Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-16

the delivery Ot public lectures and addresses
for the furtheranee of the system aad explana-
nation Of the law, have become so general and
are found to be SO beneficial that they may
now be regarded as an integral part Of the
Superntendcnt's duties All these occasions
impose the duty of addressing the public and
the officer who does not do it, no matter what
the cause, fails in his duty The ability, there
fore, to speak in public should be embraced
amongst the requisites of fitness for the Office.
4. Energy q, character and lore for tie
rork, are the last essentials that need be spcci-
fed Without these, the highest degree of
scholastic attainment, of professional skill, and
of power of expression will fall for the great
moving forces of the required character will be
wanting. With these present in large degree
even a medium of qualification in other res
poets, may succeed.
Amongst the qualifications necessary to this
most important Office, it is, of course not deem
ed requisite to speak of temperance honesty
or industry, nor of common sense, suavity of
manners, or knowledge of human nature
These are requisites to the safe and efficient
discharge of every public trust the one in
question being no exception to the general rule
but rather demanding them in a greater de-
gree than most others. In word, aud aside
from special requisites, the nearer the charac-
ter of a County Superintendent approaches to
that of the Christian gentleman, the greater
will be his acceptance and success
The answer to the question What is an
adequate salary will depend mainly on the
locality aud the experience of the past three
years will, in many cases, modify past action
on this point. Many of the Conventions fix
ed the salary in 1854, under a total or very
material msapprehension Of the nature Of the
Office, the amount Of service required and the
degree of good to be effected Now, in many
parts Of the State all these points are clearly
comprehended, and the action of directors will
no doubt be different. No one who knows the
people Of Pennsylvania will, for moment, sup
pose that injustice will be done in regulating
the compensation Of those who are found to be
amongst the most useful, most laborious and
most important Of our public agents The ac-
tual amount must, as just remarked, depend on
the circumstances of each case; STILL certain
general principles are indicated by the nature
Of the Office and the wants of the schools,
which it may be useful to elicit.
The first point to be determined is, whether
the whole or only a portion, of the officers
time will be required for the full discharge of
the duties Of the Office This will wholly de-
pend on the number of schools in the county.
If they are materially over 100 and should be
increased, then the best policy and the course
most productive of good, will be to pay for
and require his whole time and services In
such cases more than half Of the year may be
most benelcially devoted to school visitation,
which to be effcctual, should be ful and fire.
quent. The rest of the year can be proftably
devoted to the improvement of the teachers in
one or more institutes of greater or less dura-
ton, to the officers own Improvement and to
the preparation Of his reports, &c.
In smaller counties q less portion of the Off
GERS time will be needed and the salary may
be in proportion but in all cases enough
should be given to secure his whole time and
efforts to the service of the schools while in
operation, and to the Improvement of the tea
cherS during a portion Of the recess.
The only other general principle to be kept
in view in arranging the salary, is that of max
ing it large enough to command the very best
professional talent within the reach of the Con
vention. For reasons already given no other
should be thought Of.
The man, then, whom Law, Experience and
the Wants of the system demand for County
Superintendent is "A practical Teacher, lcho
as also an accomplished scholar, and a ready
paJljc speaker acth sufficient lore for u to IN
dertake and energy 10 perform, the great ,cork
before him and tie salary shonld be sufficient
to compensate him, as far as money ran, for the
efficient discharge Of so great a La6or.
Wherever such man is found he should be
selected. Wherever he has already been found
he should be retained
At the present time it may be proper to re-
call to the attention of Conventions to elect
County SuperintendentS, that section forty of
the school law of Sth May, 1851 confcrs upon
the State Superintendent Of Common Schools,
very considerable powers in reference to the
commissioning of the persons elected. The
words alluded 20 are these g If objection be
made within thirty days to the issuing of such
commission, the Superintendent Of Common
Schools may require such evidence, under oath
or affirmation, in regard to the election or qp2l
ifcqtion Of the person elected County Supern-
tcndeut, as he shall deem necessary, and shall
then issue his commission to the person proper
ly qualified, who shall have received the high
est number of votes"
Under this provision it is competent for any
citizen, and it would seem to he his duty, to
make objection to the commissioning of an I'M
qualified person, and to set in operation, for
the good Of the system in this respect the po-
wers vested in the State Superintendent In
view of this fact, the true course for Directors
in their Convention will be, to vote for none
unless such as by learning and professional
skill are fully qualified to discharge all the du-
ties of the ofice.-Pa. Sehoot Journal, AprH