Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-04-09
ROSEBURG REVIEW
FRIDAY, APRIL, 9, 1886.
Prof. F. W Benson's Address before the
Douglas County Institute,
held March 8, 1886.


In the language Of Artemas Ward
the great humorist of other days, "Time
it is sort of way time has
aud as this is in all probability the last
time that shall ever stand before a
Teachers Institute in my official capac
ity as Superintendent of Douglas coun-
ty, l deem it proper that | should in
my parting address indulge to a limited
extent in retrospect and in viewing the
progress of the educational work dur
ing the four years of my official life
note the condition of affairs at the he
ginning of that time on up to the pres
ent. In 1882 / entered upon my duties
with fear and trembling, realizing in
some degree the burden Of responsible
ity that was to rest upon me, and
knowing full well that should fail to
do efficient work without the full and
hearty cooperation Of Directors, Clerks,
and patrons of our district schools; and
now with grateful heart desire to
make my acknowledgements and say
that at all times 1 have found school
officers and patrons keenly alive to the
interests of the school work ever ready
with wise counsels and cheerful assis-
tance doing all in their power to light
en- the burdens and speed the good cause
of which | was the humble representa-
tive. Nor would be doing justice to
myself or the cause of education if in
this same line / should fail to acknowl-
edge the power for good welded by our
energetic State Superintendent Hon.
E. B. McElroy. His untiring efforts
to raise the standard of efficient work,
on the part of teachers, his zeal in
bringing school officers, teachers, and
heads of families together in Institutes
for comparison Of notes and expires
sion of views has been an incalcula-
BILE benefit, and has produced results
which those most interested will only
feel after the lapse of years. When I
first assumed the duties of my office
there were sixty-five school houses in
the county and the same number OF
organized districts, many well organ.
lied and some In state of confusion
and decentralization. Local strifes
neighborhood feuds and chickering's, in
many places rendered The Superinten
dents position anything but pleasant
A great many questions in dispute were
referred to my Office for settlement
whose only proper place for adjudica
ton is in the court room. I have a
various times been called upon to ac
as Counsel, Judge and Jury for tn
adjudication of disputes which ough
never to have arisen. In all such case
I have sought to perform my own dut
in the premises in accordance with tn
law governing my official conduct with
out regard to any personal considers
tion. Ifany hardship has been wrough
it has been because the law by reaso
Of its universally was not sufficient
applicable to particular cases, and m
equity Jurisdiction was too limited j
its extent. have good reason to col
gratulate my successor, in this respee
upon his relief from this source {
anxiety and worry, by the untirin
energy and practical sense of our worth
State Superintendent, who has inclu
ded in the published y1ume of th
amended school law a compilation I
divisions upon almost every conceive
BILE point upon which disputes are lik
ly to arise in such clear and succint
form that school officers and patrol
can now settle such points at home, I
what is better, avoid such disput'
altogether. For this relief the supe
intendents of our counties owe Pro
McElroY debt of gratitude The
are now seventy seven all organize
and at work. The spirit of progre
and enlightenment in school work an
its methods has been inspired in teache
and school officers to very gratifyin
extent, and this has been owing chief
to the wholesome effects of teache
Institutes. In my successive rount
Of visiting the schools of Douglas cou1
ty, / have seen more than enough
convince me that such associations
the one now assembled are Of practic
and lasting value, to the children eve
who attend school IN the most reno
and obscure districts. It is gratifyil
to note also, the farther fact, directo
are beginning to realize this value
SO great an extent that very few
these officers now require teachers
make up by extra teaching as sic
time" the days so proftably sper
Another indication of the progress
education in Douglas county is to
found in the unusual prosperity of t
academies and high grade priva
schools which in spite of the univers
cry of hard times, have exhibited
larger attendance this winter than f
several years before. The Umpq
Academy of Wilbur long famous t
the GOOD work ACCOMPLISHED in bypo