The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-09-05
Educational Department.
J. H. SAUNDERS, EDiroR.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS



of what people say" and who / so
caprieious that DO reliance can be
placed upon his execution of his nla,s
is not fit for the Office. He should be
man capable of originating schemes
that will elevate the system. He
should be we'll posted in the law. and
their exposition by those authorized to
interpret them, and faithful in their
liSseeution. He should be able to keen
bosk zalaeas---elertHke manner, the
atssssesof mis- business s,.ha svstsm
sioner is much more fn=5SSe CoRlais
bursting agent and statislician. His
duty is to visit schools; to study the
improved methods Of instruction and
discipline, SO as to be abe to instruct
and advise teachers @ ;hs science and
art of teaching; 20 counse trustees aud
teachers concerning the conduct of
their districts and schools; to Org nize
efficiently the Teachers Institutes; to
encourage the building of school houses
and the furnishing Of the same; to ex>
pound The benefits OF local taxation,
aud show the people the superiority OF
teachers trained for their work over
mere schoolnasters who have assumed
the station as temporary expedient
aud in every possible way consistent
with reason to elevate the standard of
education. H. should by speech, pri
vate and public, oudeavor to inspirit
the people with educational enterprise,
to stimulate his subalterus with ardent
zeal, and to convince parents that their
highest interest is wrapped up in the
education of their children. He should
be man of architectural taste, aud
acquainted with the laws Of hygiene as
applied to tie construction Of school
houses. The duties that relate to
we'll ordered county superinteudency
require an educated, skillfuI and judi
cious officer A lawyer, merchant, or
artisan may perform the mere mechan
ical service Of distributing blanks, re
ceiviug reports, tabu!ating statistics,
and disbursiDg money. This is simply
the frame work of the system. If we
would impart muscle, nerve power,
vascuIarity, in a word, lite, we must
have uustained character, taIe0t, pru
dencs, taste, public spirit, faith and
skin combined and utilized IL a Coun
ty Commissioner. He should be au
ardent freud of popular education and
firm believer in the capabiIity of the
system to meet the public wants iu the
matter OF education Ii IS a mockery
to place in the position one bankrupt
of faith in the common school system,
hardly exceIled by tie folly which
would trust a discharged felou as a
cashier Of a bank. If he is a croaker.
instead of an advocate aud apologisi of
the system, he will create distrust, dis,
courage the friends of education, asd
spread the leaven of discomfort and
mutiny among the people wherever
he goes. He can have but little re-
spect for himself who, for the paltry
pay, would accept the position, when
at heart unfriendly to the system he is
set TO foster. In vain will the Super
intendent Of the State issue circulars
of instruction if the County Commis,
sioners will not carry them out. If
irregularities are wiuksd at errors in
classification, grading aud discipline
are tolerated without protest, vicious
arrangements of studies and modes Of
instruction are permitted to exist, and
contempt of law is allowed, without
even fear of punishment, then it is a
misIomer to call our educational work
a "system" Ii the provisions of the
law were fully respected by the court
of claims when sitting to elect a Com>
missioner, we would have active and
efficient co-laborers in every county
licutenants ready to promptly cooper
ate with the State Superintendent in
executing plaus FOR improvemeut-
counsollors whose advice trustees aud
teachers would confidently sect. and
judges prepared to expound the law,
and readily settle all difficulties and
untangle all perplexities. Then the
examination for certificates would be
rigidly conducted, and careful prepa-
ra,ions would be made to organize and
conduct Teachers Institutes, and eff
forts made to bring out the people to
see who is able to iustruct, who willing
to learn, and what is the quality of the
man fit for the responsible Office of an
instructor of youth. And when the
time arrived for the annual reports.
the capital Office would have prompt,
full and symmetrical statistics from
which to tabulatc the State report, and
thus the General Assembly aud the
citizens would be supplied with close,
accurate, aud reliable data upon which
to formulate an opinion as to the pro-
gress and worth of the system.
Where the court Of claims is not sat.
isfed as to the learning of an applicant
it is competent for it to appoint a Com
missioner to examine the candidate as
to his qualifications for the Office.
Should the court elect an incouue>
! tent person. his right to the office ,ooo