Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-05-01
THE SUPERINTENDENT.

MR.. EDITOR '--Wltnout douoting
that the zeal OF our School Directors
Will be sufficient TO secure their pres
ence at the coming Convention, or their
ability to choose superintendent with
discrimination, l yet presume to offer
a few suggestions which continued OBJ
servation suggests as Of special impor-
tance. And first, lot mo speak OF the
lofty nature OF the Directors trust An
idea Of It's dignity and Importance as
con.empla.eu ~ .ne runners ol .ne
scnoo, sys.e.n y saeges.eu py 'ne 'Ac'
.has .ney at.acnco no emoiumens 10
'n' olnee--ho, eveh = pesunlAry one
as .nougn ,ncy wouia secure tne
services 0, 'nose VINO orew .nelr 10,
sPliat'on iroln 'nc ioity cnaracter OF
tne'r iaoor, ana nave tno uevotees Oh
euucat'on, IKE tnose OF i,s Twin sister,
religion, inspired oy nooie emulation
70 promote q glorious cause, uninnu-
ehced oy the petty motive which so
often prompt men TO seek ofnclal sta.
tion. Hence, while the thought that
there Is no pecuniary recompense Is
apt TO chill the ardor Of Directors, the
same thought should furnish their
highest inspiration and enthusiasm, by
suggesting 70 them the oil important
character OF their trust the duty they
owe 10 those who have entrusted TO
them their highest interest, ana 70 the
free school system, whose agents they
are, 10 It's Efforts to establish itself IN
the hearts OF the people.
Among the most important Of the
duties Of the coming Convention is, to
dearly define itself on the County
Normal School question. The State
has established schools iol the special
purpose Of training teachers and offers
superior inducements for their attend
ance. There, the theory and practice
of teaching receives constant and care.
ful attention, all the best methods of
imparting knowledge are illustrated
and applied, the teacher.student is
furnished class Of pupils in the
i" Model School," where, under the
supcrintendence Of Ia competent teacher,
he is required to test the different
methods and report his success at a
weekly meeting, held for the purpose,
whore the matter is fully entered upon,
the merits and demerits developed,
difficulties advised against, and methods
of avoiding them suggested. In addi-
tion, they have the advantages com
mon TO all schools that are permanent
and continuous in their work, and
which will be sufficiently suggested by
q reference 10 the defects Of the County
Normal School, 10 which l will now
refer, and which Is entirely without
the advantages peculiar 70 the State
Normal School, or common 10 pcrma-
nent schools Of any character for q
three months' term cannot result in
that thorough and efficient organiza-
ton which 10 but the growth Of time,
and the school is no sooner classified
than tho short term is ended. Then,
there is an utter absence Of the reading
rooms, libraries, encyclopedias, philo-
sophical apparatus, with teachers rrac.
ticed In its use, well.organiEed deb~ting
and literary societies, and, above oil,
there il lacking that educational atmos-
phero or influence 20 necessary TO sue
eessful school life. This ia q very
modified statement Of the unavoidable
and the inherent defects Of the County