Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-11-09

StRte Superinten mt. On him rests the
1 responsibility of deciding on the 9da1iticR
tfons of county superiutepdents Aad under
certain circutnstahees, OF withholding OF
I revoking their commissions. Be is &c
decide all QUESTION: aud controversies In
regard to~the rights, powers and duties
of the inferior grades OF officers BE is %
Judge of the merits OF the different systems
aud methods of instruction which may be
introduced among educators and adOp!
or reject them az his discretion. Aud
what security has the State that this func-
tionaTy, on v hom depend sach momentous
interests, will not tAil2 The answer ia
leAdy: p " -"
5Ist. A liberal salary, with = noble and
congeuial occupation, il tosIl1aGee the best
man selected by the legislatute 10 under
| takeith responsibility. - TT - 80
I'd. All his repuEatioH as a eoh0iaT and
an upright, wise aud efficient pS5lic officer
is staked on his meeting thtd regpOusi-
ity. !.
Lastly, there is euperAdded every In
ducemeut to the faithful discbprs of most
important duties, derived from moral and
religious considerations. -
Are there any more powerful indictments
in existence to move the heart Of man to
activity in temporal concerns than these
10e same appears Ius SASS
of the County SnperinteDdent. His is the
duty of determining who is qualified TO
hold the Office of teacher, q duty EOt second
in Importance TO any other, for without
good teachers there can be no good schools,
whatever may be the other exeelloncies
which system may possess. Then he
must pay frequent visits to eSch school,
note the course and methods of instruc-
tiOn, aud give such particular directions to
each teacher as may seem necessary to
give efficiency to his IAbOrs. Alas how
many An inexperienced, but well. meaning
and hard working teacher has become dis
couraged at his want OF success, renewing
his earnest efforts from time to time, aOun-
deriug on through difficulties that seemed
like mountains, until his school came 10 an
inglOriOus termination, and all for the want
of little judiciOus counsel at the right
time, the word fitly spoken which should
have been like apples of gold in filagree
work of silver, to his joy aud delight, and
the rejoicing prosperity of the interests OF
education in bis neighbOrhoOd.
And what security has the state for the
proper discharge of these important duties 2
FirSt-They are incumbent on one i4di-
viHuaI manifor each county, and not on
everybody, that is to say nobody. Second.
The performance OF these and snCh duties
is ihis special occupation. for which he is |
paid so that his best efforts may be given |
to it as his chief business. TATd.-He is |
to be person of literary and scientific At |
tainmenIs and of skill in the art of teach
Jog, and so soon as the system shall have |
been long enough in operation, legally !
member of the pTOfesGi0n q
teacher, thFes IiRes pronounced i'Ueyy good
and accomplished in every respect' and !
81
dent. FoWrth.-Hls professional pride will
prevent him from granting certificates to
The unworthy, and prompt him TO require
The highest possible standard ofTexe6lfedre
before licensing candidate TO perform the
fnuctions of that profession and help to
form it's reputation. FJth.-The reputa.
lion of the schools of this county and that
whether good or bad, will be
known abroad, and his success for life in
his chosen profession will be to a Consid-
erabIe extent dependent on the successful
aud creditable discharge of these duties.
Now ifthere be any other way, equslly
eficient, for securing the right perform
lnce of these duties, l am satisfied that it
has not yet been promulgated. How have
hey been performed where no such officer
has existed2 The examination of teach
srs has usually been conducted by men of
been eminent in their own professions, and
services gratuitously rendered have been
valuable aud should be properly spprecia-
led. But having no experience in the art
of training aud drawing out the faculties
Of others. excep. possibly for ex parte pur-
poses on the witness stand, it is hardly
presumable that their questions would be
80 framed Os to be calculated, TO elicit a
fair representation of the 0tIainments of
the candidate, or that they could be as we'll
able to judge OF his qualifications as those
whose life business was the study and
training of mind.
LBut granting that tolerably correct es
timl,'e of the general literary and scientific
attainments of the candidate eau be made |
by such Committees or Boards, aud waving |
the consideration Of their ability to judge |
of his probable skill and tact in teaching, |
cases of doubt will often arise when none |
but the best professional skill can ensure q |
correct decision. Too often, then, some |
circumstances in the condition of the Can- |
didate calculated to elicit the sympathies
of the Board, will induce the granting of |
certificate Of which clearer insight into |
the wants of the schools and the resources |
of the candidate would have dictated the |
unhesitating denial. Then fifty ili-fated |
children must in consequence, for weeks |
and months suffer the infiction of an in
competent teacher: Moreover, it has be-
epne almost an axiom that duties perform
ed for the public, aud gratuitOusly too, may
be neglected, or at least do not require any
very extraordinary Efforts to perform them
eeasonabIy aud we'll, especially if the re-
sponsibiIily be divided among several per-
sons. Now, II in every other kind of busi
ness, il is an approved maxim that what.
ever is worth doing ut all is worth doing
IeeH, how comes tito be of little Import.
ance whether this duty is well or lily done.
Aud how is it likely TO be impressed on
the mind Of the teacher that even his most
ordinary duties cannot possibly be per-
formed too ,reI, when hsiwilnesses q care
less or dilatory performances of duties by
those who ought TO be his sxempihFs.