The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-10
HERE rs 1.-THE PAIR" THE CON-
VENTIoN TOMORROW
DRAW no."
BEHOLD HOW GOOD AND PLEAS.
ANT 1T Is FOR BRETHREN
TO TEAR EACH OTHER
IN PIECES.
a Moline Republicans Opinion of
Sturgeon.
To the Editors of the Argus:

To the Editors of the Argus:
In Sundays Union see that the Rock
Island delegates to our county convention
are supposed to be solid for NJ NJ. Stur:
geon for county superintendent. Now /
fail to see how it is that Rock Island peo-
ple can see such ''kohinoor" in Mr.. Stur-
geon: and while | am not strongly in favor
of the other candidates for nomination.
am opposed to NJ Nj. Sturgeon. This
office has been too lightly passed over,
while it is really the most important Office
in the county. The other offices pay bet
ter, hence there are more aspirants; but
this office has charge of that important
feature of our institutions, the education
of the young. Now, Mr.. Surgeons work
while superintendent does not merit lis re-
election. The plea of lawyer as superin-
tendent of schools is too transparent |
do not know of but few counties in the
state where they have lawyer as superin-
tendent; but do know that in some of the
other counties they administer school mat
ters more iudiciously than in Rock Island
county. If Mr. Surgeons friends are
afraid that he will fail in his legal business
| If he fails in securing a re. election, then
let him go down. 1t is not the duty of the
citizens of the county to aid her lawyers il
becoming self-supporting.
My objections to Mr.. Sturgeon are a,
follows:
Ff,stly-In all other counties the super
intendent visits the schools at least once il
each year. But who ever heard of ou
superintendent visiting a school2 Now, b,
may say that the county board does no
| rag mol 10 Scik oaha R,,En S1I !
they in all other counties, yet we hear O
many that do; and how can county su
perin endent attend to school matters a
they should be attended to and make
correct report when he never visits th
county schools?
Secondly:-The law says that the super
inteBdeDt shall encourage the formation
and assist in the management OF count
teachers institutes, and labor in ever,
practical way to elevate the standard O
teaching and improve the condition of tn
common schools of his county" (Schoo
Law, sec. 20)
But who ever heard of the enterprisiny
superintendent of Rock Island count
holding an institute and laboring il ever
practical way to elevate the standard G
teaching?"
We have not had an institute in thi
county for some years, aud then it wa
bat for few days. Yet 10 all neiglbor
ing Counties they have them Tor trom on
to two mou hs Our schools are below Il,
average Of the other COUNTIES, aud it is u
: wonder that the superintendeuts of ou
! city schools refuse to consider the count
certificate equal to their examination
Yet in most all counties teachers in Gil
schools are required to have certi6cat
from the county superintendent of school
Thi5dty:-I am opposed to Mr.. Stu
geon because he is not a just and imparti
: man.
There are in this county those who ho
certificates who never earned them,
all other counties one must stand an e.
= animation before a certificate is granite
: But in Rock Island county one merely r
quires to be introduced by some prominel
person or influential friend and the obli
ing superintendent lothout erdnaindtic
v will grant certificate Now this has be,
the case, and we know OF such transaction
not month old, Any one can see th
q this tends to fill up our ranks of teache
!. with those wholly unqualified to tea,
; and who should never be placed iu char
n of the education of the Young
4 1t is the duty Of every voter, aad mo
e especially of those interested in scho
matters, to see that this defect is remedie
r. 1t the citizens Of Rock Island county wa
) their children to be instructed by inefiicie
te teachers, then vote for the present
cumbent, N. Nj. Sturgeon; but if tn
want good teachers then vote for some at
man who will devote more time than o
nj day of each month to school duties. a
4 not one who has another business that q
sr mands his time and who holds this off
O. merely to fill his pockets, aad get an off
free Of rent. JUsTITIA
81