Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-01-12
THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL DIRECTOR.


THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL DIRECTOR.
The flight Of another year has gathered
the teachers Of this county aud other friend.
of education into this place to share the
duties and enjoy the pleasures of the four
teenth annual Institute Of Juniata county.
And whilst exchanging our congratulations
and renewing cur friendships il is well TO
inquire how TAR we have advanced the stan
dard into the realms oi ignorance, and
whether the lamp of knowledge is now
shining on high places where one year ago
darkness rcigned uudisturbed. How many
degrees has each of you aSeenacd the noun
tain! How much better DO you feel pre-
pared now TO aicra the grand work in
which yoa are engaged than yen did 56j
days ago! ! am happy 10 believe that he
wslo presides over these exercises has gone
through another campaign, laborious in
deed, but fruitful Of saccsss and encOur-
agement; ami that his leadership has been
well supported and sustained py so many
efficient and gallant su6oIdinates. Both he
aud you can now enjoy the pleasures OF sue
cess, as you have shared the tolls OF the
conflict. The task has been assigned to Inc
to give yen some plain and practical
thoughts on the Office Of School Director
/. And in the first place we say i: is an
honorable Cfiice. To the Director is COM
miitrd by the law OF the State the chief
control and management Of the school edu-
cation Of the rising generation. Ii it is an
honor to be entrusted with the property OF
z-lother, hoE much greater is the h,.aor OF
having charge Of the moulding of the CHAR
ac:er OF that most precious OF all human
p0ssessioEs-our children! We honor a
man for acquiJt:ng himself well in the
sphere Ct lite in which he may be called TO
act; and Lis honor is high in proportion as
his duties are Onerous and difficult. But
what duties can be more difficult, and there
fore more worthy OF honor than the train
i:ig OF those young immOrt4ls whO are col
locted in the school room! The faithful
school dirsctor. therefore, stands in the
foremost rank Of those who deserve well Of
their countrymen. We are al ready 10
praise the man who has fallen on the battle
fed in defence Of his c22lt-y, or who has
successfully s;eered the ship Of state
through tempests that threatened her de-
struction. Bat he that resrs good citizen
eOnfers a greater benefit than he that de-
stroys one
,. L is a responsible Office. The law con-
feIs upon the director almost p!enary power
as TO the whole management Of the schools.
He buys the real estate, erects the build-
ings, improves TIE grounds, and gives all
needful attention to their @eli-keeping. He
determines the NUMBER OF schools in each
district, and the number OF pupils in each
school. He levies the tax 10 be raised tor
school purposes, and controls its expendi
tlre, as well as all other school moneys in
the district. He iHvades the Sacrrd pre-
cincts Of the family circle, and sends the
children TO school, unbidden OF their pa
rents, and not unfrequently against their
expressed will. According to his sovereign
pleasure, he lakes one book out of the
child's hand and puts another in debating
what books shall be used, and what shall
not be used. With the same almost impe-
rial power, he employs the teacher, unin-
tiuenced by citizen, neighbor or parent. He
also has power, for sufficient cause, both to
discharge the teacher and suspend the pupil.
These are only a few of the powers and re-
director; and surely they are ample enough
and weighty enough TO weigh down his
Office with heavy pressure. In the light
of time and eternity, ask, what township
Office, what county office, wha; state Office,
Is equal to it Other offices are concerned
mainly With the material interests and bodily
comforts Of the people; but this claims
cOgnizaDce over the intellectual and moral
powers.
3. 1t is an Office both of great difficulty
and great delicdcy. The questions to be de-
cided are so numerous and various as to
require the mos; mastery skill in deciding
them. The acquiring of real estate, when
the owner is willing neither to sell nor 10
lease; the levy ing of the tax, so as to nice
iy and duly adjust the proportion between
the wants of the schools and the ability of
the Taxpayers the location of the houses,
so as TO suit the convenience and wishes of
the people; the choosing of the books TO
used, and the arranging Of the course Of
study; the appointment of the teacher. and
the election OF the County Superintendent.
ali these responsibilities the director must
meet fully and fairly. He cannot, even II
be desired it, shuttle off the burthen to the
broad shoulders of any one else. And yet
to decide these questions rightly, demands
some of the highest qualities of manhood.
Take, for instance, tine question of adopting
or changing set of school books. He has
a large number to choose from, some good,
and some not good. The book agent is at
his elbow, with his tongue ready TO rehearse
Tor the hundreth time the stereotyped argu-