of them Judging them by their company.
The gentleman who offered the resolution to
increase the superintendent salary and advo-
Gated it. is gentleman who stands so far above
the attacks of petty scribblers, that it is not
necessary to notice the attacks on him. l
will only say that he possesses a strong natur-
al mind, with bold honesty of purpose which
makes him fearless and powerful in debate
The gentleman who offered the resolution nam
ing the salary adopted, is one of the best read
lawyers in Northern Pennsylvania. \ gentle
man of a fine mind, and one who has the cour-
age and disposition to do justice to friend or
foe. Those men are all ardent friends of edu
cation-they are actively engaged in the cause
they are taxpayers of the county, and ask
what right your correspondent has to make
charges or insinuations against them for exer-
cising the right of acting as they thought pro-
who voted with them were a clear and an hon
est majority Of the convention, and no sensible
man doubts their legal right to do what they
have done.
The position Of your correspondent is untena-
bic from beginning to end The state has ap-
propriated $50, 600 for the payment of county
superintendentS and no officer Of government
can use one dollar Of that sum for any other
purpose. The question then is, shall the Su-
perntendent of Bradford county receive com
pensation equal to, or in proportion to that Of
the superintendent of other counties? You
MIR Editor, told your readers few weeks since,
that Bradford county had more farms than any
other county in the state. In this statement
you were correct but in the same paper your
correspondent argued that $500 was enough
pay for traverSng this large and populous
county. This was an absurdity He thought
it could all be done in two hundred days-and
two dollars fifty cents per day-quite gener-
Gus compensation. Did this correspondent ever
hire horse and travel the county? Isuppose
he did not, or he would make no such assertion.
The wear and tear and expenses Of two hun
dred days travelling would be more than $500;
but the necessary travelling of the superintcn-
dent cannot be performed in three hundred daw
and then the writing of the Office and the cor
respondence he must attend to occupies not on
ly his leisure hours by day, but runs far into
the night, depriving him of sleep. I am proud
to say that Bradford county requires mere la
Dor from the superintendent of common schools
than any county in the state and I am quite
willing that the officer, (let him be the present
incumbent or any other,) should be paid for
his services
will now notice the assertion of your cor
respondent relative to the proceedings Of the
convention, and | rejoice that the chairman
had the good sense to attend to the business
the convention and net be led into confusion by
the attempts of those who acted as factionsts
1t appears one of those offered a resolution to
make the salary ten HouSdnd dollars. Would he
have voted for such sum? Would one mem
Der of that body have recorded such a vote
/ answer no, 1t was only intended to occupy
time, and trife with the convention. Let such
men talk abont the want of knowledge in
chairman. Their own charges viii do him
credit. Again your correspondent grossly tells
your readers that resolutions were offered to
abolish the Office Of superintendent, to reduce
the number of school directors, fix their sala-
res, &c. did expect The gentleman charged
with Offering such resolutions to come out in
did not do so, presume he owns them. Did
those men believe that a county convention
have any suchpower? Did the mover of those
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