The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-03

essential considerations which is to
guide the committee on teachers and
school work in its labor to select a suit
able person to recommend to the board
for the position of superintendent of
schools. BY the adoption of this meas
ure, which was prepared by the COM
mittee, the board practically decided
that no appointment will be made for
at least two months, as the purpose is
to look the field carefully over and Sc
cure the verv best man for the place.
By the tenor Of the resolution, a Utah
man is given tt preference, all things
being equal, but the Investigations Will
in no way be confined to applicants al
ready heard from.
The resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That in recommending to
the board a suitable person for cleo
ton to the position of superintendent
of schools, this committee be guided by
the following considerations:
we realize that the practical eff
cheney of the school system of this city
depends in largest measure upon the
character, capacity and attachments of
the person who, under the board, is to
set and maintain the standard of eX-
cellence Of its work.
THE highest results can be attained
from the $50 or more teachers are oil
schools only when their labors are di-
rected by an energetic, intelligent and
trained leader. We recognize the fact
that the people of this city who at
great cost have provided for the edu-
cation of their children magnificent
modern school buildings, with furni-
ture, books and apparatus the best
that money can buy will not be con-
tent to intrust the control and man
agement of this splendid investment to
any but the most capable person who
can be found to accept the position;
and, further, that we who are charged
with the duty of selecting such a per
son viii not escape. nor ought we to
escape criticism, if by hasty and in
considerable action, or by emitting to
take the very greatest pains, we fail in
the discharge of that duty. We believe
that we should proceed in this matter
upon the same business principles and
with that elaboration and caution
which characterizes the prudent man
of affairs in private concerns to secure
for the place the very best talent which
the country affords and which our
means viii command.
The superintendent of schools of this
city should be a man in the prime of
life, say from So to 80 years of age, of
good physique and in vigorous health.
He should be a man of family. If not
already a citizen of this city he should
be prepared to remove here, make this
his permanent home and fully identify
himself with us. His private character
should be beyond possible question.
He should be a man Of culture and
refinement, of broad scholarship. of
proved administrative ability, and Well
trained in modern educational methods.
He should have that quality of leader
ship which will enable him to draw to
himself for the advancement of our
work the enthusiastic support and con-
fidence of the board. the patrons, the
teachers and the pupils.
His experience in experimenting
| schools of some magnitude should be
sufficient to give reasonable assurance
of the capacity to superintend our own.
We cannot afford experiments. he
should be a man of ideas and resources,
one who can lead US on to higher
| achievements. He should be q man
who would 'ill' the position from the
outset, and not have to grow TO 1t.
While not a mere theorist, he should
have theories of work and ideals to be
striven for. He should be a man OF
pleasing address and of business judg-
ment, having withal the saving grace
of common sense. As a guaranty of
the possession of these qualities, he
should have been able to extend his
reputation in his profession beyond the
narrow limits of his city or state.
Other things being equal, he should
be from our own neighborhood or from
the western or middle western states,
being thereby the better acquainted
with the conditions which will sur
round him. But, above all, he must be
the best man for the place. The fact
that men of the kind we need do not
abound in any community is evident.
It is Illustrated by the experience of
most cities in that they are compelled,
and do not hesitate to look far and wide
in making selections for similar posi-
tons. The whole country is not too
large, nor are the successful and avail
able school superintendent in it so
numerous as to cause us to hesitate to
lay it all under tribute to our needs.
Although we have before us some
forty applicants for the position, we feel
under no obligation to confine our in
vestigations to this list. We realize
that to do so would be 10 permit these
forty men to choose for us. rather than
erty of choice. Furthermore. we recog-
nize that school superintendent, like
other professional men, sometimes hes
itate to make formal application for po-
sitions, through fear of being deemed
| place hunters, or of causing disturb
ance in existing relations. We there
fore deem it our privilege to investi-
gate the field and, perhaps, to invite
application and the submission of Gre
dentials on the part of men presumpt-
lively qualified for the position.
I'VE therefore appoint a sub-commit-
tee of three members, whose special
duty t shall be to invite applications
from such persons as, through trust
worthy information. they may deem
worthy of consideration, at the same
time collecting, by personal interviews
and by correspondence, such informa-
ton and credentials as they may be
able. II is recommended that. particu-
lar attention be paid to soliciting fid-
vice and information from educators
and others Especially residents of this
stated. who are interested rather in our
schools than in any particular aDpli-
cant All information so gathered, to-
gether with the credentials and other
data furnished by all applicants shall
be laid before this committee and con-
sidered at q meeting TO which all men,
bers of the board shall be invited. tC
be held not later than March l, 1899
From the whole number of applicants
this committee shall select q few OF
those most favorably considered, who
shall be invited to present themselves
before the board or its members not
later than April 10. As soon as possible
after the applicants invited, or some OF
them. have appeared. this committee
shall make its report and recommends
ton to the board"
The resolution was signed by all the
five members of the committee-Critch
low. Moyle, Henderson, Young and
Nelden-and when it came up for pas
sage there was no debate and its adop-
ton was unanimous.
The subcommittee as provided for
will be named by the chairman, Mr.
Critchlow, in a day or so, and they
will then get to work.
The action of the committee on