Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-12-02
Doctor Rufner.
SOME PERSONAL REMARKS AT THE CLOSE
OF HIS ANNUAL REPORT.

OF HIS ANNUAL REPORT.
At the close of his annual report which
is just from the press : DR.. Ruffner. Super
intendent of Public Instruction of r
ginia says ''Inasmuch As my present
term of Office will expire on the 15'h day
of next March, hope it may no. be DEEM
ed improper in me to indulge in some re-
marks of personal character, which, un-
der ordinary circumstances. would be in
appropriate" Then, after giving con-
densed history of public education in Vr-
ginia, the obstacles met and overc me, tie
Doctor closes as follows:
Before taking leave, in spite Of its ego
tism, feel it due to myself at this juno
ure to make certain d. cIars tions conctrn-
ing ny VII conduct. My p estnt posili
y he only publ office | Yer S nghI, an d
| was moved to seek tins by my cnnvic-
ION of the Importance OF the cause | have
J worked under d CROWN aease of its vital
character and would ado.. what " as ut
tered a few years ago by Tat eminent man
Or. William s. Plumer, who said: IF l
could speak hut one wore 10 the Southern
ueope. 1t would be, Educate. Educate, Ed
UCATE!i Large responsibilities of many
sorts have been laid upon me, and | sol
mniy declare that. accGr irg to the meas
are OF m. ability. have been faithful and
rue to every one of thein. l have not
welded 10 threats or seduet,ons to depart
| from what believed to o. he line of duty.
Whatever errors or infr,piiies might just
| he laid to my charge and no doubt
| ,iiere are many-it Cannot b9 truly SAID
| hat have ever sought to Oenefl myself
| 70 reward my friends, or To punish my
enemies, at public expense. have never
| worn ed fer or against any political party
| have never authorized my name to be
| Used in any
POLITICAL CANVASS,
| and regret extremely that ever submit
| I'd for one day to its Unauthorized USE
sumo will call this trimming. W uld that
those who are to come after me would con-
sent to be called trimmers, towards.
| raitors-anything rather than mar the
purity and excellence OF the sacred work
# education.
II have anonymously in the newspapers
discussed measures pending Def re the
L-gis ature which deeply affected the
cbool system-and this too, / rtgret-bul
never have discussed any issue whilst it
WAS before the people in canvass. |
never gave vote in the Board of Educa-
ton or in any College Board under the in
spiration of l'arfy or personal cling, or of
my other motive than the merits of the
subject in hand always preserved my in
dependence aud
REFUSED TO MAKE BARGAINS.
Every man who acts thus will make
many enemies, some of whom will pursue
aim 18th as persevering malignity as if he
,ad committed some horrible crime. But
woe be to the public officer who allows he
Tread of personal hostility TO turn him
from what he knows to be right.
1t is common form of injustice for
persons throughout the State to hold the
p0nsibie for the doihgs of the local Ulcers
II both official and personal matters. We
ave All admirable body Of local officers.
Who probably make as few mistakes as
could be expected of men; but they, of
course, err sometimes. and thus excite en-
nifty; and, as intimated awhile ago, even
IN their wisest official actions, they of nt-
cessity run counter to the wishes of many
sho cannot rise above selfish considera-
tions; and thus there are local fermenta
lions always in motion. In nearly every
such case the trouble grows out of local
official action over which this Office has ~
control, except to see to it that the discre
ion lodged in these officers is lawfully ex-
rIcised. And so is it i'll respect to Il cir
PERSONAL s-particu!arlg in politics.
often, when county superintendent
makes himself
DIsAGREEABLE IN POLITICS,
am most absurdly held responsible fol
| is behavior. This is most unjust in ever,
iolnt of view, for in castnu my vote fer
candidate for this office | nstve never beer
influenced by either his politics or his IT,
iginn, and whilst after tlier election, an.
more than before, | have 20 right to dc
tate to them. or to trustee. or to teachers.
low they shall detnean themselves in re-
-pect % party politics. | have, through the
Educational Journal" and otherwise.
constantly advised them AGAINST political
! ctivity, ana never have given them, ol
my one of them. any other advice, direc
| ly or Indirectly. Some Of them have
thought fiji to act 0therwisA, and deepl
regret it. They will see, I'd the public
will see, sooner or later, t. II such cours.
damages their usefulness sigenders hos
tiiity to these who appoipt them and bring
| evil, and only evil. TO the aanool Cause.
'Rut 81 metimes the cofdact Of these 10
cal Ulcers is greatly exags. ated. and it,
some instances wholly mis- presented. just
in the way and for the same reas N that
MY CONDUCT is OFTEN. MisREPREsENTED
"MalevOleuce. revenge, selfish aims, or
'arty schemlg exagseIa,e, or possibly iu
vent stories of wOlds and acts aganS' mer
who have really given lii tie or no cause ot
,ffersp. Aud there are some who won
y rsecute prescribe man simply BE-
cause he differs with them, as if he had
not rs good right to an opinion as they
have. and as if such difference detrac' ed
from his value as man or al officer. THIS
sort If work is always going on in the
world up0pr varinuS forms aid ya,louS
pretences, and will 81 continue to the end
of tine. But there has been real ground
enough for complaint in snne cases to us
tify me in now renewing the warnings So
often given against political activity On
the PAL of school officers. And whilst ad-
hitting that those who take the sword in
political strife must perish by the sword if
the fight gofs against them, will even un-
der the present pr culiar circumstances i'm
plore our public men to
PRESERVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM
as sacredly from the il huenct of party pol
itics as they would tile Church of Christ
Punish evil-doers, if need b., from tbt
highest to tie lowest, after the eUil has been |
proUed, not simply asserted, but let not
their misbthavior cause the political test |
to be applied to the schools where only th |
pnrest motives and the best professional (
skill shall be allowed to enter. Surely in |
the education of the children the State |
should have. and the people should de-
mand the very best service, wherever it is
to be found Those who have not setn
what have written in my former reports
on this vital point are respectfully referred
to the report of 1879, page 45, and for 1880,
page 1873.
IL havs now delivered my testimony,
and perhaps am near the end of my public
IL mo n
lay down my burden pfrsonally will have
no feeling bnt that of GID relisf. My
work commend to G d. and my conduc
to the charitable JUDGMENT OF my coun-
trym"n. My heart will SILL live in the
noble work of educating the people and