Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-09-24
A LETTER FROM MORRIS TOWN.
SHIP.

KYLERrowS, September 12th, 1879.
Mr. EpIroR lit has been demon strAted over
and over again that in School Directors, Morris
township leads The world and If anything were
wanting to establish the truth Of this proposition,
the action Of our board, on recent occasion
should, think, dispel all douo. 10 every nnp.elu,
that II there is a spot in all this broad land
where the services of County Superintendent are
emphatically and entirely superhuous and should
be dispensed with, this is the place.
We are nearly all smart down here. But
suppose may US we'll admit that we always elect
our best men TO office In this township, and
especially has this been the case for the last
couple Of years, which fact accounts In great
measure for the exceptionally high ground taken
by 4 majority Of the Board on the occasion re-
ferred to. The facts eliciting these remarks,
briefly. stated, are these. At the Teachers Ex-
animation, held at Kylertown, on the 4th Of the
present month, the qualifications Of some two or
three Of those examined fell so far below the
standard required and supposed to be necessary
in all who aspire TO the responsible position OF
teacher, that Superintendent McQuown Stubborn
ly refused to grant them certificates OF grade
that would justify the directors 10 employing
them as teachers, unless majority OF the Board
would iniorse the certificates which would nee-
essarily be Of very low grade. Now, to ordi-
nary IN en- this proposed Endorsement might seem
to be a rather delicate matter, seeing that 1t in-
yolved some responsibility and established pre-
oodcnt which might have troublesome, II not
dangerous tendency. But with men Of broad
and liberal views, such triaing considerations
have but little weight, and so their signatures
were promptly affixed to the eighty doubtful
documents, and the holders thereof were employ
cd at salary perhaps equal to those who were
foolish enough to spend time, money and brains,
simply that they might know more than o'her
people.
Now, cir, / ask, didn't they do a good thing
that time, especially for the aforesaid teachers,
and ought we not all to feel proud Of them Ger
tainly we should.
| am sure OF this, at least that !hvlr action In
the premises was entirely in harmony with their
past record, and consistency you know Is aJewel!
| Somebody has raid that "a fellow feeling makes
US wondrous kind !" and it may be lthough upon
reflection, wouldn't like to say it was likely
that that would account for thesympathy express
cd, implied and manifested on the part Of the d.
rectors toward those somewhat backward teachers
Be this Us it may, cannot but commend their
human actiOs, and am satisfied that the superin'
! tendent was wrong, and II was his own fault that
| tho teachers didn't do better. He had no busi-
ness to ask "sich onhandy questions" Why in
Grammar, be gave them some tremendous sen
teness, ard in Geography whole mouthiuls Of
questions that no living being could answer. II
| | were q director, or even a good teacher and
| McQuown would come fooling around with MS
wretohod questions, don't know but would be
tempted to treat him on what Republican news
papers Just now fondy call the 'laaoo Plan
That perhaps might bring him to his senses and
teach him TO have some respect for ones feelings.
OF course in this as 10 other matters there Is
difference OF opinion. Some discontentoi people
censure the directors for their course, and even
among those who have hitherto been regarded rs
among our most intelligent oiliEens, their action
is regarded with decided disapprobation. They
argue that ~ employ incompetent teachers Is
slow way to advance the cause Of education, dc.,
&c. But It Is evident that they don't view things
in the light the directors 90, What's tho differ
cnce, if our teachers wern't just 90 very far on In
Grammar That might be valid objection In
some localities, but down here, Ms is well-known,
tho children can talk Grammar right from the
jump, and then some Of them are Dutch, and II
they don't speak just 10 grammatieally, nobody
will notice II. And Geography; everybody is
not supposed to be going 10 travel to those faroh
places, and where Is the use of knowing where
they are or anything about them and 80 Of most
Of tho other branches. OF course, ne handy to
/ bo q good spellcr, and am glad 10 know that
on this occasion our teachers arc ''at home" Out
Of twenty words given, some Of them only missed
seventeen or eighteen, and this l suppose was
/ what principally encouraged the directors. What
ever may be said or thought at pfesent, have
no doubt that time will demonstrate the wisdom
Of their course and the sober second thought will
completely vindicate their acts. confess that
along at 6rst had my doubts, and "oft In the
stilIy night" while pOndsring over events, was
tempted 10 think their course wee bit question
ablej but then would come the tranquilifing
thought that they know more than do more
than any Of Us sud 80 would tx my head good
on the pillow, draw up tho "kirer," and feel glad
that our educational interests were in such safe
hands. And nov, hoping and trusting. and feel
ing pretty sure that you will agree with me as to
the soundness Of the position, OF proposition, on
which | started out. am very respectfully,
Yours OBSERVER.