River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-16
THE sUPERINTRNDENoY.

out stopping TO analyze or define the term,
accept the appellation rs correct considering
the eminent source whence IL emanated.
Why do | favor the reelection OF Mr.. Ba-
kerr Is ii because he has recommended me
deserves snothers No, for he has never to
my knowledge recommended me to any
school or school ofhcM. Is it because he has
been proiuse in his commentators through
the JOURNAL and hope thus to court his ia.
vor and secure a copious supply of Mandatory
notices in the futureg | again say no; for
though it Is weakness to which most NOR
tails are heir, to delight in seeing tleir names
in print. coupled with praiseworthy deeds,
had rather forego this ecstatic pleasure than
be thus paraded because try to do my work
passably we'll.
/ do not think the Supt. has been iaultless.
He has Doubtless maize mistalxes-what man
ever lived who did notf Whatever mistakes
have been made believe Mr.. Baker has done
nothing but what at the time lac believed was
best for the schools
This much | KNOW, no previous Supt. in
Pierce Co. has accomplished as much in the
way OF making the common schools more eff
cient as has Superintendent Baker. The
schools are doing far more work and better
work than ever before. Teachers are more
interested in their work and are teaching
more systematically, more thoroughly, and
with more enthusiasm than at any previous
time.
Why is thisi think it is largely owing TO
the TACT that teachers are reading more ana
better books and periodicals than formerly.
There are few il any teachers now at work in
the county but what regularly read one or
more educational publications. A few years
ago the teachers to this county who fooled(f)
away their time reading such matter could
nearly be counted on the fingers OF one hand
What has produced this change in the liter
AIRY habits of the teachersf
Not the least reason is because Mr.. Baker
has continually urged them to read those
periodicals and books that related particular
ly to the theory and art OF teaching. keep
ing themselves informed in regard to the
best theories and methods Of the education
of the times. AS an out-growth OF this, is
the Teachers Library, which, though not as
extensive as we might wish, IS still a very
useful auxiliary and contains quite respect
able number OF valuable works for teachers
This has exerted no mean influence for good.
The Teachers Associations as established
and conducted by Mr.. Baker have been en-
other valuable means of disseminating knowl-
edge among teachers. In them we have met,
presented our different theories, methods,
and movements, and discussed their relative
merits and dement's thereby gaining knowl-
edge End profting by each others expert
ences
Again, before Mr.. Bakers time it was an
exceedingly common thing to find three or
Jour different text books on the same subject
in one school. Now, nearly every district
has adopted and is using uniform set OF
books. Every one who has ever taught
school knows the value of such a change.
Supt. Bakers work has not consisted in
speech making in the schools, telling few
full announcement that If these little boys are
real good little fellows. mind their teacher,
and study hard, perhaps they will some day
be president OF the United States
No, instead of squandering time in this
way, he has gone straight to the root OF the
matter and his labors have been where they
should be, with the teachers.
By his personal advice and counsel, by cor
respondence, by circular, by statements in
the JOURNAL. by inducing teachers to attend
and participate in the exercises OF the Asso-
Citations, and in short, by ALL available means
he has urged and lead the teachers TO high
er plane OF action, to more advanced views,
to better methods, and to broader and more
liberal education. The county is reapisg the
result OF this in better organized and better
taught schools than it ever before possessed.
Il. S. Baker has been the most efficient
Superintendent we ever had, and is thor
oughly acquainted with the present needs OF
the schools and OF each school. With this
knowledge, and the experience of four years
work in this position, think Mr.. B. is better
qualified to discharge the duties OF the office
the coming term than ANY new man.
One of the editors of Pierce county recent
ly remarked 10 speaking Of the Superinten-
dency, that Baker didn't know anything.
that he was a regular d-n fool, and whyf
JOURNAL do all OF his printing and hadn't let
any of the other papers have a cents worth
Here | imagine lies the secret OF the bitter
antagonism that rankles in the bosom OF
three of our county papers. The Press man
thinks if he can elect McCleary he will get
the lions share OF the printing, and both the
other papers say, any one but Baker, he
hasn't given US any printing, ID hin.
As regards the other candidates, win say
but little Mr. McCleary is a gentleman who
Is known to have succeeded well in the COM
mon schools OF our county, the same may be
said OF hundred others he has also good
education, though not in that respect to be
compared with our candidate.
In reference to his politics there should be
nothing said. We know what they have al
ways been until he wanted to be Co. Supt
We know what he now claims, and it would
doubtless be doing him injustice to insinuate
that the overwhelming majority OF the Re
publican party in the sounty. and his eager
ness to be their nominee, should have the
slightest euecI III COHFeIttHg uiu W ASP"p"
canism.
Mrs. Woodwork is a very fine soprano
singer, neat housekeeper, q very estimable
lady, aud years ago was very successful
district school teacher.
In my opinion we should elect for this po-
sition the person who Possesses the broadcast
and most complete education-equal in that
respect to any one in the county, good
practical common sense, a live interest in ed
ucational matters, a knowledge of the most
approved methods IN regard to school work,
and THOROUGH knowledge of the wants OF
our schools, and how to meet them.
Since commenced teaching in Pierce Co.
eight years ago have had very good oppor-
tunities to become acquainted with almost
all the persons interested in education in our
county, and in my estimation, no other per-
son in our county combines in so high de-
gree all the requirements for Go. Supt OF
Schools as does Ii. S. Baker.
Hence am,
BOOMER.