The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-20
ONLY A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR.

lne nominee II tney are not treated right.
ONLY A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR.
What the Heads of school. ana Coll
icSes Have to Say.
To the Editor OF The Post.
Mexia, Texas. February 19.-Wc beg to
send herein excerpts from letters which
have been received recently in answer to
some questions sent to number OF coll
leges and universities. Kindly publish
same. as we believe this matter is of much
interest To the people OF Texas at this
time.
I'm answer to this question, would say
that our trustees would not consider for
moment any but professional educator
Tor the head OF Indiana university. Very
truly yours, Joseph Swain,
University OF Indiana
1T is not often that any great question
has only one side, but time has shown that
the administration Of university calls for
technical knowledge of education as loudly
as does any other business whatever.
While IL ooes not spoil university presi-
dent by any means TO be a minister. his be-
ing minister in no way qualities him for
such a vocation. When it is remembered
that Presidents Gilman, Eliot. Angel,
.NOIt0Iup, tdNllelu. harper, SNOW,
Mclean, Kellogg and Jorden are not oler-
gymen, it will naturally be inferred that
the time has passed for regarding doctor
of divinity as necessarily we'll qualified for
The administration Of educational affairs.
Presidents Dwight OF Yale and Patton of
Princeton are clergymen, II Is true, but
they had been connected with institutions
for many years before they were advanced
to their present positions. l should my
sol nc hat a M a
sional lawyer Is as we'll qualified TO do
law business as TO say that man not
professional educator can as Well conduct
the affairs of a university as man who
has such professional advantage. This Is
one of the questions that in my opinion has
not two sides. Very respectfully yours.
&C. X. Adams.
University OF Wisconsin"
"Other things being equal, the profess
sional educator is the best man and the
one most likely to succeed. Because a
farmer is good politician it is no reason
why his friends should place him at the
head OF State college or university. He
has not been trained for II and can not sue
ceed man who has given his early
wears TO some line or work not educational
has no business aspiring to run college
1t needs special training. which several ue-
cades of political scheming and wire pull
ing can not supply. OF course, far~,er or
artisan with large fund of tact and com
mon sense may succeed much better than
the professional educator who las none G.
either, hence | uegan with The statement
other things being equal" The training
OF college president should be broad ana
liberal 1t is well that he should know
"a little OF everything" specialist, In
the narrow sense. makes p0Dr president
as he Is likely TO magnify his own spe-
ciality. lie ought TO possess good executive
ability. but il Is essential al the same time
that he should have broad and accurat,
view OF pedagogical principles and the
highest ideals as 10 what constitutes true
education. To have all this, he must have,
however he came by II. professional
trstning. When the selection OF presidents.
professors aud all others who arc engaged
in professional work, shall be done on
ligh ethical and professional basis me
fruits will be seen IN stronger and hoblsF
citizenship, and when reduced 10 the last
ANALYSIS that is the end o. all education
am sincerely yours, James Ne'd'
Montana College Of Agricultural ana Me-
chsnical Arts"
II may be permitted TO say. however,
that 1t hrs been my lIfe.ong observation
that experienced teachers are the only men
WHO as rule, do succesd as college pres
iacf,.s. For Ike reason coopsTs usually
make the best bcrrels, and blackamlthj
shoe horses best. Yours very respectfully.
Lewis McLonth.
late President South Dakota Agricultural
College"
"rhese men we're all educators before
taking up their work here. Such beins The
case. Il Is unnecessary that should an
swer your third question. Very truly your,
III A. Iiutchirs.
Acting President University Of Michi-
gan"
.ln reply to your letter OF January IL.
i beg to say that all the presidents OF Per-
due have teen professional educators. 20
lint a comparison rs requested would be
impossible Very .ruly Yours.
-. II. Smart.
"Perdue University.
..As there hzs been but one president, no
can be given. There II 20