The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-04-23
TO SCHOOL DIRECTORS.
In View Of tho Approaching Election
Of Superintendents.

Inc SuperlntendentS OF schools are
to be elected on Tuesday, the sth of
May next in all the counties of the
Commonwealth, and in all cities,
boroughs and townships having FIVE
thousand inhabitants, that desire to
elect such officers. Scarcely any
other election should SO deeply enlist
the interest of the people. We can
afford bad government anywhere else
better than in respect to our schools.
Good schools make good citizens,
and good citizens are necessary to
the very existence Of state. Pennsyl-
vania has nearly 100000 children
in her common schools, and more
than $Io,ooo,ooo are annually ex-
pended for the purpose of instructing
them. Whether these children shall
be we'll instructed or otherwise,
whether this vast sum of money shall
be well or ill-applied, will depend in
good measure upon the officers
placed over the schools at the coming
elections. Let whole communities
see that the best men are chosen.
County conventions Of Directors
will be chosen to assemble at the res
pective county seats by the County
Superintendents now in office. The
best place for meeting is generally
the Court House. City and borough
conventions will be called by the pro-
per board of directors or controllers
in the manner prescribed by law, in
their usual place of meeting The
directors of cities and boroughs that
elect superintendents of their own
cannot take part in the county con.
ventions. The law does not say at
what hour the conventions shall as
semble, and the local authorities call
ing the conventions must fix it to suit
local circumstances. One O'Clock
p. m. is generally adopted as the most
suitable hour. 1t is proper for the
directors of cities and boroughs en-
titled to elect a superintendent, but
not now having one, to determine the
question whether they will elect such
an officer, at a preliminary meeting.
The convention should organize by
electing president and secretary
Vice president and assistant secre-
taries may be elected, if desired.
County Superintendents generally
have in their possession full lists of the
members of the different boards of
directors in their respective counties !;
and when this is the case, list with
the districts properly designated
should be handed to the president of
the convention. 1t should be read,
in order that all errors may be cor
rected, and that it may be known who
are present. If the county superin.
tendent cannot furnish a list of the
directors, some one from each district
represented should hand to the presl-
dent the names of the directors in his
district, from which the secretary
should prepare roll, and this, when
called, will show who are preseut. In
voting the name of each director
must be distinctly called, and his vote
recorded : that is, the vote must be
taken by yeas and narS. 1t requires
not only majority of the directors
0Oting, but of those present. to elect
superintendent.
Knowing who are members, the
convention is prepared to fix the
salary of the Office Of county superin-
tendent for the coming term of three
years. 1t will be found best in near
ly every case to fix the salary before
electing the officer. If several sums
are named, the vote shall be first
taken upon the highest, but if a
majority of directors do not vote for
that sum, then the vote should be
taken upon the next highest, and so
on, until some sum receive a majority
vote. This done, candidates for
superintendent can be nominated and
voted for, until some one receive a
majority.
The president and secretary must
make out and sign the certificate of
election, and forward it to this depart
ment. Blanks for this purpose will
be placed in the hands of the several
county superintendents and the sec
retaries of school boards in all the
county towns.
The following questions should re-
ceive careful consideration at the
hands of the members of convention
about to elect Superintendent of
Schools: What qualifications Shoula
a SHperinkeaaeat Of SehOOLs possess ?
and What salary ShonLa be paid
him?
In answer to the first question, it
may be said that such a superintend-
ent should possess certain PHYSICAL
qualifications. No one can properly
discharge the duties of the office who
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