Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-03-02
school Directors.


As Is commonly the case, opinions differ
on points at issue, and / trust YOU will
pardon reader for voluntarily express
ing trivial view on topic of general
interest.
1t is evident that great care should be
taken in the selection OF school officers,
and the writer thinks that something
more than practical, everyday business
men should be looked for to secure the
best schools. II the chief aim was to fin :.
ish the school year with as little expense
as possible, then the work of the success
full business man would, undoubtedly, be
admired. While every one admires the
practical business man, it would seem as
though a man is called for who is inter-
ested in educational methods, intimately
acquainted with school affairs and the
conditions and requirements OF the dis
trict school OF to-day. He should be a
man of good judgment ii the manage
ment OF affairs and should not be afraid TO
do little hagd work in the line of thought
and study and in reading educational
journals. Ii one was to choose a compe-
tent judge tor the inspection OF live stock
dry goods or any other personal or real es-
tate property, he would naturally look for
some one VINO had had some experience in
the special line he wishes to consider. IL
we are TO consider the qualities desirable
Tor successful road commissioner, super
intendent or public officer, then why not
How many prominent business men ever
think of visiting school or, one might
almost say, ever ask question regarding
its welfare, unless it be for ascertaining
the condition of the treasury or the man
agement of its financial affairs? II one
Will take the pains to examine the school
registers for the past year, i venture TO
say he win be unable to find the name of
practical, everyday business man record
/ ed therein, or the names of as many par
ents as there should be. We cannot well
compare the prosperity of the town sys-
tenn with the graded school when, as in
the latter case, the school is under the SUI
pervision OF principal who receives
81 900 per year and upwards, and who IS
supposed 20 be among the most competent
for the management of the same The
most important factor in the material
welfare OF the schools is the selection OF
competent teachers, and they should be
well supported in their work.
We are glad to give the above
place, although the writer differs with
us. 1t is results that we want, and if
the men we suggested are not the best
men for school directors, they ought
not to be chosen.
By business, men we mean success
full men of affairs-be they farmers,
merchants or professional men-men
who have been successful in the man
agement of their own business and such
other business as may have been en-
trusted to their care. We stated that
men interested in educational methods
do not make good school officers, as
the result of our observation and as
the almost universal verdict Of county
supervisors and examiners.
How many men interested in educa
tional methods agree as to which is the
best method? and does not each man
want his own method put in practice,
feeling sure that any other method
would result in failure? With a
Board Of School Directors which can
not agree, success is impossible. We
know Of town in an adjoining county
that went into the town system, un-
der the old law, and elected an old
school-teacher, doctor and a lawyer
as a school board. Each had his ideas
as to how the schools should be run,
and while each took deep interest in
education, each wanted his own meth
cd used. The result was constant dis
cord in the board, the failure of the
schools, and the return of the town to
the district system. We are told that
this case has been duplicated in many /
towns in the State, to the detrimeut of
the schools.
Give us practical, successful busi-
ness men who take an interest in the
schools and win see that the best teach
ers that the town can afford are secur-
ed, ,and who will inquire into the differ
ent methods without prejudice but with
the sole aim of securing the best
schools.
Take, for instance, a farming town
ike Barnard. Suppose three success
full farmers who take an interest in ed
ucation are elected And do not farm
ers feel as much interest as anyone in
having their children educated! They
will want good schools. What will
they do? If they do as they would do
in business matters, they win seek light,
when needed, where the town system
has been a success. They will not ex-
pertinent; for they have no theories to
trv. Is not such a course better than
experimenting? There are two things
with which il is not safe to experiment
they are medicine and education.