Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-05-20
FAREWELL ADDRESS.


for service as superintendent of your
schools. Forming some opinions while
i'm your employ, pertinent to thefutur
prosperity of the institution under my
care, in taking leave, l deem ii not
amiss to express the same through the
press whose space is kindly offered for
the purpose, that he who reads may
hear. do this actuated alike by in
terest in public well-being at large and
from the promptings of friendly local
sentiment born in your midst and ever
destined to remain inseparable from
the pleasant memories to be bourn
hence.
/. Before entering details and sug-
gestions word as to my work here is
deemed fitting and just. The reasons
which led me here need not be stated.
Suffice it that the reasons were suffi-
cient and the fact not regretted.
After long experience in school work
in places and with remuneration much
beyond yours, came to you, not to
learn to teach, but with an ideal, often
nearly realized, as to what a school
should be. No product of human
skill is perfect. Admittedly the condi-
ton of your schools for sufficient rea-
sons of installing policy, had some
what deteriorated. Be that as it may.
l found therein, las others hereafter
will do, many things intended not be-
ing accomplished the prevalence of
habits deleterious to thatfir authority
and rigor of order necessary for the
proper management of men in masses.
These errors both by reason and con-
tract, | was obligated to check and if
possible eradicate. To assert full cor
rection of these evils would be absurd
but verify warrants the declaration
that they have been so far remedied,
that the gains will be permanent and
additions easy, if aided by your in
telligent sympathy and reasonable
urgency. While order has been sus-
tanned with persistent certainty by
means adequate but mild, there has
been inculcated higher sentiment,
recently finding encouraging express
sion, as to the necessity and value of
the same. Several changes of note
have been adopted and carried to
manifest success. The topical method
has substituted the question process
and is daily winning friends among
those most concerned. Under its sway
mind power with the pupil is rapidly
gaining. Already the policy has
wrought revolution.
2. Whether the fruit of this labor
shall be preserved or allowed to decay
remains with the board and citizens of
your place. To implant this reform
has cost much toll and some antago-
nism from unexpected sources. But
the battle is won. To lose all however
is but q day, q week, month or q
years yielding to the whim or the
irrational few who may but are not
| likely to withstand your resolution to
possess what has been achieved. TC
maintain discipline is now to move
with the tide for students have learn.
ed by results to appreciate and com
mend as right and needful the fan
sighted endeavor which plants for q
life rather than for day. There yet
remain two or three vices with some
vitality. The written examination
hitherto all in all, still contests the
field it should equitably divide with
the oral method, recently introduced
and winning friends. Carried to it,
logical end this process, unchecked
cheats both pupil and parent leading
to the idea that scholarship is much
writing, high marking of paper:
perhaps never read, and flatterinl
monthly reports, on more or less SNOWY
and formal cards. There is another
fruitful mother of mischief-the elias.
tyranny which places the class above
attainment and makes the place in the
grade and graduation superior tc
knowledge, truth or decency. A JUS
estimate of culture subordinates clasi
and grade to growth, and places CLASH
tication on the basis of merit alone
Scholarship is the end rather thar
maintenance of circumstances which
may dissolve tomorrow leaving scarce
a trace of existence and power. Emu
lation is both honorable and serviceablt
but should ever yield priority to com
mon sense in these important particu
lars.
8. Your town and consequently you
school are growing. Already there il
need for another teacher. Should yol
be able to maintain q cheering attitud,
toward your schools in the future, ane
employ the means in reach their for
eign patronage need not be great Il
necessitate help in the High School
Therefore you ought even now anc
surely will soon be obliged to furnish
more accommodations by enlarginl
your building westward. The name
of entering Easements Is a source o
. annoyance, disorder and indelicacy
Two departments are constantly dis
turbed by their use. You are advised
to close the ways of present ingress ant
open others from the portico protect
ing the same by another set of from
doors. The school grounds ought t,
be enlarged westward 10 or II rod
and south and north to the river
This will give room for trees and pla,
lgrounds more ample and large enough
to separate the space allotted to pla.
from that adjacent the building which
should be converted in a lawn nov
impossible from too much use. Tn
library deserves attention. For gener
al circulation it now has perhaps 3
volumes most in condition for littl
further use. Soon there will remain
only the works for reference. Yol
ought soon to purchase at lea 10
new books to encourage a presen
tendency to read rather than dampel
the same by depriving it the means o
growth. You could well invest $40
in geographical, mathematical ant
philosophical apparatus to aid tn
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