The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-23
The Power Of the dert o.
publio l,,gt Hon s 3

We do not wish 10 seN4 Sc IL con.iOs
very with our friend On surrfs and So
we shall not consent aeiength hpon the
following letter Since the object Of the .et-:
ter seems to be to produce the impression
thas The Superintendent of Public lnsII .:
ton has few or no powers, we might content
ourselves with replying that an otficer who
has no power. cannot possibly fear that ne
will lose any. &;
sI,r Rrsrsgn seems to anticipate our argu...
ment. He knows well that he is, and 10 the
nature of things must be, the Board Of Edu-
catio3. The Attorney General has enough
to do to fill his oHn, office, and 30 has the
Governor. They might in case where
gross fayoritism or great wrong was ap-
parent, oyeirule the Superintendent Of Pub
lie Instruction; but in almost all cases they
win, as to the working of the public-schooi
system, allow him to have his own way.
The place Of meeting is has office ; not the
Governors nor the Attofn8- Generals.
Meetings may be called whenever he Tor
they pleascs. He has to call them, Of course.
So the Senate nominalIy superyises appoint
ments and removals; but who does not
know that in nine cases out Of ten bis will
is not even called in question?
The Board OF Education appoints three
school trustees ia each school district an
the State. DR.. RUFFNER does that, We i'm
agine. There can be no teacher OF public
school in Virginia who does not hold certi-
ticate of his fitness for teaching from the
county superintendent; and this county su-
perintendent is appointed by the Board.
But we will not argue the question now.
See Acts of Assembly 1S69-'70, pages 4O2-
All. If the law there appearing does not
show that the Superintendent Of Public
instruction is the most influential man in
| Virginia, we are greatly mistaken.
RICHMOND, January %, 1874.
Mr.. Editor,-Iu yesterdays Dispatch you
quote something from the Richmond CORE.
spondent of the Alexandria Sentinel, and
then say:
owe avail ourselves of the appearance of
the above paragraph to express our opinion
that Dr.. Ruffner is capable, faithful, and
efficient. and will probably retain his Office
as long as he desires to do so if he will con-
sent to deprive himself of what members
doubtless consider too much power. We
regard him as a model Superinter dent OF
Public Instruction; but neither to him nor
10 any other man would we be willing to en-.
trust the welding for many successive years
of such influence as now belongs to bis
office. In ten years he would be able to rule
the Virginia Legislature as Tom Scott is said
to have ruled that of Pennsylvania" r.
In reading these remarks on my poor SCI,
l cannot say whether felt the more nattereu
or alarmed. l have never thought muca OF
myself as an officer, and it never occurred 10
me that was dangerous character. Ii
he the latter. ought to be shorn; out per-
hans there i, some mistake on this point. A
great deal more power has been a cri6ed to
INV Office than I ever discovered. ! have no
patronage to bestow-not a particle. lap
point nobody-not even my own two hard
worked and poorly paid CLERKS. And in this
respect l have less power than any other
head of department, and less than the clerks
of the Senate and House Of Delegates.
handle no public money, appropriate no
money, and draw no drafts on the Treasury
Tor any purpose whatever. l occasion no
expenditure that is not allowed by the Board
Of Education.
l have no power of command except in
the way Of general interpretations Of the
law, and of practical instructions as to carry
ing out the school laws and regulations, all
of which are published before the eyes of
the world. Beyond this l cannot control
the action of any one connected with the
school system. Cases may be brought to me
By way of appeal; but any decision which |
I may render is liable to reversal by tie
Board Of Education.
Then, il l appoint and remove nobody, |
control nobody, and handle no money,
wherein do / threaten the public liberties {?
But some say that control the Board of
Education am only one of three men,
bers, and if it could be proved that | am
more than match for the Governor and the
General combined, then l ought
to have higher office, or ut least get bet
ter salary!
AS you have The law on your table, Dir.
Editor, and are recognized authority in legal
(Which remark | make SIM
cerely,) l respectfully ask that you will point
put the section or clause which conferS on
;he Superintendent of Public Instruction
my dangerous grant of power, and will
unite with you in laboring to have it
changed.
That the Superintendent occupies an in
luential position no one would attempt to
leny, and should hope that no one would
nave it otherwise; but the character of his
influence is chiefly moral and educational.
There is immense power in the school sys.
for good in good hands, and
power for evil in evil hands. But I submit
hat the centre of this power is not IN the
uperintendency. And careful study OF
he law will exhibit the fact that whilst
world of important duty is laid upon the
he is sufficiently strapped III
he matter OF power.
1t is very likely, Mr. Editor, you could
Iuote instances in which exhibited unoe-
omipg forwardness IN pushing the educa-
ion cause and in defending It from aeaa,!
,erils, but beg that my SINS oe ho1 iaii ~
he charge OF the school system.
". 81. kUFFNER.
rpu wr.rHrR AND THE MooN.-Wlth the