Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-08-07
ELECTORS
MIR. HIGGINS RETIREMENT.

The people of Montgomery county lose
the services of very earnest and capable
public servant in the retirement Of Mr.. John
j. Higgins from the position of School Ex
aminer and Secretary of the Board OF School
Commissioners During his incumbency Of
the Office Mr.. Higgins has endeared himself
to all persons who held official relations with
him, and has justly earned the confidence
and regard of the entire community for his
painstaking and careful performance OF his
official duties. He carries with him into
future fields of usefulness the good will Of
hosts of friends.
The retirement of such an officer would
be, under any circumstances, a source Of
deep regret. In the present instance, the
feeling of regret is deepened by sense Of
humiliation when we reflect that so worthy
and straightforward a gentleman has been
made the victim of vindictive factional
spirit, and that the public schools of the
county have been brought under the control
OF party politics. The new Board of Com
missioners thus enters upon its career under
a cloud of suspicion which could have been
easily and happily avoided, and which may
seriously impair its usefulness to the public
whom it should have been its first duty to
serve.
Perhaps they may do better in the future,
and we heartily commend to them the fol.
lowing warning from the Baltimore SIN, Of
Tuesday last. II il was unheeded in their
first act, it may still furnish a safe guide for
their future conduct:
'"It is a self-evident proposition that the
efficiency and responsibility Of any system
of public education depends largely upon
its being conducted along non partisan lines
and the retention in the offices of men and
women of experience and tried ability and
faithiulness, who have given proof of knowl-
edge OF the numberless details required for
the beneficial performance of the duties Of
the positions. This Is the only guarantee
of orderly progress in our educational meth.
DDS and OF care and economy in the man
agement of the large sums of money appro-
priated for the maintenance of the public
schools of the State.
To. day the boards of school commission
ers in the several counties of the State will
be recognized. A number of old commis-
sioners will retire and new ones will take
their places In most instances the boards
will still be composed of a majority of Dem
ocrats. 1t is natural, no doubt, that with a
change in the personnel of the boards of
commissioners aspirants for the position of
secretary and examiner should crop up, each
having more or less of political backing
1t appears, indeed, that in some of the coun.
ties the local politicians are making efforts
to dispiace examiners who have devoted
years OF faithful service to the cause of pub
lie education, for no other reason, apparent
ly than that they have not always assisted
the dominant faction in carrying out its
schemes for political supremacy. The com
missioners should be on their guard here.
Recently the State Board Of Education, a
body composed OF Republicans, retained the
head of the State Normal School, who is of
opposite politics, solely upon the ground Of
his capacity to fill the position. Will the
Democratic county school commissioners
show a less enlightened spiritP Will they
exhibit partisan prejudice by turning down
men Of their own party, and of proved ca.
patity and integrity, because they happened
TO differ from them in some primary cleo.
ton contest? Shall il be said that Republi.
cans possess a higher and broader patriot
ism, more liberal and disinterested rule OF
fficial conduct than Democrats
We are 10th 10 believe this of men who
have been thorght worthy to fill positions
Of SO much responsibility. The results oil
their action in these matters are far reach.
ing aud enduring for good OF evil. 1t is to
be hoppe that they will realize this in the
oIganlzaion of their boards, that the de-
mands OF citizenship will be heard above
the clamor of politicians, and that the pub.
lie schools of the State will be saved IRON
the reproach Of partisan or factional admin,
istFation."