The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-04-30
For the Bloomfield Times"
County Superintendent. n

OOuntJ Du1CilMttnutHte
Mr.. Editor--As the time draws near for
the elecsion Of our County Superintendent
of Common Schools, allow me TO ask room
in yonr columns for the following cornmu-
nication from State Superintendent Wick
sham. It is quoted from the April number
of the "School JournaLp He says
"rhe following questions shohld receive care
ful consideratlou et the hands Of the members
of a Convention about to elect Superintend-
ent of Schools What qualification should q Ss-
perintsndent Of Schools possess aud, What said-
ry should be paid him . - ~ A~ci
In answer TO the first question, Il may be said
that such a Superintendent should possess GER
tain physical Qs,dli ifeations. No one can prop
erly discharge the duties of the office who s not
in the enjoyment Of general good health.-
Especially is this the case With County Super
intendents who have to visit schools in rural
districts, and consequently much exposed.
Intellectual QualicGtions.-As o test of intel
lectual qualifications, the law renders any one
ineligible TO the Office of Superintendent who
does not possess one of the following docu-
ments A diploma from college legally en-
powered to grant literary degrees a diploma
or State certificate issued by the authorities of
State Normal School professional or perma-
nent certificate, issued at least one year prior
to the election a certificate of competency
from the State Superintendent, or commission
as a county, city or borough superintendent
In addition to the intellectual qualifications usu-
ally indicated by the possession of documents
like above named, a superintendent of schools
should be a broad, liberal thinker, good
speaker, man of tact and marked admins
tratlve ability.
Moral Qualifications law says no per-
son shall be eligible to office "unless he has a
sound, moral character" The very letter of
the law should in this respect be adhered to,
and will be, so far as the Department is con-
cerned. Nor is it sufficient for a Superintend-
ent of schools to be guiltless of any gross Sim
morality" He should be u positive worker
for good if possible, he should have ali the
moral qualities implied in the noble express
sion ga Christian gentleman"
Professional udlifcdtions.-It is provided in
the law, that person cannot hold the Office of
Superintendent of schools unless "he has had
successful experience within three years of the
time of his election" The spirit of this pro-
vision Is, that q superintendent must be profess
siOnal teacher-not a lawyer, doctor, minister
or a member of some other profession desiring
to hold the Office until way opens to engage
in something else.
The office of Superintendent of Schools be-
longs to the teachers, it has to do with teach
ers, and should always be filled by teacher
If directors can find in county a teacher de-
voted to his profession, who always attends in
stitutes, who reads works on teaching, who adj
vocates common schools, who, like Richter,
Gloves God and little children - who in short,
is something of an enthusiast in his work-he,
in all probability, is the man to make Super
inteudent, even though he has not been to col
lege."
Now we do contend that, according to
the above, we have no man more fit for the
position than Capt G. c. PALM. He has
never been other than successful teacher
He attends and takes an active part in
every Teachers Institute. He has never
left the profession except to enlist three
times during the late war,
He has never been a political candidate
for any Office, and in politics is an indie
pendent conservative man.
That he is qualified we have abundant
evidence, and though he has never been to
college yet he is the man for the position,
for he deserves it, and it deserves him.
In regard to salaries we give below par
tial list of the salaries received by different
County Superintendents throughout the
State