The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-16

There are different ways of expressing
the will Of the people. Dine is by mass
meeting-pureIy democratic; the 9TH
er Is by delegated powers. You, gen.
tlemel, at the present time hold the
delegated powers of your constituents
We who have given you these powers
must stand by and look on-just as
we ought to do.
/ am laboring for the interests Oh
the rural schools. Nearly all cit
les have good schools. We may justly
feel much qualification at their stand
ing. In these, the superintendent is
the most important factor in their
How is he elected? DO the.
people elect him as they elect their
other city officers? They do not. The
very idea of such a proceeding is pre-
posterous and repulsive to every tho't-
full citizen.
Well, if they do not elect him by
popular vote, why not? Simply be-
cause experience has shown that this
is not a good way. Consequently the
people have delegated their powers
to a board of Education, a small body
Of men in whom they have confidence.
When a city needs a superintendent,
what oes the Board do? 1t searches
the country over. Often many appli-
cations are received. The Board dis
cusses the respective merits with on
ly one purpose in view-the obtaining
of the very best to be had for the mo-
ney it can pay. Like a jury in an i'm
portant case it renders it's verdict.
but if a mistake is made the same
body has the power to correct it.
If anything can be said bout the
City superintendent, his Importance
to rural schools, his relations to the
teachers and students, it has not been
suggested to my mind. OF the two.
I think the County Superintendent is
the more important. Now, in all sim
cerity, l ask the question: "lf the on
ly satisfactory way yet found to Sc
Iect a City superintendent is by a
Board to whom the people have dele
gated their powers, and if that way
is universally used throughout the
United States and is giving satisfac-
tory results, who IA give any good
why the same plan should not
be used in selecting the County su-
perintendent?"
In some States the selection is
made by the State Board of Education
in others there exists a County Board
Education, elected by the people,
and this Board selects a County Su-
perintendent. 1 am favorable to a
county organization and a County
Board of Education, but New Mexico
has no such organization. Therefore.
| can think of no better way for the
present than to entrust this RESPONSE
bility to the Territorial Board of Edu-
cation-a representative body of cool
headed, honest men. All l am after
is to get competent superintendent.
l shall not contend for any special
plan if results can be obtained.
Educational organization in New
is in its formative state. We
hofC IhC plAHACSC VI ouOPLAh6 oi ina
the older commemorative have found
to be the best. Why lot step to the
at once with VIVA all have eth
er attained to or are clamoring for?
US jump to the head of the pro-
In all this matter | have no inter
est beyond that of an interested citi-
.en. I am intensely interested in the
of education in New Mexico. I
I'm retiring from the more arduous
services of the work. In the practic-
Il business of education l have spent
more than fifty years, the las twenty
of which have been given. as
feel colscientiously to New Mexico;
if l could see some OF the advanc
I'd ideas concerning education indoors
ed by the people of New Mexico, 1
should not fee that my past labor
have been entirely %unfruitful.
The professional teachers of New
are a Woodworking, conscien-
body of mel and women They
dearly love the cause of education.
They are a unit in desiring for leaders
in their work, men of such character
and professional ability taat they can
look up to them with hon
or and respect. AS their profession
is elevated and diglifed they feel a
corresponding ambition to honor and
dignity their profession. Therefore.
gentlemen, on their behalf l most earn
estly beseech you to give to education
interests your best and wisest
Very respectfully,
HIRAM HADLEY.