Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-05-10
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

GUS pen.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
Editor Herald:
There are those who have deserved
not to enter into the school controver-
sies, because such Issues do harm,
leave scars and injure the very cause.
which all wish to further, namely, the
best interest OF the pupils themselves.
But, feeling begets feeling and
charges thrown out are apt to give
back resentment. Mr.. Gould has
friends. He has enemies. Every
man has enemies. No man is per-
feet; and perfection should not be
expected. That Mr. Gould has made
superintendent much above the av-
erage his enemies must concede. But
the board saw At to propose a
was charged. Petitions were circu-
lated. Feeling is rioting. Incautious
tongues say one thing. but what per
haps would an impartial judge say in
summing UP what has happened? 1t
is probable that this would be his
language: The school board, com
posed Of high-mlnded men, actuated
by what seemed to them best for the
well-being of the schools which were
In their charge, deemed 1t for that
best interest to select a certain tried
and well known teacher as superin-
tendent of schools for the ensuing
year This decision, displacing the
ed manly and just to give that super
intendent quietly notice of that pro-
posed change and with due precaution
as to secrecy this notice was given.
The publicity. the charges of spite
work. the petitions and the feeling
with which we are familiar, followed,
Whence 1t emanated matters not.
The question remains: was this ac-
ton Of the board well considered,
wise, and for the best interest Of the
schools? II II was not 1t should be
reconsidered, as it is right that the
school board as Just men should
weigh well all conditions before final
oSNohs Dut Al Shhl dSNioh hdS bSCh
well considered and is for that best
interest, 1t should be borne In mind
that petitions count for but little;
that some Jealous friend may ap-
poach a hundred people and say:
Here. Mr.. Smith, / want you to keep
me out. Mrs. Brown is getting In her
spite work on Mr.. John Doe and
want you to sign this to have him re-
tained," and the chances are that to
please that jealous friend or from In.
difference or inability to say no, 80
will sign, and possibly not 10 will
mean 1t earnestly. Therefore, such
petitions should be weighed. as they
are known to count, and the action
Of the board should stand or fall, not
on such evidence, but on its merits.
Was the action right? II 1t was that
and not petitions should control, and
II It was the board should stand like
rock.
Now, a word as to the one whom
the board is said to have selected.
1t had been raining: the school
grounds were mass of mud. A lit
tie girl was making her way to the
High school. She stuck; the mud
sucked off her overshoes. Mr.. Smil-
ey saw 1t. He ran to the little one,
bore her tenderly to the sidewalk.
He went back. dug out her oversnoes,
| scraped them on, sat down by her
and put them on. This little act of
sympathy is the keynote OF the man.
He feels for others. He is firm and
just.His scholars are devoted to
him. Perfect order reigns In his
room. Love. not fear. controls. and
the quick intuition of the child sees
that master hand is in charge. In
questions arising between pupil and
teacher and parent, he sees both
sides, is courteous and absolutely
just. AS principal of the High school
1t is to his efforts that is due the high
standing which that branch has at
tained. II our school board selects
such a man as superintendent, should
not the parents OF children say, Well
done7
These words will surprise NO one
more than the jealous, tireless, un-
selfish worker to whom they refer.
1t is good deed done in secret to
be found out by accident At best
the world Ii cold enough. In the
plastic stages Of childhood sunshine
and sympathy az well as firmness and
tact express themselves to last. De-
crying no one, let us plead for our
children. Give us this man. this man
with the heart Of 4 woman.
A FATHER.