Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-12
EDUCATIONAL.
CONCERNING THE OFFICE OF
SCHOOL TRUSTEE.
A Paper Read by Superintendent Will
son, of Colusa, Before the State
Teachers Association.


Teachers Association.
The following paper was read by J. I
Wilson, County Superintendent of Colus
County, before the State Teachers Associa
ton of California, December 2S 1888:
To secure these rights, governments were in
| stituted among men, deriving their Just power
from the consent OF the goyerned--DectarGtio
| Of Independence.
The efficiency of the public schools i
seriously affected by the frequent chang
of teachers that now marks their admins
| tration, by the fragile tenure by which
teachers hold their positions. and by thu
poor quality of teac lers that insufficient
salaries command.
Many earnest educators look to German,
and see teachers sent to communities BY
the Government, without consulting IN th,
least the people whose children are 10 bt
educated; they see the teachers furnished
good homes, comparatively well paid, anC
holding their positions for life: and they
believe our system should be Germanjzed
that teachers should be given permanent
positions by some expert and centralized
power-in short, that the duties of the
office of School Trustee" should be radi.
Caily recommended.
Let US revert to first principles. Within
all governments are many systems of gov.
eminent. The government of churches
cities, and of public school systems, have
fundamental principles in common with
the government of nations
In all these the greatest possible good is
sought and in them all the questions are,
how shall the instruments of government
be appointed, and what shall be their iuris-
dictioD and power?
Forms of government resolve themselves
into three classes: First-The monarchic.
which includes all forms in which one
man governs according TO his own judg-
ment and will. Given the following con-
ditions-conditions by the way that never
exist-to wit monarch perfect in wis
dom and virtue, with subordinates having
the same qualities, and | am ready TO
maintain that this is the best form, SO far
as the ordinary purposes of government
are concerned.
Second-The aristocratic, which, in its
original sense meant government by a
few of the best. Administered in this
sense, without selfishness, with an honest
subservience to the best interests of State,
it certainly gives high order of govern
ment
Third-The democratic, in which the
people certainly and almost directly dictate
the policy by which they are governed
The best form of government has been
the question of the ages. We all recognize
modicum of truth in Popes egotistic
generalization: "For forms of government
let fools contest, whate'er is best admins
tered is best" But how to get the best adj
ministration is a problem wrapped, 10
some extent, in the form of government.
Neros, Stuarts, GATHERINGS, Grande Mon
archs and "Madmen of the North" will
ever challenge the admiration Of mankind.
That is, whatever is governed by this
method, the overpowerful ruler generally
uses his power oppressively for his own
selfish purposes.
This fact is attested by the blood of mill
ions, poured its red stream through the
streets of Paris in the Reign of Terror
and has been SO burned into human con-
scicusness that the great confagration now
betokened by the smoke darkening all the
Russias will forever end this system with
the Caucasian race.
The odium attached to the word "aristoc-
racy" speaks as decisively the failure of this
system to give just and honest government
es do the Draconian Code. the fate of the
Graceful and the sad experience of the
French and Germans under their barons.
As certainly as monarchies and aristoe-
racies are condemned by history, democ-
racies are sustained by il. 1t was this sys-
tenn that nodded Roman character, ex-
tended Roman dominion, and laid the
foundation for the most complete and Just
jurisprudence the world has ever seen,
Under Cromwell it cleared England's
clouded Sky Of glory, and gave her an in
fiuencs and spirit that has extended to the
present time.
And it has given us America. Before
the shrine Of my country-in the presence
of It's liberty, its power, its energy, its
achievements, its influence on the destiny
of nations-in appreciation of free speech,
a free press, and free consciences through
out the world-in view of DESTROYED or
limited monarchies as the result of its
bright example, | stand with uncovered
head and uplifted soul, and GeYoutly thank
Almighty God that am an American ::
and every fiber of my heart is attached to
the principles that have given to my own,
my native land her prestige, her majesty
and her greatness.
1t is the settled American conclusion
that the forms of government are an" evo-
luton; :" and as men yield to angels, so
ours has succeeded and is superceding all
others.
These principles are so well understood
that the query arises, why Introduce
them here?' Because there are many who
would now change our school system.
They would strike from it its democratic
principles, founded in the interest and
right of those whose children it affects for
veal OF woe, and place il upon monarchic
or aristocratic basis.
In the discussion OF the ''Ofice of School
Trustee" the questions are the old ones of
government: How shall its incumbent be
appointed? What power shall he have
that is, shall it be monarchic, aristocratic
or democratic in its organization?
In the infancy of peoples they find it ne
cessary to appoint guardian over them
selves, j. E., monarch. This system was
doubtless suggested by the natural one, the
patriarchal; and is necessary where peo-
pie are not sufficiently advanced 10 control
themselves. Like many men. il outliyes
its usefulness, and projects its tyranny and
woe into ages beyond 1t.
The minor systems of government that
exist in any nation are, and aust be, in
harmony with the national system or, al
least, so far as the status and condition OF
the people are in harmony with the ma
tional system.
The German school system is in har.
mpny with the German government syS
tenn II we see the teachers billed upon
the people without their consent; the
schools outlined from the State standpoint
and the people compelled to send Their
children to them, we must remember that
the Iron Chancellor has asserted the 'di
vine right of kings but little less arbitra'
rily than did the Stuarts.
When you are ready to Germanize our
political system, Germanize our school sys.
tenn, but not Till then. Let's not try to rig
the running-gears of a harvester upon an
oid-fsshioned cradle.
Methods should not be mixed. The con.
ventuai idea OF the separate education o.
the sexes under The strictest surveillance is
good. The co-education idea, with great
freedom of association and communication
is vastly better. But to bring the two sexe:
together in the same institution, and to rur
dead-line between them. is, in nv iudg