The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-03-18
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Interest in the Contest is Becoming More
Exciting,
WHO WILL BE THE PRIZE WINNEH9

mously for Him.
The first county superintendent of
public schools, in Carbon county so far
AS the writer is aware, was Mr.. r. f.
HOHOrd, now an estimable and highly
respected citizen aud president of the
First National Bank Of this town lie
was succeeded 10y Prof Thomas NJ
Ballet, now of Springfield, Mass,
where he holds "A similar position. Mr.
Ballet was succeeded by the present
incumbent, Prof T. A. Snyder, who
has devoted almost nine years TO the
development of the public school in
terests in this county, and rs he does
not believe in lie tenure of office, he
as late as last fall gave publicity
through the Mauch Chunk Democrat
that under no circumstances would he
be n candidate for reelection to this
Office. The final announcement of the
county perintendeut brought forth
a number of candidates, namely, Prof.
Traub, of Parryville: Prof. A. 5. Beisel,
of Lansford; Prof. McCabe, of Mosque
houing: Prof. w. r. Porter. of Kidder:
Prof Kidd, late of Packerton, but now
of New York state, and Prof n. NJ.
Ballet; of Normal Square 10 day but
four candidates remain. Ballet, Porter,
McCabe and Beisel, and the horoscope
pictures Ballet in the lead with Beisel
possible second, aud Porter and Nc
Cabe following in order.
In support of Mr.. Ballet, the Board
of directors of Lehighton, shortly fol
lowing his announcement rs candi-
date, passed resolutions endorsing his
candidacy and earnestly recommends
ing him to the school directors of the
county as a suitable candidate for the
very important office. Closely follow
ing the action of the LehightOn direC-
tors the school boards of MahOnmg
township also passed similar commend
atory resolutions, while promises of in.
dividual support of prominent persons
and school directors all over the Cuun-
ty come to him almost daily To this
list also, the school directors of other
districts will add their unanimous en-
dorsement. OF the four candidates in
the field Ballet gives every evidence of
the most strength, although two dis
tricts in the upper end of the county
have declared for Porter as their first
choice. OF Beisel, of Lansford, it is
said that he will be unable to control
his own board, and that, following
complimentary vote on the first ballot,
the directors will 20 to the candidate
showing up the strongest; the same is
said to be the condition of McCabe OF
Nesquehouing. Those who are on the
inside say that three ballots will result
in an election and that Porter and
McCabe will be the first to drop out,
leaving the final ballot between Ballet
and Beisel with every chance in favor
of the former. Porter's candidacy is
much weakened from the fact that he
lnnnnlFG a lfttln tna rpInaa ,f
ship, the school directors believing.and
quite rightly, that so high and so i'm
pOrtant an office should not be prosti-
tuted to so base a purpose. They are
to be strongly commended for this
stand aud in assumingit public opinion
is with them.
During the early part of this cam
paign when the candidates were only
aSpirants in embryo, "A report was put
in circulation that Prof. y. Nj. Ballet
was ineligible to this position. This
question has been settled by the Depu-
tv State Superintendent of Public In
structiOn, from whom We learn that
the essential qualifications necessary
are as follows:
(a) A diploma from a college legally author
lied Ia grant literary degrees.
% A diploma or state certificate issued 10y the
dlUUotllleN ol state nollidl NGNNoi.
Oc) A valid professional certificate issued ai
least one year prior 10 tile election,
td) \ permanent certificate
tel A certificate Of competency from the sup
erintendent ol Public Instruction.
And further that the applicant must
possess a sound moral character. OF
course this will fully settle all doubts
concerning the ineligbility of Mr., Bal
liet TO this Office.
Perhaps of the four candidates Mr.
Ballet is the one pre-emlnently quail
fled, being a young man in the vigOr
aud flush of ambition and with ability
| unquestioned. IL is already known
/ that he attended the schools of the
/ township where he lived, and that his
studies were supplemented in the Sc
| lect school at Normal Square founded
/ by his brother. He equipped himself
| sufficiently here to enable him to Sc
cure teachers certificate, aud for
/ three years he taught ia the public
schools. He then took two years
course in the Kutztown State. Normal
| School, following which he entered
| Franklin aud Marshall College, at Ian
caster, from where he graduated with
distinguished honor.
His professional career briefly stated
is AS follows: Principal of Normal In
stitute for three years; Professor of
Latin aud Greek in Palatinate college
for two years, lSSS-9O; Professor of Lat
in and and History in Ursinus College
for two years, lS9O-92. lie was also for
one year principal of the Weissport
schools Altogether he has had about
ton years experience in the school
room. 10 the public of Carbon coun-
ty Mr.. Ballet is best known as the
principal of Normal Institute. In con
nection with this Mr. Ballet had ten
dered him important high school priu-
cipalship, among the number being
one at Altoona at sl2OO. and another in
Armstrong county at sljOO per year.
From the fall of 1899 to the close of
the lest school year Mr.. Ballet was con
nected with Ursinus College as Profes'
sor Of Latin and History. A sugges.
tive commentary upon his work in this
field is the fact that, after the first
year, he WAS appointed general super.
visor of the work in the preparatory
school connected with the college, that
in addition 10 his collegiate work, and
that for two consecutive seasons he
was president of "A summer school alsC
connected with this institution Thes,
latter facts point not only TO live
progressive teaching, but 30 eNecutiv,
ility. Says one of his distinguished
co-labOrers: lie has been successful
to the highest degree; and has accom-
plished, both in and outside of TIA,
class room, what no one else has evel
q been able 10 do al this place. lie ha'
the faculty OF securing more intelli
gent work from his pupils than tn,
ordinary teacher; aud AS he Away
gains the respect aud appreciation %
his students he wields a mighty iuhu
ence for good. lie is one of the stroHg
est men in the faculty of this place
q and, as an organizer and educator hl
surely stands in the front rank"
This eloquent tribute 10 Mr. Ballie
from so able and distinguished sOurc
- is a sufficient guarantee that he is pre-
emiuently qualified to meet the re
q. spOnsibilitie5 of this important office
p The school directors of the count,
should wisely consider his candidacl
4 and give him an earnest and unani
\ nous support. His election will meal
a step ia advancement and result il
much good for the public school ,ys
Z tenn of the county We have the great
T est regard for each aud all the gentle
men aspiriuing 10 this high honor, bu
), we believe that AIR Ballet will briul
( nigh aud excellent intellectual attain
j ments 10 the office, and the school iii
reCtors Of the county will make mo- mis-
take la electing MIN
rhs election will take place Ia thl
- court house Al hauch Chunk ON Tues
+ day, May >.