Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-07
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
Fine Timber in Prof. ]. W. Rust,
Of Hopkinsville, the Active
and Distinguished Ed
uoator,
Henderson Gleaner.l

Henderson Gleaner.l
The office ofsuperintendent of pub
ic instruction requires for the sue
essful discharge of its duties a man
If practical sense, business sagacity,
executive ability and of broad, COM
Drehensive views of the aims and APP
plication of educational system. With
our large school per capita, it is Ia
that we have such a defect
i've system of common schools. The
trouble is there has never been had a
clear view Of our educational wants
and necessities. We need at the
head of our common school system
man who knows Kentucky and Ken
tuckians, who knows the demands of
the hour, who has an intuitive con-
ception of and the executive ability
to apply the remedial agencies. This
is no time for experimenting with
nice theories. We want man who
knows what to do, how TO do it and
who will do it and who will do it
quick. Such a man is Prof. j. w.
Rust, of Hopkinsville. lie is literal
ly all educator from "way back"
He was born in Logan county, Feb,
IA, 1919. The first fifteen years of
his life were spent on a farm. Early
in life the ambition to be and TO do
something became manifested in him.
A few months at a time in school,
studying half-worn text books by the
dim light of the old log fire after the
days work was done; catching a
point here and there and gathering
inspiration from his very obscurity
at first simple teacher in the old
field school, then a wanderer with
out friends or money and only a
smattering of grammar and arithme-
tic with which to keep soul and body
together; another decade and he is at
the head of an academy, then the
president of a college, and now, ripe
with experience and honor, he is
contributing the wisdom of his life
to the cause of education. Only thir-
teen months did he receive instruc-
ton, over fifty years has he been an
instructor. One college and two uni
versities have conferred honorary de-
grees upon him who never entered a
college until called on to preside over
one. Such a man, we say, knows
experimentally the educational status
of Kentucky. He has watched oul
development along this line with the
keen eye of a practical observer fol
over fifty years. lie knows what ed
ucation is as few men know. lie il
not burdened with the chimerica
schemes of theoretical educators. HI
sees what the masses need and hi
experience furnishes the wisdom tt
supply promptly the demand. lie i
to education in Kentucky what Dan
lei Boone was to pioneer life, and Pc
ter Cartwright 10 early christianity
He is the man to take hold of AM
manage our common schools. Ii
can do right al the work and will d
it ina quick, common sense way
The reform we need is less red tap
and more plain, common sense work
Prof. Rust has received the mos
complimentary solicitations to max
| the race. From all parts of the stat
g his friends most earnestly have al
! pealed to him to enter the contes
II but, so far as we know, he has nevC
f intimated his intention or dcsir
4 This is one of The cases in which Il
n coffee should seek the man." and
e we read the signs Alright there is
regular ground-swell for Prot. Rus
Should he intimate, his intention
i running, it is doubtful if his nomin
Il ton could be headed of. lie is pr
n iminently man for the people, SUI
[. a man as could take hold of popul
o education in Kentucky and push
!. TO the highest possible standard
}. the shortest possible time.