The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-13

would be 70 say that these are only
samples Of the ordinary political graf
ter but In this he is In error. By
inquiry, find that the writer's of both
these letters are men Of considerable
experience in teaching and are res.
pected citizens in their communities
Their misconception Of the honor and
duty OF public service, however, is
apparent. 4 little later in the cam
uaigu, received demand from the
chairman OF the county organization
OF certain county that | issue Ger.
tificates to two applicants whose pap.
ers had been declared spurious by the
board OF graders, or the organization
would slate against me. It Is true
that such threats are not always put
into effect, but the question arises,
Why should the state superintend.
ency be subjected to the exigencies Of
political campaign" Doubtless
many Of the readers of the Journal.
Educator have received copy Of a
letter from superintendent Of
schools in one OF the prominent
towns OF the state. urging that both
the state and county superintendent
should be chosen by board of edu.
cation. This is in accord with the
best educational thought Of the pre-
sent day. The difficulty, however, In
the case of the state superintendent
Is that our constitution provides that
he shall be an elective officer. How.
ever. 1t Is not possible to free this
service from some OF the handicaps
and unpleasantness which l have indi
Gated. Is 1t too much TO hope that
the leading political parties may be
brought by the influence of the teach.
ers of the state to agree upon prop
er man for superintendent even If the
understanding provides for alterna.
ton between the two parties? 1t is
matter of no little consequence, and
| sincerely hope that my successor in
Office, whoever he may be, may not be
compelled to sacrifice so much of his
time and energy in meeting political
conditions and to suffer the misrep-
reservations and to labor under the
handicap OF misinformed public sen.
timent as | have had to do in order
to render service which / have re.
garded conscientiously as sacred
call of duty.
When took up the work Of the
state superintendency. hoped to see
the rural schools better financed and
better supervised. wanted to see
the state equipped with an effective
system of high schools; wanted to
see the normal schools take up the
work OF preparing teachers for ser
vice in the rural and elementary
schools; | wanted to see the uni.
versity discontinue its preparatory
work and enlarge and strengthen its
various colleges and attain an attcn.
dance of three thousand students a
year; wanted TO see vocational and
Industrial training thoroughly estab.
lished in our secondary Schools; and
| wanted to sec all the educational
forces of the state bound together in
a strong cooperative union. The
greater part of all this has come about
and ! think il is not too much to hope
that We may realize the rest of it with.
in the next four years. and | shall
then he entirely satisfied to retire
from the service for which tho state
has given me third commission.
do not take it to be the function
Of the State Department Of Schools
to map out plans and policies and
force them upon the state. so much
rs it is to act as 4 clearinghouse
for the educational ideas of the state,
to solicit the counsel OF all teachers
and educators. to crystalize the best
sentiment Of the state into form. and
TO cooperate with every teacher and
school officer everywhere TO htc full.
est degree in making the highest pos
siDlc success Of every educational Of.