The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-04-29

teuueuts uutles. AL tnese oCCasioiS i"l'o'0
The duty of addressing the public; and the
officer who does no, do it, fails in his duty.
Some ability therefore to speak in pubic
should be embraced among the requisites Of
iitpess for The office.
4. Energy of character and love for the
work, are the las, essentials that need be
specified. Without these, the highest de-
gree of scholastic attainment, of professional
skill, and of power of expression, will fail,
for The great moving forces Of the required
character will be wanting With these pres.
ent in large degree, even medium OF quail.
fioalions in other respects may succeed
Amongst the qualifications necessary TO
this most important office, ii is, Of course,
not deemed requisite to speak Of temper.
ancs, honesty or industry, nor Of common
sense, suavily 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
10 the general rule, but rather demanding
them in greater degree Than most Others
In word, and aside from special requisites,
the nearer the character Of County Super.
tendent approaches to that Of the Christian
gentleman, the greater will be his acceptance
and success.
The answer 10 the question, What is an
adequate salary? will depend mainly on the
locality and the experience of,he pas, three
years will, in many cases, modify past action
on this point. Mary of the Conventions
fixed the salary in 1854, under a Total or
very material misapprehens'on of the nature
of the Office the amount of service required
and the degree of good 10 be effected. Now,
in many parts of the State; all these points
are clearly comprehendet, and the action of
the directors will no dou5, be different. No
ono who knows the people Of Pehnsy lvania
will, for moment, suppose that injustice
will be done in regulating the compensation
oi those who are found 10 be amongst the
most useful. most laborious and mos, impor.
tant of our public agents. The salary must,
as just remarked, depend on tho circum-
stances OF each case; still, certain general
principles are indicated by the nature Of the
offce and the wants of the schools, which
il may be useful 10 elliott.
The first point TO be determined is, wheth-
er the whole, or only portion, OF The Of
ficer's time will be required for the full dis
charge OF the office. This will wholly de-
pend on the number of schools in the coun-
ly. If they are materially over 100 and
shoulu Do INCREASED, nieu NE pes, poncy
and the course most productive Of good
will be to pay for his whole time and ser
vices. lu such cases more than half OF the
year may be most beneieiaIly devoted 10
school visitation, which, 10 be eGectua,
should he full and frequent. The rest of The
year can be profilably devoted 10 the improve
meni of the Teachers in one or more lnsli.
tu,es of greater of less duration, 10 the Off
GERS own improvement and to the prepara-
lion Of his reports, SC.
In smaller counties less portion o. the
officers time will be needed, and the salary
may be IN proportion; but in all cases enough
should be given 10 secure his whole time
and efforts 10 the service of the schools while
in operation, and 10 The improvement Of the
teachers during portion of The recess.
The only other general principle 10 be kept
in view in arranging the salary, is that Of
making il large enough 10 command the
very best professional talent within he reach
OF The Convention. For reasons already CIV
en-, 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 Teach
er, who is also an accomplished scholar, and a
ready public speaker; aDith sufficient loue for il
to undertake, and energy TO perform, the great
uork before him; and the salary should be syt:
fcient to compensate him, as far as money can,
for the efficient discharge Of so great labor.
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 10 re-
call TO the attention of Conventions 10 elect
County Superirlendenls, that Section 40 Of
The school law of 9Th May, 1854, confers
upOl tu6 Otdto CupctiHteuuSut VI Soh'hoh
Schools, very considerable powers in refer
ence 10 the commissioning of the persons
elected. The words alluded to are these:
'If objection be made within thirty days
TO the issuing Of such commission, the Su-
perinledent of Common Schools may re-
quire such evidence, unddr oath or affirma-
ton, in regard to The election or qualification
Of the person elected County Superintendent,
as he shall deem necessary, and shall then
issue his commission 10 the person properly
qualified who shall have received the high
est number of votes"
Under this provision It is competent for
any citizen, and il would seem TO be his du-
ty, 10 make objection 10 the commissioning
of an unqualified person, and to set in ope-
ration, for The good Of the system in this re-
spect, the powers vested in the State Super
intendenl. In view of this fact, the true
course for Directors in their Convention will
be, to vote for none unless such as BY learn.
ing and professional skill are fully qualified
TO discharge all the duties Of The Office
Pennsylvania School Journal for April.