The state herald., 1893-09-15

President or the ktate Conventish 81
C0anty Nuperintcnd ents at their An.
nual Meeting held IN Boulder, Nay
Q, lS0a.
At this, our 5th annual meeting OF this
character, we have met under most IL.
voraLle auspices and 10 this beautiful
city Of Boulder, n city at once beautiful
and renowned as m educational center
and the seat Of tho GIst educational In
stitution OF the state, it is truly fitting
place for meeting like this. We note
with pleasure tho large attendance Of
superintendent ut this meeting. be-
speaking ns it surely doca tho growing
interest in the educational work in the
state. We should surely be enoour-
aged by the presence OF 40 many OF the
heads Of our state institutions. We feel
thnt it indicates that strong bond Of
union aud sympathy that should exist
betwern our common schools and our
higher Institutions Of learning. For the
success Of the latter surely depends up.
on the efficiency OF the former and when
We can fully realize that upon the MON
hers OF this convention, tho County Su.
r,n,cndents Of Colorado, this largely
depends, wo will have a just conception
Of our responsible position. II then il
surely fitting that We meet 10 counsel
and 1t 10 highly expsdient that We have
those meet and counsel with us who BY
their vantage position are % eminsntly
qualified to do 30. For wc truly feel the
weight OF the responsibility r-stinR up.
on us and our inability to do all We
would like TO SEQ done to bring nbodt
that perfect symmetry in our schools
which we realize would De 80 desirable
aud beneficial. And ns these meetings
! understand, are Tor this purpose,
shall, in brief way only, sudtavor t.
recount some Of Our hinderanccs and to
point out some Of the means Of overcon,.
ing them. Tho county snperiuterdsntA
influence is chiefly with the country
schools as haye said. In the city
schools the work Of supervision can b
safely left to the city superintendent
while, in the csnntry schools. all depend
in this line, upon US. We know that it
is sometimes claimed that more countr,
than city boys and girls attain to emf
hence. Whether this be true or not
the opportunities Of the teacher IN both
nre grea, and our work, ii seems to me
is Wote with the country schools. With
this great aud important work 10 be
done 10y tho county snperintendents, il
seems 10 INC, great caro- should be taken
IN the selection II the proper person for
tho office. He should DO chosen from
'he profession and it's dnlies should en.
gross his whole attention. The selection
Of county supcfintendc IN. and should
be considered, II more Importance to
the people OF a county. than the election
Of my other officer, either state or coun.
BY. It matters little to tho people gen
orally who is governor OF tho state or
who ILLS tie various other ofhcrs in tho
county. but 1t should matter 10 them
who is their county superintendent.
This officer who likes the educational
and moral standing Of the teachers Of
tho county, exercises an influence in ev-
cry school aud in every home. No other
officer has i, in his power 10 make him.
self fch, Cor good or Ill, by 70 many peo
PIE. This educational interest u, a
should be, the greatest Of oil interests to
any community aud the leader OF this
should lie tho most efficient and avsila.
BILE person. lie should IN not merely
officially, but really the educational lead.
or VI his county. flis scholarship 'hould
10 liberal and his moral character abuve
rtproach aud whAtcver slse he 10 not, he
should he person capable Of directing
the teacher in md training him for biz
work. We lind tbose who claim il is NJ
province oil = superintendent 70 train OIL
educate tho teacher. l shall hold thai
until such time as all our schools can *
presided over by those who have hsd
the advantage Of special training, and
God hasten this day, IN schools for THU
purpose, the superintendent must
needs bc MI Instructor, . trainer OF hii
tenoheIs. lie must stimulate them &c
self Improvement. II ~ wonderful what
influence one stropg, thoughtful, deter
mined superintendent, Who sees the way
himself. can have upon his teacl'ers
though they lay have only ordiuar,
scholarship or ability. under his dirsc.
tlon aud Encouragement they srs ablo u
60 forward IN their work With zeal ant
sarnestn-sa that would. Ia large nsas
ure. atone FOR deficient ability. The 81
perintondtnt must awaken In his teach
crs fceiin. Of responsibility 10 tssum
in. this character Of work, lead them ;,
strive to become better fitted Tor II, In
cits within them desire to know NOR
Of tho philosophy of educat,on and u
advantage 10 them in their work. A. I
should bs tue highest aim Of tssrh
ers TO teach their pupils to think, I'm
not the superintendent . duty townr'
hin teachers In this respect. A superin
tsndent who secs aud fools that Il 10 tn
business Of education 10 load icarbor'
m well ns pupils, TO thiuk. will have POS
session Ia key that viii unlock tue gat
80 rapid progrcsa, People like 10 think
IL IL ssib. when they have learned 10,
mud phil soply teaches us that though
Is tho e'sence u ali ,hst is. nsrdsr be
said. "ihc formation Of tho manner Q
thought, character and moral habits