The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-11-04
THE COUNTY sUPERiNTENDEN

THE COUNTY StPEKtNTENDENT.
Editors Free Press:
As election day approaches, 1T IS
but natural that each voter should he
all the pros and cons
relative to each nominee, with view
of deciding which are the most worthy
of his support therefore beg leave
to present, through your columns u
few facts, why the present incumbent
should be retained as county superin.
tendent of schools.
Under our present school system,
book learning has become almost "a
secondary consideration in the com.
position of the culture requisite to q
successful and useful life. Our civil
ization has reached such IN eminence
that full and free development of
the higher governing powers of man,
the moral faculties, are Indispensable
to its maintenance and advancement.
This kind of culture cannot be ac'
quired from the ordinary school
medium, the textbook. 1t necessi-
tates Il more furcible and effective
medium, which medium is the in
tluence brought to bear upon the
young minds by those in authority
over them. "A stream cannot rise
above it's source" Neither can Il
child rise above surrounding inllu-
ences. This statement is so aXioma
tic that it needs no proof. Then is it
not necessary that those who have
immediate control of our future
minds, should be persons of the most
excellent moral culture and stability
of character 1t is u fact that all
teachers can substantiatc, that the
pupil absorbs the spirit of the teacher
as readily rs the soil absorbs moisture.
Here then is the teachers golden op.
portunity. If he desires his pupils to
grow up to be truthful, noble minded
and stable members of our common
wealth, he must exercise these noble
traits of character in their presence,
and manifest purity of thought and
motive in every word and act.
Now. then, readers of the FREE
Press, is it not urgent, in order to have
our teachers seek to require this
form of culture, that we place one in
authority over them who yields Il
similar influence on them! a man
of unquestionable character, and one
who is worthy of emulation One
who will win the good will and re-
spect of the pupils in our schools, and
the highest regards of every parent
and teacher? Without these he is
helpless, us he can have no influence
whatever.
1t is not necessary to say that the
present incumbent is such Il man,
besides. he is a thorough scholar and
experienced teacher. 1t is also neceS-
sary. in order to do the most effective
work, that the superintendent be
thoroughly acquainted with the
trustees, teachers. and general con-
dition of the schools. Thereby he
knows the special needs of each
individual school, and can do good
work by comforting with and assisting
the trustees in securing the proper
teacher and other neceSsaries to sup
ply these wants. He can do greater
justice to the people, the teachers
and himself, in the matter OF licens-
ing teachers by being acquainted with
them and their work. 1t also re.
quires Il special experience in per-
forming the Office work in order to do
it IN accordance with the best inter-
csts of the people. In fact, no ONCE
in the county requires so many eX-
cellent qualifications In the incum-
bent.
Finally, we do not wish to be under
stood us speaking disparagingly of the
venerable and worthy nominee of the
other party; nor do speak from a
political standpoint, but regret that
this matter has been hOisted into the
political arena; and sincerely believe
that every intelligent citizen will take
pride in holding it high and dry above
all political clamOr.
Allowing all other things to be
equal, we think the man that has
had two years of very successful ex.
perience, and has won place in the
heart Of every parent, teacher and
pupil in the county, is the man to
place in trust of the most sacred insti-
tuition in our county.
This is written without the know
ledge of the present superintendent.