Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-07-26
Mistaken POLICY.

We have received circular issued
by the Hon. Samuel l.. Rugg, State
Superintendent Of Public instruction,
dated Feb. IL, 1860. and addressed
ITO the School Officers of the State"
We have read this circular with
carc-portions of it with regret. With
Mr.. Riggs suggestions. in the main,
we have no fault to find. We would
gladly stop here, condemning nothing.
even if unable to approve all the meas
ures he favors: but some of these are
of so remarkable and unfortunate a
character, that we feel compelled to
comment upon them. Justice to the
people, and fidelity to school officers
in regard to whose legal duties this
circular is calculated to mislead many,
demand that we speak out In opposi
tion to the extraordinary position
which Mr.. Rugg has thought proper
to assume, and protest against the sin.
gular and ertra-o6fcial order which
he has published.
This ed!ct-and it savors strongly
of the nature of an arbitrary edict-is
as follows:
"Ordered, That the books named in the
! following list, be introduced into and used
in the public schools of the Strife, as text
books for instruction in the several branches
of learning to which they relate"
Following this order is a list Of
books recommended.
Now, the School Law, does not
confer the slightest authority upon the
Superintendent for issuing any such
order The law authorizes him to
recommend list of text books for
the Schools of the State. Having
made recommendation, his authority
ceases. His power is simply advisory
not compulsory. 1t imposes upen the
people no legal obligation whatever to
use the books recommended. They
are at perfect liberty to accept them,
and exercise their own wishes as to
what they will or will not use.
Such, in our opinion, was the plain
intention of the trainers of the school
law; and such is its evident meaning.
1t was SO understood by both of MIR.
Riggs predecessors in office, who
wisely acted upon this unde' standing.
He would have avoided serious mis-
take, had he regarded the precedents
they established, and thus escaped the
embarrassing position in which he
has placed, not only himself, but his
political friends.
We are surprised, and exceedingly
regret that through the influence o
bad counselors, or upon immature anC
hasty consideration, Mr.. Rugg has
been betrayed into issuing. without
authority, so arbitrary and unfortunate
an 'order,' which must be regarded by
every parent in the State as tyrannica
and not Democratic.
Suppose the recommendation of tn,
Superintendent did impose legal ob
, legation upon the people to observe it
where would the matter end? Tn
Superintendent is elected for tw,
years. The law confers no greater an
thority upon one SuperIntenent thar
upon another. If one has the powe
to compel the throwing aside of all tn
books in use in the State, and the in
PRODUCTION of others. so have his sue
cessors. Then, in case each Superin
tendent recommends new list. W
shall have all our school book
changed once, at least, every tw
n years. =
But the law says nothing in regar
n to the frequency or number of recon
: mendations which may be made b
e each officer. Suppose the Superir
: tendent determines to make me-