South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-06-04
State sup't. or Free schools:-A
Nss Gsndtddi fsspaiea

The following is tho Substance Of the
remarks recently made by Judge A. r.
WHtrE. on the subject of Free Schools in
d speech in HanpsHise codn5: s.
There il d subject I wish b bring be.
fore the pdblic-1 subject aAectii& in q
very large de free an,lin Ways and. modes
without fiamber the intefcsts Of every
member of the body politic-the subject
of a suitable candidate for the Office of
State Superintende ,t Of Free Schoo ID.
This SYSTEM dr Public Schools is conipar-
atively Now to our people, though it
must in time become old; as it is fixed by
the Cons tuition and seems; from the
present outlook TO be unalterably fixed
upon us. though many see or seem to see
great defects iu some of its details and
In its general niandgement-and as it
must influence our progress people
for weil or woe to an undesirable de.
gree, our political standing as d State,
our social aud domestic happiness. it be
comes the imperative duty Of every mem.
Der of society to take such part towards
it, as will tend ID improve and perfect
1t to the highest possible condition. 1t
is fixed fact and comes homie to the
hearth stone. The comfort, safety and in
terest OF every citizen,-so i1stead of
standing aloof; as has been too much the
habit, L propose to put our shoulders to
the wheel and commence now by looking
out for the most suitable head or State
Superintendent that can DO found.
In viow of the general complaint rs to
the present operation of the system with
out pretending to find where the fanlt is
at present. or to make any special com.
plant against any one, propose that we
present ana recommend the name Of
JAMES WILKINSON, of Pendleton coun.
ty. as suitable candidate for the office
OF State Superintendent at the fall cleo
ton % "a go
The law provides expressly that the
State Superintendent "shall be person
of good moral character, temperate hall.
its, of literary acquire ments and skill
and experience in the art of teaching"
And the duties Of the Office require all
that, TOGETHER with zeal aiid devotion
to the subject which few posscss-these
latter are necessary to that assiduous
attention to and examination of details
which will lead to the Improvement aud
proper deFelopenont Of the system in the
State. These necessary Qualities 1 can
safely say Mr.. Johnson fully posscsses.
/ will merely add rs TO him PERSONAL.
ly-;bat lie is a fine general scholar and
what he docs know lie certainly knows
with more accuracy than any other man
Of my acquaintance: Ills physical de-
feet, has, in this respect, proved to him
a blessing, by leading to self.reliance,
and has driven him To make every thing
brought within the grasp Of his intellect
more thoroughly his o,ca, than is the
habit or probably in the power OF most
men TO do. Thererote no more accurate
scholar can VIC find. As to his skill and
experience In the art of teaching Cribs
is n positive legal requirement which |
am Informed has been heretofore ignor-
ed, tho OF prime importancc) Mr.. john
son has been in the Schools all bis life
either To BE taught or to teach. af.d for
tile last twenty-five years has been ac-
lively engaged in the management and
teaching of the public and other schools
o. his own and neighborng coun.ies
with great credit to himself and he pro
ut OF his patrons. He has also for sew.
eral terms filed the ONCE OF County Su,
perintendcnt OF his own eounty-anl it
may be safely affirmed tina, he posse sses
this important legal requisite in high
degree aud how much the system may
hsve suffered for the want OF this requi-
site it would be difficult to say:
l would add that Mr.. johnson, after
having devoted himself for the best por-
ton OF his life to the public service i'm
this line, finds himself at the meridian
OF life. poor, with growing family. and
the place should be awarded TO him in
view OF that, even If other things were
only equal.
This section Of the State has never
had Superintendent Of the Schools and
by the ordinary rules it now ought to
nave one and may reasonably expect il.
AS these remarks arc timely anil in
good spirit. please give them to the pub,
TIC. PUBLICUS.