The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-12-17

~ n iS out ILItle more tHhu year
~ since the passage OF the Curtis
bill by congress made public
schools q possibility in the cities
and large towns in the Indian Ter
ritory. gt1
Immediately after the passage OF
this important bill. the friends Of
free schools in Ardmorel began to
agitate the subject, and on Jan.
26, 1899, a vote was taken to as
certain the will of the people on
the momeatous question. The re-
suit of the election showed a major
ity of thirty-fve votes favoring free
schools. Many who are in favor of
public schools felt that the resources
of our youthful city were greatly
taxed in her development and that
the introduction of free schools was
ill.timed. However, this opposi-
ton cheerfully yielded to the ma
jority and joined shoulder to shoul-
der with them in the effort to place
the schools on a strong and safe
basis.
On the day that the vote for pub
lie schools was taken school board
was elected, consisting of six of
Ardmore's best citizens.
Never before was q school board
confronted with so serious obsta-
cles as those which loomed up be
fore this little band ef earnest, de-
termined men, and never did public
servants more faithfully discharge
onerous duties and grave respon-
siblities. Their wisdom and good
Judgment was almost omniscient in
their first decisive action when
they elected j. r. Hendrix of Plano,
Texas, superintendent of the city
schools.
As the superintendent. so will
the schools be. A loose, unsys-
tematic, dragging superintendent
will make loose. unsystematic.
dragging teachers and pupils. The
vigor, strength and energy which
Superintendent Hendrix threw in
to the schools at the first, started
its sluggish life into activity. Re-
fined in feeling, scholarly in attain
ments, vigorous in action, expert
enced in his profession. a thorough
going business man, making his
school his business and conducting
it ON business principles, he has
been invaluable to the school board
in organizing and systematizing
the schools.
Few of those who are today en-
joying the privileges of first class
graded school in Ardmore ever
dream of the amount Of thought and
labor which our faithful board and
superintendent have given to our
schools. Through the long hot
days of July and August they drove
over the city examining every de
tail of the field oc their future oper-
atoms. While all of Ardmore
we're seeking rest in the cooling
shadows of nights grateful curtain |
,hese consecrated men were burn
ng the midnight oil in deep delib.
.ration over the perplexing prob
ems that were continually thrust
lpon them for solution. Their po-
ition was unique. An immensely
,ostly system was to be put into
operation and not a cent of money
or expenditures. There was no
precedent by which they might be
,uided; no data could be Cleaned
rom the experiences of others from
which they might draw differences
or none other was ever placed in
uch situation, but like the sea-
nen on the pathless waters without
chart, or landsmen blazing their
Tay through dense forests without
compass. these men slowly, care
ully. inch by inch, step by step,
plans of action and a
magnificent school system slowly
'ut surely began to develop-totake
hape; its outlines became more
learly defined day by day. AT last