American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-09-17
FROM A QUALIFIED STANDPOINT
Suggestions 10 the Voters in Consid.
ering the Qualifications Of their
County Superintendent.

Being an educated" person does not
mean that one Is an educator" MANY
a man or wOman Is learned. il well in
formed on all topics OF the dav. has
spent a lifetime in study and vet has
none of the qualifications Of an educa-
tor, a teacher. Well. perhaps We
should not say none for every
teacher must be educated-we assume
that she is OF she would not aspire 10
teach. II is not always the one who
talks most who is best informed. But
there are other requirements Just as
essential as an education and which
are far harder to gain.
We must consider not only educa-
ton. but personality. love for the
work, ability to govern, and health
Practically the same qualifications are
necessary for the county superintend-
ent as for the teacher. only they are
even more important for the superin-
tendent deals not only with boys and
girls but with the teachers as we'll
She has general supervision over all
the schools of the county. If she is
unable to work in cooperation with
the teachers, if she is incapable Of
telling a good teacher from a poor one.
how are we 10 secure efficient teachers
in our county?
We believe that the most necessary
requisite for both county s~uperintend-
ent and teachers is a genuine love for
the work. a real interest in the well
fare Of boys and girls. An educator
who dislikes her work or her pupils.
one who does not care whether her
pupils like her or NOT" is sure 10 fail
Then let us secure the leader with a
pleasing personality. the one who en-
ters the school room smiling and
makes the teachers and pupils feel
that school is home" nor Jail" BOYS
and girls detect the difference between
a real and an assumed interest.
OF course the good teacher must De
able to govern. She may BE- ever so
wise in books. but if she fails in this.
her work is not a success. The good
county superintendent must be able
to advise and help the teachers in this
respect without giving onense. She
must not seem TO know il ALL" Only
a real leader can do this: if she has
met and conquered the problems of
discipline herself, then she can help
the timid teacher who is only begin
ming and doesn't know what to do. A
wise suggestion may be sufficient TO
put to rights a system that is all
wrong.
BY discipline we do not mean force.
sheer physical power which compels
a boy or girl to obey. We mean thai
hidden something. a dignity. a subtle
power in ones personality which
makes the child know the leader and
instinctively wan to obey. Great
leaders and discipliuariaus without ei-
fort gain the obedience of ,heir follow
ers and pupils. Why is il thar some
teachers are constantly scolding and
nagging and the room is always in
confusion. while with others there is
no effort TO secure order. Just a glance
"a smile even. and the uuruly boy or
girl begins work
We have added one other qualihca-
tion which is often entirely disregard
ed. The school room is no place for
a sick person, teacher or pupil. If the
teacher is i'll. she is irritable and the
schools must be visited and there are
pupils have TO tolerate her Impotence
when she should be al home. The diff
fculties OF the county superintendent
office require even better health. for
too many OF them to depend only on
fair weather. Long drives. rough
weather, frequent u~nfavorable condi-
tons require a county superintendent
with good health.
And of course. a county superin-
tendent must be honest and conscient-
ious i'm her work. The county pays
for her time-only she herself knows
whether she gives that time honestly
10 the county.
We expect the voters to become ae-
Quainted with the candidates for Of
nee and inquire as to their fitness for
the positions. Only by so doing can
We have good government.
CLARA B. POWELSON.
Progressive Candidate for County
Superintendent.