Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-04-27


warrant it has cost you and the neigh
bors one to two hundred dollar apiece
to keep sick the same time Deacon
I'll use your medicine hereafter
County superintendent.
Messrs. Editors:
In your paper of the 18th, inst, APP
pears an article over the signature oi
"a Citizen, +" emitted "COun.y Superin-
teudent.u the anmus of which Is very
plainly apparent in the discussion oi
the question "who shall he be Z" The
author OF that article is, evidently, MOI
50 much concerned about who he shall
be, as who he shall not be.
With the general observations OF
Citizen" on the nature Of the Office, the
qualifications of IL suitable incumbent
aud the Importance OF careful ana
judicious selection at the approaching
Directors Convention, heartily agree;
but with The ins.nHalion that the pres
ent incumbent is not worthy Of re-elec-
ton | do not agree.
1t is certainly due to Mr.. Mckee to
say, as "citizen" does (for he could not
truthfully say otherwise), that "he has
each year visited the schools; :" but too
ada, ''yet htlle good has been done eX-
collecting statistics is to make an as
scrtiog ia relation TO the good not done,
as destitute Of proof as is 'citlzcn's"
knowledge Of the facts outside Of Lis
own district. 1t is but charitable to
except his own district, and yet, If we
were not charita le and citizen' were
to dare us to the proof there is no tell
ing what other facts might he elected
The point sought to be made against
the present incumbent in the County
Institute is as sharp as bodkln and
the argument shows just how much
Citizen" knows about what such insti-
tutes should be. He evidently does
not apprehend what the law requires
In such cases, nor has be any concep-
ton Of the weight Of responsibility
which rests upon the Coun,y SupePin
tendent in arranging for them and con-
Quoting them. lie complains that
the teachers, in the last institute, "werc
ignored altogether and were treated az
though they were not educated enough
to take part in an institute" He ought
to have have known that in arranging
for the last, as well as for former inst-
tutes, Mr.. Mckee applied personally
and by letter to a number OF teachers
throughout the county, whom lie re-
garded rs competent, to take an active
part in the institute, but they all de-
clined. Why? They all said, in sub
stance, we want TO be instructed and
you have the means at your command
TO procure competent instructors for US.
And they were right The county in
stitute was never intended to be
teachers debating society nor has its
efficiency aud perpetdity made to de-
pend upon the wisdom Of those for
whose instruction aud profit it was
created How often would citizen"
attend the institutes if he knew that
they were to be carried on by the teach
crs even considerably, not TO say prin-
cipally?
Teachers are even more jealous and
fcssional men are, and no prudent
County Superintendent would ever
make the success Of an institute depend
upon their cooperation alone; nor even
TO large degree. 1t would only be
repeated folly.
Citizen" makes few pertinent obs
seryations. to Disguise his real purpose,
about school visitation, the examina-
ton Of teachers and the like, and then
expresses the desire that the Directors
will choose for Counsy Superintendent
"the best man that can be obtained, so
as to havo HOrough Superintendent
to examine tcfchcrs" and concludes the
whole with the cxhortation, weigh
the merits Of each candidate well. Let
not party prejudice (for you cannot af-
ford that but onl y merit decide your
choice"
The inuendos in these pious sayings
have no doubt, Mr.. Mckee highly
appreciates, particularly the one in re-
latiOn to a H0rOugh Superintendent 20
examine teachers; and so, too, do many |
o. the would-bc teachers who were ex-
ahmed during his incumbency.
'No rogue e'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law"
! would not say word to the dis
paragement of a single candidate for
the responsible Office about which "cit-
izen" writes; but while he is evidently
against Mr.. Mckee | am for him. He
is undoubtedly well qualified for the
position, morally, intellectually, educa-
tionally, physically and practically
The latter, 10 an eminent degree, by
his recent experience. He has contrib
uted to the elevation of the standard of
education during his term. He has
been faithful, efficient and conscientious
in the discharge Of MS duties, and so
far as know, is approved as a gentle
man, scholar and practical man. by
all those who are competent to judge
with whom he has come ic contact.
We do hope he will be reelected. 1t
takes u full term to become acquainted
with the situation, the wants Of the
schools, the characters and qualifca-
ions Of teachers, &c, so as to attain in
,reased efficiency and secure real prog
-ess therefore, to elect a new man
now, when not one of the other candi-