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


insure success. Here, and in like instances.
the director needs honesty, knowledge, de-
cision and independence, for BY changing
the books too frequently, he may do great
injustice, without intending it. Or take the
appointment Of a teacher. How many mo-
tives are brought TO bear on the mind OF
directors to secure some favorite appoint
meat Political influence, denomiuational
influence, family influence, social influence,
and sometimes the influence of gold--ail
these furnish motives adapted to sway the
directors mind in appointing the teacher.
But, utterly ignoring all these, he nuSt be
able to look steadily and only at this point
Who will best subserve the interests of the
school for the salary which We are able to
pay and make the appointment according
ly. And here, gentlemen directors, permit
me to enter short plea for the female
teacher, however unobtrusive and neglected
she may seem to be. Woman is the natural
and Heaven appointed teacher of the human
race; and so long as the human intellect
and human heart need culture and moulding,
she must occupy conspicuous place as in
strrctoT- Who of you is not indebted
Immeasurabiy indebted-to her frame whose
bosom you drank in not only the first nour-
ishments for your mortal body, but the first
mamma for your immortal sOuli And who
is better adapted than the elder sister to take
up and continue the work which the loving
mother has laid down! By all means, then,
give the well-qualified female teacher a fair
chance; and if, in the race for success, she,
like the far Atalantra Of old, outstrips her
stalwart competitors, let the glorious prize
be hers. Or take, as another instance, the
election of the County Superintendent.
/ The school law coniides this duty entirely
and exclusively to you. IL presumes that
{ you will meet this responsibility in the fun
light of what you owe TO yourselves and
your neighbors, but especially to the parents
and children. II it is possible to obtain
such person, your County Superintendent
ought TO be a model man. With requisite
qualifications as to scholarship and execu-
tive ability, with tie indispensable aptness
10 teach, with the character ard department
of a gentleman, with attractive manners,
with seli-sacrifcing disposition, and, above
all, with soul fired with zeal for the true
success % the schools and the welfare of
the children, he might be expected to stamp,
in the course of three years, the impress of
his own character on the minds and hearts
of the children. That impress cannot be
tsttcr thar the man himself-the coin can
be no more chaste and beautiful than the
de If then the election of teacher is so
difficult aIra delicate thing, how much
more SO is that of Superintendent, under
whose direct influence for years are not only
your teachers, bat also your children How
iazneasurab.y far removed from the election
of this officer should be all mere political
and other low and unworthy influences
{. II the duties Of the director are so nu-
merous, difficult and delicate, it seems SUI
perfuous for us to SAY, that he who accepts
this oaice ought 60 have special qualifca-
lions 20 meet lis demands. We shall here
merely name a few of these qualities. The
director should be well informed as to school
matters; he should be of sufficient indie
pendeace Of mind 10 discharge the duties of
his Office without fear or favor; he should (
have leisure enough aud willingness enough
to visit the school occasionally, as such /.
visits are usefEl both 20 teacher and scholar; /
he should sustain the teacher and endeavor |
to enlist the parents; he should see that the |
children are not only instructed intellect |
uglly, but that their manners ana-rscrsls are 4
not neglected; he shO;ild feel, generally, !
that he is, in a wide sense. in the place Of a 1
father to all the children 10 the school.
5. 1t is not gaiaful Office, but, some
times thsnkless and full of trouble; and we /
believe it is better that 1t is not gainful. 1
Being benevolent in its nature, competent /
persons are more likely 10 be chosen to il /
than they would be if their services were 4
paid. The Office not being lucrative, there I
viii no; be the rush for it by the average /
bIltG-StCAEt Ni1l AAtEt NOu Il W II S-ii-
airy were an object, and generous aud public
spirited men can generally be found willing I
TO take It without compensation
6. Where ihen is the faithful school di-
rector to locL for the reward of his toll /
some labors Where does the parent look |
for his reward Where does the philan-
ihropist look Where does every public
spirited and generous heart look Let the |
director look abroad over his cOuntry--not .
at its green fields, not at its golden har-
vests, not at its towering mountains teem-
ing with wealth, but at its present and future |
of virtuOus, intelligent and pa
triotic people, (made so in part by his self
denying labors) and then, like the Roman
matron, when she introduced her peerless
sons, exclaim: 50 These, THESE are my i