Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-09-28
County Superintendent.

| OVuhuy
AS before stated, Il have an abiding
interest in school work" Having beer
reared in Buchanan county, for the
most part educated in her schools, and
for several years a teacher in them, it is
not surprising that I am partial to them
and interested in their progress and eff.
cheney. To insure their continued wei.
fare and thorough supervision needs but
the reelection of their most worthy
leader, W. E. Parker. But the highest
terms OF praise are too weak to do him
justice. The large majority Of our vo-
tiers are we'll aware of the honest, unset
fish and impartial manner in which he
has discharged the responsible and ex-
tensive duties Of his office. His normal
schools have been eminently successful,
which was mostly due to his own indi-
vidual work, in the double capacity of
conductor and instructor work un-
like that of any other Go. Superintend-
ent. In regard to the location of school
house sites and the settlement Of dis
putes, his counsel has been received and
his opinions sustained His Office work
has been equally commendable He is
one OF the three superintendent out of
ninety-nine whose annual reports to the
State Superintendent did not require
revision. His qualifications are not on
ly known in the county, but largely
throughout the State. One of our best
educators, in prominent position, said:
MIR. Parker is not only thoroughly edu-
Gated, but he is an adept in mathemat-
ics."
But the universal satisfaction
throughout the county and the high
standard Of her schools, are the best ev-
idence of an efficient officer; and in view
OF these facts, there is no doubt Of Mr..
Parker's reelection by large majority
1t is, therefore, scarcely necessary to
urge the Importance and advantage to
our schools of previous terms expert
ence in this Office. The people realize
it already. No other county Office so
much requires the experience of previ-
GUS terms work No other office so sell
dom recelres the advantages of that ex-
perience. A County Superintendent
should remain in office several terms,
provaded he is competent and does his
work with general satisfaction, It
takes one terms work to become ac-
quainted with the teachers, to know
their qualifications, to learn the condi-
lions and wants of all the schools; then,
by this experience, the County Super
intendent is ready to make his work
tell for the good Of the schools. But
the fact is, that only eight out of our
ninety-nine Superintendent brought to
our schools the experience of previous
terms work. No wonder that our coun-
ty schools are generally characterized
by an absence of thoroug illness and sys-
tenn. The principal cause Of this def
cheney is the frequent change in their
Superintendent. What would be the
result of our city schools with no better
acquaintance with them by their Super
intendent?
But what about Mr.. Goodrich, the
opposition candidate. Let me consider
him again and treat the public to few
facts. He has been egregiously snub-
bed in the last five political conventions.
Nevertheless, he is appointed to the
nomination resigned by two honorable
men, and is now doing his utmost to Sc
CuIe VIC electlOn, tnOugn not IN Cne
most honorable way. How consistent
% with his recent notice in the BULLE-
TIN, declining the nomination from any
party (when he saw there was no chance
for him. He is making weak effort
at speech-making in his own behalf.
What political issues are at stake that
have anything to do with the improve
ment OF our common schools? In short,
what IS the man or what merit has he
that will commend him to this office?
The leading men of all parties tell me
that there is nothing about him that will
warrant their support, and they intend
to support Mr. Parker. What about
his literary qualifications. A greater
part of the time he has been teaching
on second class certificate, and he him
self told prominent teacher in this
county that he was frequently harassed
and assailed by his opponents at Win
throp, charging him with incompetency.
On entering the school at Winthrop, he
exchanged the authorized arithmetic
for one having key that gave full solu-
tons to all the examples, and | am reli-
ably informed that the key was his con-
slant companion in the school. He is
said to be fair reader and good pen
man, and when that is said his qualifica-
tons are all told TEACHER.