The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-08-02
TIE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
DIANoxD SPRINGS, July 80, 1862

MEssRs. EDITuRs SIZE by the report
If the Grand Jury, that the Superintend-
ent Of Public Schools is referred to, aud
gentle criticism passed on the course he
has seen fit to pursue in dischsrging his
very responsible duties. The duty of ex.
aiming into the management and eli
cheney Of our county officers, is, by law,
imposed on the Grand Jury. This is
right; bat any report made public Ivy
them, should be based on correct inform
alton, and not on mere rumor. Had the
Grand Jury desired information OH whirh
20 predicate a just report with regard to
the present condition Of our Schools, 1t
wpuld have been chccrfully furnished.
Some men are generally supposed to be
frosted in reference to certain channels Of
business and others, who have not had
experience in them, are not supposed to
be able to speak intclligibly about them.
Men should inform themselves before they
give expression to sentiments that may
Gnislead the public mind. To assume that
this, that, or the other, is the correct
mode Of accomplishing - -'-'''''' -
certain departments Of business, without
the requisite data on which to base an
inte4ftEgfB s4.iniON, IL !,Tes0mrt0,tiS, 'in',f
calculated TO blind and miSlrad. The work
Of a Superintendent Of Public Schools, in
u county so large as ours. is very great
greater thanlthat Of Superintendent in
such a city ms San Francisco; for here
our schools are scattered over large cx
tent Of territory, demanding several DAYS
riding to visit three or four; whereas,
there, ten minutes walk brings the Super.
intendent in contact with any one out of
the thirty or more Of the city schools;
and, again, there they enjoy every facility
for prosecuting the business Of their office;
--a4vs ~S,,NraA,,ce o, means, ypoA mnnscs, con
venient Offices, normal school from
,rhicd TO select eveI| 9US'itied teachers ard
many others which Mt present We must do
without, and yet try to secure an equal
comparative amount Of good.
had intended to let pass unnoticed,
any criticism, either public or private, on
the manner of conducting the business Of
this Office, and continue to do, ms have
done, and under oath promised, my duty
silently yet efficiently, earnestly yet noise.
leSslv. But the improper and unjust in.
reference Of men in private and public
life, with one Of the most il not the most
important county interest, demands that
the Office 60 say nothing "f its Incumbent,
who is fully conscious Of having fulfilled
his obligStion>L should receive "A word in
its defence. desire it should be distinct.
" understood that never sought the Of,
flee Of County Observation-Disclosures So
licited a vote-but, ON the contrary, that
il was imposed upon me by the wishes Of
the people, expressed through the ballot.
hOx. did not want the office. having
then. aS always have had. enough tG ,io
'o occupy my time u>ofuy and rro;ita.
hlv, but consented tn accept the n"n.jna.
zion ms n matter Of duty. and the office
with view of cnlar.ing my sphere Of
usefulness. am now ready, nj any mo
mcnt, 10 rclinguish it whenever the edu
rational interests uf our cuuntv can be
HubServed ny n change; and presume |
shall lie pardonrd for the suggestion that
those men who spend more time in pre-
pairing to ill an Office well, and less in
seeking it, will usually he selected by an
intelligent public to manage their imp"r.
tAnt public interests. \ man should be
his own judge rs to the best, most effect.
i've way # fulfilling the duties Of a public
Office, when once confided To him in a
Legitimate manner. One Of the most i'm
1'ortant and difficult duties If Supcrin.
tendent is found in securing the requisite
numbcr Of competent teachers. To place
any one in charge Of a school is a matter
Involving wcighty considerations. y
teacher may do vast amount Of good, or
dnf1ict upon his pupils incalculable injury.
Hence this office requires an extensive
correspondence, not only in but beyond
this county. AS an evidence OF this. my
letter book shows about six hundred let
tiers aud communications on educational
matters, written during the short period
"( my incumbency. Another indSpcnsa-
ble duty of a Superintendent is to aid
teachers who are at once found to be fitted,
Ivy nature and acquired abilities, for their
profession, in advancing in knowledge and
thus enlarging their influence and useful
ness. This is especially true Of young
teachers, just entering on their profes ion,
who are constantly meeting difficulties
and discouragementS. and need sympathy
and counsel and in this department of
duty, there is quite broad demand for
correspondence Of very peculiar and
delicate character.
The matter referred to in the Grand
Jury report-the visitation of the schools
is another very important duty deyolv-
ing on Superintendent. This is neccs-
sary not only with direct reference to the
schools, but also to the Trustees and citi-
zens of the Districts, who often need in
and counsel, to enable them to
act tremendously and efficiently; but the
Superintendent should, usually, be his
own judge as to the proper time and man
ner Of making these visitations. Things &;
done and words spoken at just the right
time and right place, and in the right man