The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-05-08
THE STATE SCHOOL sUPERINrBN
DENCY,

In the communication in this issUe sign-
ed Eye-opener, we are not prepared to en-
dorse the main proposition takon by Its
author, viz: that "a slaripg omission was
made by the last legislature when 1t failed
to require that the state SUPERINTENDENT
should Of necessity be practical teacher"
The fact OF an individual being practical
teacher, no more guarantees successful
administration, than the fact OF his not be-
ing one should promise failure. Ths pro-
prietors and the editors OF 4 newspaper. for
instance, may be 10 iguor4n, as babe OF
practical type setting, may not kno Z"
one section OF the case in the rack from
another, and yet be able TO make line
success Of a journal wUere the practical
printer might utterly fail. The admins
trative ability OF Mr.. BENNETT, Of the New
York Herald, or Mr.. REID, of the Tribune,
does not embrace any practical knowledge
of any of the work In the posing-room,
and who shall say that those poperR are not
admirably conductedp Some of the best
Judges We ever know were failures as
practitioners at the bar, and some OF the
poorest judges were OF the best
practitioners. The case Of Mr.. EADs
cited by our corr espondent. is
especially in point against him
Engineers who knew that broadbrained.
man, were astonished es his undertaking
the construction Of tbs great st. Louis
bridge when he was go entirely without in
formation or practice in any oil Inc detail
work OF such enterprises. But, in the pc
sitioD, hia subsequent study and converse
tions and personal inspection in Europe,
etc., made him master that special enter
prise. One OF the best generals we had in
the Confederate army was beloved bishop
of Tennessee, whose instructions mad ever
been in the paths of peace bnt who earned
for himself in lees than u year as man
euyerer Of battalions commanded by West
Point officers, fame that but added
lustre TO the illustrious Same name that had
not long before gloritied the presidential
chair. Another case was that OF one OF the
best of our artillerists who was raised up
from boyhood for the Presbyterian minis
try, rising from the instruction under Viz
gipis military cadets to the position OF
major general. The case Of Mrs. Frank
Leslie Is particularly in point. With no
knowledge whatever Of the publishing bus.
mess, or indeed any other sort, her husbsnd
diving bankrupt, she bravely takes charge
OF The great house he had handled
and from chaos and distress brings as gen.
ersl manager OF the vast concern light and
superior success by her determined man
agemept. Some OF the most efficient heads
Of department in tho United States cabinet
wsrs possessed OF the minimum OF knowl-
s1ge in the details OF the work they were
Suddenly called on to preside over. The
truth is, the man Of detail is of one order
mind, the man Of generalizlng ability ia
another. The proposition therefore, OF Eye
opener that "the chief of any department
should be qualified to fill subordinate posi-
tlops,r does not hold. Many n"president
of medical college" or president OF q law
school, would make the weakest Of prac'
TONERS, while the most successful OF tn
latter would BIO completely unadopted
take the seat of the former. The HERALD
has no preferences whatever for the school
superIntendency, but We have made the ar.
pument solely with . view to correct
standard of Judgment for the benefit Of
those who shall soon have to aot In the
premises.