The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-15
SUPERINTENDENT DEBRIS RE.
SPONSE


was the superintendent of public
schools, when the Evening World of
Monday, March 10, gave editorial
utterance to some immature ideas
about the public schools, OF which the
writer appears as poorly informed as do
those for whom he essays to speak.
Of course | should not dignity the
article with attention we're il not for
the fact that those unacQuainted with
its instigation and emana,ion might be-
misied thereby and suppose some OF the
assumptions and assertions to be true.
III this were merely an attack upon
puollc education or upon the methods of
administration thereof. it would not
excite my surprise nor receive oven q
passing notice. | should not respond to
even just criticism of any of my own
Official acts, but when newspaper.
assuming 10 be CONDUCTED upon tho
lines OF legitimate and reputable
journalism, attempts to discuss a person
without reference to Official course. it is
tlme then for disciplinary response in
journalistic proprietY. flatter myself
that am convefSant with the ethics of
journalism. Concerning public men
and matters journal mas Just right to
comment, but when it uses them to
unne cessarily persoDaiiZe il earns
contempt and castigation whether it
receives thom or not. l speak this as a
journalist and one acquainted with the
best usages and its conveutionality.
Now this article in question ESSAYS to
inform the public as 10 what tho writer
knows about the needs OF the public
schools, " lille il the public schools were
TO Inform that writer as TO their
knowledge Of his needs, the infol nation
wonid be less flattering to his vanity
than beneficial 10 English indebted
However, they doubtless DO not feel
called upon to do this and therefore
Will save their ammunition for nobler
game
IL knew really whose sentiments
were expressed in the impersonal
aruc in question, | could the better
RESPOND to his illusions. But he saws
others think. aud he thinks what they
think, and of course what they tell him
to think or rather to say without
thinking: for there seems to have been
very little thought bestowed upon the
matter, else more mature ideas would
have been evolved. AS 10 what those
think who are informed upon the
subject is of course matter of interest.
informed, how they are informed and
whether they are competent Judges
when the information is before them.
why did not the writer inform himself
90 ore he wrote to inform others? By
what authority does he speak for the
City Council or any other city officials?
Has he boon authorized 10 voice their
sentiments? Is there any mcmbcr of
the Council SO ignorant of official pro-
priety as to present official communities
tlons through second hand, or such
second hand. mediums as this would
appear TO be? " ould any city official
transcend official dignity by deiegating
o1lcial statements concerning his pub
lie business 20 an irresponsible and i'm 4.
personal expression? All things should
DC done dccently and in order, and such
a course would violate this rule, hence |
doubt not that he will find some dinl-
Guilty In perSuading the most credulous
to believe that he is authorized to n, axe
the statements which he assumes to do
for public officials. For myself
| could only believe him when he had
more tangible evidences of Notification
than his unsupported assertion, in view
OF tho improperly that it would imply
to those who might so authorizes, as
we'll as the very sligh. provocation upon
which he appears ready TO offer as fact
what has residence only in vapid fancy.
Now is he not placing many mem
bers of the Council" and other officials
in an awkward attitude when he essays
to express opinions for them: Thew
doubtless do not desire to be deemed
expert judges upon such matters as he
has seen proper to discuss. Tho cues.
ton naturally arises what do these
whom he quotes know about the essen
tial needs of the schools? And what
would they know about the question of
a thoroughly practical educ ,tor, or
whether there Is one employed in the
whole school system? This is no dis
arrangement of any one of them either
because it requires one to be we'll posted
In the profession of pedagogy to pass
upon such points. 1t goes without say
irg that the writer of that article would
not be competent Judge OF such matter,
hence silence might have been golden
had not sentences been "silvern" TO him.
That tho public school system has
enemies within and without am fully
aware; that tho most dangerous enemies
ere tho deceltful ones is undoubted
that under the gnise OF friendship The
assassin can strike tho most deadly blow
is equally true, and that
The arrow which swiftcsi Ia tho heart was sent
Sprans from tho bow which friendship bent
il equally demonstrable by the deeds of
men, if not by their words And against
all the combined actions Of indiscretion
and oyercXertion: against silly pre-.
Jndice and sly demogogcry; against
political intrigue and personal avarice
the public schools have arisen and
forced themselves into the foremost
position among the permanent insti.u-
lions of the country, and under the in.
SEPARATION thereof and careful, faithful
administration the schools of the CITY
have passed upward over similar OBJ
stacles and will continue to flourish in