Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-10-12
OF INTEREST To- SCHOOLS

literally trained professionally, quick
to detect valuable personalities, tact
fully progressive and agressive-an
outstanding figure whose life and
presence shall be as magnet to draw
up tie lives Ct our boys and girls to 3
higher plane of action"
Our citizenship is excellent and is
improving from year to year. How
ever, it can be truthfully asserted
that the average voter is sufficiently
thoughtful II that he is prepared by
training to choose man who must
possess these qualifications? A happy
manner, plant disposition, willing
ness 10 promise all things to all men
will Prove more potent agencies in
securing votes than all those splendid
qualities set down by DR.. Dunn. Can
it not be shown by reference to per-
sonal instances running into hundreds
that the. possession of these very
items of fitness has been the politi-
..cal undoing of many an earnest and
progressive county superintendent in
this State? A moments thought
will convince any observer that this
question must be answered in the af-
firmative.
/; Then, what is the matter and how
shall the remedy be found and APP
Piled? Nothing perfect exists under
the sun any more than anything new,
but there is plan which the teachers
of our state have adjudged an i'm
provement over the present method.
Here it is: There shall be appointed a
County Board of Education consisting
of five members, one from each sup
ervisor's district, to be elected by the
people, so chosen that one member
shall go out of Office each year, the
duty of said board to be the selection
of county superintendent of educa-
ton from list of qualified men and
women who have secured certificates
of fitness from the State Board of
Education.
i 1t will be said that there is still
remaining in this plan the objection
able feature resulting from the pres
ence of political log rolling. 1t is re-
gretable that this cannot be COM
pletely eliminated, but, since it cannot,
a mitigation of the nuisance must be
accepted as better than conditions
now obtaining.
1t is obvious that a keener sense
of responsibility can be aroused in five
men than can be done in five thousand.
Failure to select efficient men will re-
act upon these five men with force
that must prove bar to trifling.
Those who doubt this are referred to-
the many school boards which have
been operating all over the state for
many years. What, on the average
has been the result of their activi-
ties? Unquestionably communities
thus served have found capable men
to place at the heads of their schools.
These boards have not been forced
to limit their quest for a fit man to
their own county nor to their own
state; they have gone wherever it was
necessary to go in order to find a
man who could put over the job.
It is most earnestly to be hoped
that the people Of Mississippi, when
they come to elect representatives
to the State Legislature, will i'm.
press upon them the Importance Of
effecting this cange in our statue ane
organic law. The fact may not b
escaped that the county superintendent
is the most important factor in tn,
school development of our state
Since this is true, he should be
/. person whose selection is not left t
chance. On the other hand he shoul'
be person selected by capable an