St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-06
WILL SMITH COME :?
School Inspectors Practically
Decide on Prof. Carman's
Successor.
His Name Is A. j. Smith, and
He Resides at Sedalia, in
Missouri.
Inspector Willrich Proposes
the Missourian and No.
One Objects.
Two Local Applicants Are
Passed Up--Supt. Gil
bert's Report.

TIC INSTITUTIONS OF Tie S6dles tlo HIGH
comes from abroad.
A protracted and somewhat drastic
meeting of the committee on high and
manual training school, in which all
present participated with considerable
zest, was held yesterday: and, upon the
board proper coming to order, Inspector
WiIlrich placed in nomination Prof. A.
j. Smith, of SedaIa, Mo.
Prof. Carman, it is said, was peremp-
tory in his position, and he has refused
to permit consideration of his name ir
connection with the position. He holds
that he could not continue with that de-
gree of respect that he holds tran
scendental principle in the conduct of a
school of the Importance of the st, Paul
high school. His methods are thought
to be in conflict with the ideas of the
superintendent, although this is stontly
denied by several who are familiar with
all the facts and circumstances that
have led to the withdrawal of Prof. Car
man. 1t is positively known that the
board of education was divided upon
the subject. Three OF the members
were
In Favor OF Change
in the principalship. and four were
staunch for the retention of Prof. Car
man. One of the latter's partisans has
withdrawn from the board, and that left
the thing tie, Hence. apparently, the
easiest way out of the difficulty was to
select new man, especially as it was
exceedingly doubtful if Prof. Carman
would serve, even if reelected.
1t transpires that there were only two
resident applicants for the position.
They have already been named by the
GLOBE. Prof. Weitbrecht and Prof.
Bryant, the former the present assistant
at the high school, and the other the
principal at the Humboldt school, did
apply, and they each made strong APP
peals. Coming from abroad, however,
were host of applications. They are
said to number several of the leading
educators of the Eastern cities and sew
eral superintendent and principals
that are now engaged i'll the work.
Some of these applications have anus
ing features connected with them III
the manner OF making the application.
For illustration, photographs OF them
selves were sent by the aspirants, to-
gether with fulSome recommendations
Of the committee OH high and manual
training school, placed Prof. Smith IN
nomination, there was no mention
of a rival candidate. Still, the election
was postponed until the next meeting
of the board, which will be held at $3.50
Monday afternoon. This course was
taken or motion of Inspector O'Brien.
Prof. Smith is highly recommended
by the educators of Sedalia, and also by
the county and city superintendent of
Missouri and Illinois. He has been a
teacher, and is now occupying the posi-
ton of superintendent of the schools OF
Sedalia. He has also served IN the edu-
cational field in several important
capacities. There is said TO be no doubt
about his election Monday. 1t is not
likely, however, that he will come to st.
Paul for several weeks, as this is the
annual vacation time.
DiIatory in Gathering.
The board was unusually late in be-
ginning its session. and this is saying a
great deal. for it is mighty seldom that
the board is called to order at the spec
fled hour. The meeting was called
for o'clock, and it was fifteen minutes
to when the roll was caileu.
After the presentation of several I'M
important petitions and communica-
tons, the superintendent submitted his
annual report. This was finally re-
ferred to the chairGen of the respective
committees on schools and supplies to
be printed, and the president of the
board was added. This precaution was
taken for the reason that was expressed
by Dr.. Smith, that the report goes to
the public as what the board has to say
of its guardianship during its tenure in
81, oiaI ,itrf
carefully revise the report, and then it
will be published.
The superintendent began by assert
ing that year ago he outlined the
policy that was adopted by the board,
and then he assured that this policy had
been pursued Systematically and with
good average results"
"a year ago." says the report, "a
| principle, unfortunately somewhat
new here and quite unknown in many
| other places. was definitely established.
| Thes was that incompetent teachers,
even if they had for a long time fat
| tened at the expense of the public, not
only should. but could be discharged
| in spite of
Unworthy Influences.
| and also in spite of the well meant, but
misguided efforts of kindly people
whose sympathies are usually with the
| one unfortunate teacher rather than
with the forty unfortunate children
unless their own happen to be i'll the
number.
'This principle, established bya former
board, your honorable body has empha.
sized by still further Illustrations
| Nothing that board of education can
do bears such intimate relation to the
| excellence OF a school system as the
principle which it adopts for the ap-
| pointment of teachers. No school sys
| tenn will ever achieve the bestresult:
until the appointing power consistently
| and persiStently follows the principle
that efficiency alone, judged according
to the best available standards and by
the best expert authority, shall deter
| mine either the appointment or the re
| tention Of teachers.
This does not necessarily mean that {
board should be harsh or radical il
dealing with old teachers. After rid.
ding a system of the least hopeful, anC
especially of those who, relying upor
their political influence for their posi-
tionS, are unwilling to do their best
there are better and less painful way
of improving the teaching force; and
trust that in the future it will seldom
be necessary, except in cases of proba
tionary teachers, to use the SevereS
remedies in the schools of st. Paul"
Care in Selections.
The SUPERINTENDENT then concede
that it is usually better to improve til
teacher than to replace her. 1t is rec
commended that the appointment Of GU
teachers be done with the greatest care
1t is held that the plan of accepting
college diplomas III lieu of the usual eS
animation is step in the right direc
ton. The system of teachers trainin
school is commended in enthusiast
terms, and it is recommended as pei
manent branch of the schools. Th
support of the normal school by city
pronounced an illogical necessity, fC