Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-05
ABOLISH THE OFFICE OF TERRITORIAL

ABOLISH THE FIG OF TERRITORIAL
SUPERINTENDENT?
Eds. Press and Dakotaian: All perma-
nent and valuable institutions must have
deep and broad foundations. They must
be planted in wisdom, and must be built up
by patient. systematic, and vigilant effort.
The continents were not made in a century,
nor do the great oaks grow in a decade.
Our civilization is but the progress of the
ages, and our educational system, is as old
as our civilization and is one of its chief
factors. No complex system can be verified
without wise supervision. Dakota is a
young but i%iourishing territory and within
her borders more than 100000 intelligent
people have made their homes. Here are
W or more embryo states that, in a century
hence will be inhabited by a prosperous
free and intelligent people if the founda-
tons are laid broad and sure. How are
such foundations laid! Example,: As early
as the year 1886 the school code of Michi-
gan Was adopted by the territorial legisla.
ture. The territorial and young state gov
ernments fostered that system. There were
steps backward-no re%actionary measures
was no parsimony-though the peo-
pie were poor Onward and upward was
the motto Of her wise young legislatures,
and behold the result Michigan is the
pride Of the west and of the republic for her
broad and universal culture, and her young
university is the peer of Yale and Harvard.
l talk not as Michigan man-for 1 never
in the state-but as a citizen of the
great northwest l glory in her example and
Illlnols-which I love as a man loves the
home Of his childhood-ranks high In the
of the great northwest, and she
elected the great DR.. Bateman and
him in the Office Of SUI e%rintendent
Of public instruction for sixteen years.
Every 1llinoisan-every intelligent man in
the west familiar with educational interests,
knows the result of his wise supervision.
Even the southern states, where many Of
The people are not in sympathy With "fIec
schools" recognize the necessity of super.
vision, and have superintendents. Tonnes
poor as she is, pays her superintendent
$4,000 per annum; and it cannot
}. possible that any citizen of
Dakota, interested in the growth and
prosperity, and who comprehends what
re the chief factors of its civilization
nd progress, will favor a retrograde move.
nent. Dakota, whose growth must come
argely from Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois,
Michigan, and states farther
asst, cannot afford to say to the enterpris-
ng citizens of these states, We have gone
ack, disintegrated our school system, by
polishing the only Office through which it
'ould be sys ;ematically organized. Princi.
les are eternal. Individual interests-men-I
nothing, but systems, founded on eternal
Principles. are everything. Wisdom and the
Universal experience OF states and, nations
ay, make the system of public education
more permanent and more efficient BY lib
raj compensation to competent supervis-
on, and obtain that supervision. If in
$40 you plant free schools under intelli-
'ent, and systematic supervision, the tens
thousands of happy children of q half
hence will rejoice in the sunshine
knowledgelsnd truth andlrise up to call
he founders Of the system blessed.
ILLINOIS.
SHALL BE DONE FOR THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM OF DAKOTA?
Editors Press and Dakotaian There is
10 subject requiring more careful considera-
ion of the legislative assembly at this ses-
lion than that Of the educational interests
II the territory. The leading teacher of