The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-29
MANUAL TRAINING PRINCIPAL.

MANUAb IhAlNINd fhINClfAL.
The nominating committee will COM
mend to the full board of the school COM
mittee Mr.. HOMER p. LEWIS of Omaha,
Neb., for principal OF the Manual Training
School Of the city OF Providence.
Very likely Mr.. LEWIS may be qualified
tor the position, although his experience
has been limited to a manual training
department OF but small proportions that
enlisted only about one hundred Of the
thousand pupils that were all under his
direction as principal of the Omaha High
School. In other words, there is no more
reason to believe that he is especially fitted
to conduct a manual training school than
to take chair in mathematics at a univer-
sity or the chief position in any of the lines
Of work that he covers so well as the head
OF school that includes many branches
of learning. But we cannot demand the
most experienced qualifications for our
Manual Training School, which is yet in
its infancy, at the salary which the posi-
tior OF principal can now command. All
that we can ask for is an earnest, enthusi-
astic man whose experience, so far as he
may have had any, may indicate an apti-
tude for developing our Providence insti-
tuition, and whose known abilities as
master and worker may warrant the
belief that the principal shall keep always
ahead OF the school whose interests he is
promoting. Very likely Mr.. LEWIS may
be this sort Of man. We have no doubt
there are hundreds of brighter fellows all
ever the country who would be able to |
make splendid records for themselves and |
the school II they were given this oppor.
tunity.
But why should the school committee
go SO far afield In search OF the desired
talent, when man eminently eligible is
to be found right at home, a man who is
q product Of our own school system, and
the system is as fine system as there is
anywhere, and indeed, is constantly
being drawn upon for teachers by the
school boards OF other cities, who take
our trained people away from us and
promote them? Why shouldn't we avail
OF the ability that we have
trained, and at the same time let Il be
xnown that the City of Providence rec.
ognizes the good material In its school
organization, and that fitness is rewarded
by promotion?
We hesitate to write Of this, because we
have good deal OF faith in the sound
Judgment OF the school committee OF the
City OF Providence, and we would not
De understood as doubling that they viii
exercise that sound judgment in this i'm
portsnt matter. But we think the
people at large feel the sentiment here
expressed, and we want to voice that
'entiment 1t is wholesome sentiment
)ther things being equal, home talent ,
hould have precedence. There being
10 question that there is a man in
Providence fit for the position, he should
have It, even though someone from
broad may be just as eligible. Few of
IS In this world can claim monopoly 9
u talent, and we have no doubt there I
re men as well qualified as the man ,
rom Providence-only We happen TO be ]
ure OF the qualifications OF the man from
Providence. because We have his record r
light at hand, and the school committee I
ave personal knowledge OF IL. .
We refer, OF course, TO Mr. GEORGE +. c