Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-01

written for the Posr -IxTKIIJoxxcKn.
A Territorial Superintendent Of pub
iic Instruction Is Soon to be appointee
oy the Governor and confirmed by tn
Councu. II 10 the most important Of
nee the Governor has power to I'LL by
appointment. The influence of thu
off1cer for good or evil is far ereateI
than most people realize.
Inc safety, prosperity and ROod gov.
ernment of the State In the future rests
IN the hands OF the nov rising genera
ton: The most pressing need then of
tnis Territory today is good schools. To
nave good schools We must have good
teachers.
To have good teachers they must be
PAID deoently and treated respectfully;
and should have placed over them OH
GERS and a Superintendent who under
stand what good teacher is, and the
work that teacher should accomplish.
| Ihe nrst requirement in a Superin-
tendent Is that he should be an expe-
nsnced, snccessful, modern teacher. A
large part Of our country schoo are in
wresched. neglected oondition. There
is a constant fuss, continual change
of teachers, and Al a result a clase 81
v0uuR people growing up without fair
elementary education, without enter
prise and without manly ambition.
The city schools will take care of
themselves In great measure. Il il Of
the greatest importance that the Super
tendent be q man Of varied experience
IN common country schools, who knows
sneir lnfuence in our civilization. He
should be man too. who understands
the needs Of the children of the farmer,
mechanic aud labsring man.
Inc preparation Of questions upon
which every public teacher in tho Terri
tory must be examined, 10 under the
supervision of the Superintendent, and
he directs the work to be done at Teach
ers' Institutes. For these and other
reasons Il h necessary that he have
experience in normal school work.
But mere school teacher Of any
description will not fM the bill. Our
whole system has serious defects that
no legislation cau remedy, a. the Ter
rtory IL large, centers of population are
rapidly changing and society is yes in
Its formation staQS.
A man is needed who thoroughly CON-
prehends the present situation, under
stands these defects, and has the saga
city to select the best means to bring
things into Q better state. An eduea-
tional fossil, too opinionated to learn,
might grow in the work, and after nu-
meroos irreparable blunders, might
understand enough to see some Of these
defects In the system and some Of the
hardships endured by teachers, Just be-
fore his term of office expired. Such
men may have known something about
schools years ago; but while they have
deteriorated, educational matters have
greatly advanced. And such men do |
more harm than good in office.
The superintendent should be familiar
with the school laws and public school |
systems Of today, and the higher insti- |
tutions of learning in the BEST States in
the Union. For how can one improve
rapidly system when it Ia already the |
best with which he is aCQuainted2
IL 10 quite probable that the people |
Will demand change of school books. |
The new text books cannot be selected |
too carefully. They are the tools with |
which teachers and pupils work. We
need q superintendent who can make /
an advantageous and proper contract |
with firms that publish these books, and
Who will ;: ahnya the veseh a! temnts-
that q school book publishipg firm paid
$4,000 to have certain grammar
adopted by the schools of Ohio; then
that arm realized fortune by the
transaction.
II is almost az important that the su-
as of schools. Not only does he CON-
ID an endless variety Of questions, in
volving the deep principles of law, re-
forred to him from all parts of the Ter
ritory.
On overy side, in school affairs, are
schemes, and frauds are perpetrated or |
attempted in using public money and
in getting and granting diplomas and
certificates. To guard against these /
frauds keen man is needed; one 40
custOmod to business, not easily de-
ceived, who does not permit his sympa-
thies to mislead him.
A brow heating over-boaring super |
intendent will prevent the Territorial
Board of Education from doing ite /
proper work BY substituting his own |
will for the opinion and rights OF other
members.
The Superintendent presides at Insti- |
tutes and addresses audienciee through |
out the Territory and should be an edu- |
Gated, csltfvated geptlepsan. Can man
raise others 10 hiRhes intellectual or |
moral standard than his own?
There 10 Rroat'woEk 10 be performed,
and 70 accomplish il will require the
whole attention of . man In the primo |
Of life with mental and physical viRoT.
Yet, IL viii be- hard 70 6nd capable
man Who will leave hia legal or medical
practice. his pulpit, Newspaper or sven
. good school. for six hundred dollars
Em.. w. r. Oct. q. 1885,