St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-12-29

schools through the State would be
strengthened by his visits. In regard
to the statements of the Superintend.
ents, do not believe that they are cor
rect. The difficulty, then, is in the
Superintendent. The Superintendent
of Jackson county gives his opinion Of
the law, but it is his opinion and not
that of the people Of jackson county.
We paid him 5000 or $1,000, and what
is the result? From the influence ex-
crted upon them, probably majority
would vote against the law. The point
is, shall we have Secretary to stay
at the capital, or to go through the
State =? am convinced we need an
officer of our Secretary's influence and
experience, to lecture the people, and
inspect the schools, using his own dis
cretion as to the manner of doing it.
Mr.. Connolly said that in answer to
some of his argument, Mr.. Hildreth
used an argument something like this,
that based my statements on an i'm
probable event, that is, raising the ex-
penses of the Superintendent to meet
the Secretary at the places OF his
meetings. He thought if the opinion
of the Secretary be correct, it will be
necessary to provide for their expen-
SEES. Messrs. Garfield and Hildreth
have not observed the providential ar
rangements for travelling over the
State. The lrishman thought it re.
markable that Providence had put a
navigable stream near every large
town. But it has made no such ar
engagements for the convenience of our
Superintendent and Secretary. In
numerous instances they live off the
travelled route, and to enable the Sec
rotary to visit the Superintendent Of
his county he must go twelve miles off
the travelled routes, north and south.
Mr.. Garfield says he don't believe these
reports. ....
Mr.. Garfield Il said did not be.
lieve they represented the sentiments
Of the people. 49,.
Mr.. Connolly well, suppose they
don't, can he rely npon them when
made orally? Ifincorrect in one way,
would they not be incorrect in the 9TH
err? Looking at the report of the Su-
perintendent of his own county, he
was inclined to say that he was witty,
if it be true that brevity is the soul
of wit" The reports are generally
brief. There is not much in them.
And is it necessary for the Secretary
to travel all over the State to gather
that much information Would gen.
tlemen pay two, three or five hundred
dollars for such information, when they
could get it cheaper, aye, for half
price.
Mr.. Mills thought that the cause of
Education is the chief Interest of the
State. Our government and institu-
tons would be worth little to us or our
descendants, without it. If there is
any interest in the State requiring an
officer to travel through the State, and
see what defects exist in the laws, and
what hindrances there may be in the
way of their execution, it is the educa-
tional department lie believed the
educational interests demanded the
discharge of these duties most rigidly.
The people should be reminded by
their officers of the great interest they
have in these matters.
When the people are cnquircd OF as
to what are the difficulties in the
School Law, and their objections to it,
we are told by some that their objec-
ton is to that part of it relating to
County Superintendent and the du-
q - -. !.
expense of the system, and some OBJ
iect to the District Board and the man.
ner in which they perform their duties.
By some the difficulties are charged
to the whole system. Many Of the
people, he thought, had never read
the School Law for want OF opportuni-
ty, and there should be some way for
giving them information on the SUBJ
ject he would acknowledge that he
was at loss to determine what was
the best mode of communicating it.
Some who read the Law and discover
defects in it's details, Immediately OBJ
iect to the whole School system.
There had already been amendments
offered, which, if adopted, in his opin-
ion, would remove large portion of
the prejudice against it. He would
say again that he had doubts as to
what was the best mode of giving the
people the information needed, and
which will satisfy them with the pres
ent system as we must have some
thing like it, the details may be
changed. but the general outlines must
necessarily be retained.
Mr.. Mitchell said it was contended
that it was necessary for some person
to travel over the State to Undue the
proper persons with spirit of earn
estness inhalation to educational mat
tiers. No Ibis the Secretary to
do this II Ia it is necessary to
gather an accurate knowledge of the
working of the system in the State,
and that the knowledge obtained by
correspondence is not a true reflection
of the feeling and sentiments of the
people of the counties. Supposing the
Secretary be required to visit the Su
perintendents once each year, what
opportunities will he have to get the
opinions of the people of the counties 7
In my district there are twelve Super
intendents to meet him. He gets
their opinions. Supposing he meets
them at Webster City, he is seventy
miles from some other parts Of the
district. He sees no one from those
parts, and has to rely upon the state
ments of the Superintendent.
Mr.. Garfield moved to strike out the
l4th section, &c.
Mr. Mitchell suggested that if We
make it discretionary with the Secre-
tary to perform these duties, and make
no provision for his expenses, his dis
erection would lead him to stay at home.
Mr.. Garfield said that was another
question, which was not yet reached.
Mr.. Hildreth hoped that the motion
would not prevail. lie was sorry that
the gentleman from Jackson Mr.. Can
field after making SO good an argu-
ment in his first speech, should now