The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-05-03
THE STATE SCHOOL sUPERiNTEN
DENCY.

In the comm nicatiop in this issue sign-
cd Eyc-opener, we arc not prepared TO en-
dorgs the main proposition taken by its
author, viz: that "a glazing omission was
made by the last legislature when it failed
10 require that the state superintendent
should of necessity be q practical teacher"
The fact OF an individual being practical
teacher, no moro guarantees successful
administration, than the fact Of his not be-
ing one should promise failure. The pro-
prIeiors and the editors Of . newspaper, Tor
instance, may be as ignorant ss babs OF
practical type setting, may not kno"
one section OF tho case in the race rom
an Their, and yet be able to make nne
success of journal where the practical
printer might utterly tail. The admins
| tra,iye ability of Mr.. BENNETT, OF the New
York Herald, or Mr.. RID. OF the Tribune
does not embrace eny practical knowledge
Of any OF the work in the composing'room'
and who shall soy that those papers are not
admirably conducted? Some oil the pest
liudgee We ever knew were failures aH
practitioners at the b,r, and some OF the
poorest judges were OF the best
practitioners. The case OF Mr.. EADs'
cited by cur correspondent, is
especially in point against him.
Engineers who knew that brosdbraned
man, we're astonished as his undert akine
tho construction OF the great St. Louis
bridge when no was so entirely without In
formation or practice In any OF the detail
work OF such enterprises. But, in the po'
sitiop. his subsequent study and converse
tions and personal inspection In Europe
etc.. made him master lhst special enter
prise. One OF tho beat generals we had IN
the Confederate army WAS beloved bishop
OF Tonuessse, whose instructions lad eveI
been in the paths of peace but who earned
for himself in less than a year as a man
eugerer OF battalions commanded by west
Point officers, fame that but ADDED
Iustre to the illusirlous same name that had
not long before gloriHed the presidential
chair. Another case was that OF one oil the
best OF our artillerists who was raised ~
from boyhood for the Pfesoy minis
,fy. rising from the instruction under Vir-
rlpia military cadets TO the position oil
lm.ior.eeneral. The case of Mrs. Frank
Loelie Ia particularly in point. With no
kuowledge whatever OF the publishing bus
iness. or indeed any other sort, her husband
diving bankrupt, she brsvely takes charge
OF the great house he had handled
and from chaos and distress brings as gen.
ersl manager OF the vast concern light ana
superior success by her determined man.
apement. Some Of the moot efficient heads
Of department In the United States cabinet
were possessed OF the minimum OF knowl-
q Ice in the details OF the work they were
,rddenly called on TO nreside over. The
truth IL, the man OF detail is OF one order OF
mind, the man Of generaizing ability is o.
another. The proposition therefore, OF Eye
opeuer that "the chief OF any department
should be qualified 10 fill subordinate posi-
tions.n does not hold. Many a"presidtnt
of a medical college" or president OF Law
school. would make the weakest OF prac'
TONERS. while the most successful OF the
latter would be completely unadopied t.
take the seat OF the former. The HERALD
has no preferences whatever for the school
superintendency. but we have made the ar
gumcnt solely with a view to correct
standard Of judgment for The benefit OF
those who shall soon have to &C. in the
| premises.