Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-04-08
STRONG EMPHASIS
ON INSTITUTES
Union at Educational Forces n
Prime Requisite Importance
Of Good Primary Work
Commentator OfAssist-
ant Superintendent.
To County Superintendents OF Schools
and Other Active Educators in New
AAytaA

To County Superintendents OF Schools
and Other Active Educators in New
Mexico:
IN assuming the duties of superin.
tendent OF public instruction, deem
1t proper to try to form the acquaint-
ance Of my co-laborers in this impor-
tant work. AS 1t is impossible to meet
you personally at once l take the lib.
erty Of addressing you in this form.
To the friends of education in New
Mexico the retrospect is very crafty
ing. The progress that the cause has
made during the past fifteen years has
Deen all that the most sanguine had
any right to hope for. Please think
for a moment, and compare New Mex
ico in 1890 with what she Is in 1905.
Is rot the contrast a pleasing one?
You and | have been active factors in
that advance. and We should feel en-
couraged. But l am not entirely sat.
isfied. Are you? Great as have been
the past c%onquests the future has
greater one in store. Let us unite
for the struggle and the triumph.
The superintendent of public H.
struction has very little legal authori.
ty in directing educational movements.
That is just as well, if not better.
Great power implies great response.
bility, and in this kind of work re-
s%ponsibility is better shared. But as
a IN adviser. an inspirer to good works,
an interpreter df correct educational
measures, and as a truly sympathetic
co-labOrer with you in your respective
and difficult tasks, IL qualified by
wisdom and experience, he may do
much for the cause. l feel sensibly
the limitations Of my ability, but my
purpose to give to the u my whole
energies and best thought is strong.
and ! have a calm confidence that our
combined efforts will bear much fruit.
In this spirit l address You.
Our first effort should be towards
an organization Of our forces-a unit
ing OF the scattered and detached ell
ements of strength into n grand edu-
cational army, whose interests are
identical, and whose work is similar.
In every enterprise, strength lies in
organization and cooperation. l in
vite you all to unite with me in this
organization.
AS a means for arresting thought
and combining men into a common
purpose, no otner can excel the con-
vention with its public discussion. 1t
is also a great educator, no matter
what the topic. County superintend-
ents would do better work II they
could meet In convention and compare
notes. BY having school boards
meet with them and participate,
they would be of mutual help, and all
would be stronger for the duties re-
CURED of them. Similarly, II teachers
could meet occasionally and discuss
the practical questions that confront
them, they would grow, and become
more efficient. Both of such meetings
would help make better schools. Our
territory is so large that 1t Is impos-
sible to have a fair representation OF
all parts at one meeting for the who'll
territory. But would 1t not be prac-
ticable to divide the territory into
three or four sections. and have the
superintendent of each section meet
once a year for one or W days dis