The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1872-04-11
EDUCATION.
Change In the Law for ElectIng Super.
intendents OF Common Schools.
Pennsylvania Educating One
Million Children.
DErARrNEsT or CoNMos SCHOOLS,
HARRtsBrRg, April 4. lsT2


To the Editor OF The Poet
Sir On the first Tuesday Of May
next, conventions Of school directors
will assemble ut the county seats Of
the several counties of this Common.
wealth for the purpose Of electing
county supeiiutendents Of common
schools, Tor tho term Of thr,e years,
commencing on the FIRST Monday Of
June. At the same time thero will
be held, if tho respective b,ards Of
directors 80 decide, 10 all cities AMI
borongbs possessing 900 Inhabitants
special elections for tho elections
of city and borough supcrin
tcndents Of schools for the SAM
length Of term as that for which
county supcrintcndonts are to be
elected.
There are now serving 10 the Stnte
81 county, city and borough supcriu
tcndeuts, TO be increased probably at
tho forthcoming election to Sj or
more. Tho importance Of the inter.
ests intrusted to these officers enn
scarcely DO over estimated. Penn
sylvania will have 100000 children
to educate iu her schools during the
next three years, and her annual cx-
pcoditures for school purp'ses will
most likely average fu. Sl0,00),0O1
Whether these children shall bo we'll
taught and trained or otherwise !;
whether this vast sum of money shall
be jldiciou'ly or iniuliciously expsn-
ded, will depend very much upon tho
men about to 10 chosen to GIL the of.
flee of superintendent, for it will be
admitted by all who reflect upon the
subject that as the supcrintcndcnts so
the teachers, as the teachers so the
schools, and as the schools 80 in good
measure the social aud political con-
diiiou Of the people.
la view OF these facts, arl appre.
ciating the pjwer Of an intelligent
Press US an agency 10 creating rish,
public sentiment, | feel 1t my duty to
ask you to impress editorially upon
your reader, both school directors aud
citizens, the importance Of securing
the very best man that can BE- fOund
willing to accept the Office of Super
intcndeut of Schools in your county
No other Office probably has relation
so vital TO the Interests of the people.
Persuade the members Of the con.
vcntion, il you can, to lay a,ilc all
eXtrancols considerations and allow
their choice to be determined By
merit aud merit alone.
Pennsylvania has, within the last
few years, placed herself, proudly
alongside Of the foremost educational
States. She is taxing herself for edu
caticnal purposes as heavily as any
other state of the Union. Shc is
pouring out her money for tho eiu-
cation OF her children most generously.
aud it is the high duty Of all, who
have 10 do with the official mana se-
mcnt of schools. to see that every dol.
lar, thus contributed, brings back the
greatest possible rotarn Of that for
which it is given. Our people are
willing to pay Tor the best schools, aud
we must have them. Let none but
men fully qualified be placed in the
office Of Superintendent, and the rest
is guaranteed.
Hoping you will tc wiling to lcad
your aid in calling attention, from
time to time, through your columns,
10 the matter herein brought to your
notice.
| am, very respectfully, you obcIient
servant, j. 7. WIcKgasHAu,
Supt. Clm. Schools.