The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-29

peka pays 81, 500 a year.
Mr.. Davidson will succeed Carroll S.
Pearse, who has resigned the superin-
tendency at Omaha to become super
intendent of the public schools of Mil
waukee.
The Omaha board invited Mr.. David
son some weeks ago to be a candidate
and he declined. However, his name
was presented to the Omaha board at
the meeting last night and he was un-
animously elected over q other candi-
dates. The term is until August 1, 1895.
Mr.. Davidson was notified last night
by telephone by the president of the
Omaha beard that he had been chosen
unanimously.
The selection of Mr.. Davidson by tie
Omaha board comes as a surprise to
Mr.. Davidson himself as we'll as to the
Topeka board of education. At the
meeting of the board in February it
was decided that a committee should
go before the legislature at the next
session and ask that law making the
term of office of a superintendent in a
city of the first class longer than for
one year.
responsible for the public school sys-
tenn in Topeka reaching its preSe 1T
high standing. The boards of educa
tion in Topeka have always been in
sympathy with his ideas for ADVANCING
the efficiency of the schools. Under his
superintendency the teaching force
has been improved and salaries have
been increased; the buildings ana
equipment have been bettered and the
attendance has grown.
When Mr.. Davidson was chosen as
superintendent of the Topeka schools
he was taken from the position he held
as principal of Lincoln school. The
idea of the present board is that one
of the Topeka principals, if one be
found available, be elected to the posi-
ton. When Mr.. Davidson was electea
the salary of the position was 81, 500
The salary has been increased to 81, ,1O(
but it is likely that the board, being
short of funds, will not feel that To
peka can compete with the salary OIL
fered by Omaha.
f. M. Mallory, president of the board
of education said today: Il regret that
Mr. Davidson is to leave Topeka He is
valuable man to Topeka and we Will
have difficulty in filling his place.
don't know what the board will do.
presume we will either have to call a
Special meeting or fill the place by elect
ing successor at the meeting Monday
| night.
said: IF Mr.. Davidson is worth s., ,6Ol
| to Omaha he is worth that to Topeka
The board and the schools can i'll afford
to lose the services of Mr.. Davidson II
| is simply a business proposition with
him and he cannot decline position
with so much more salary
c. c.. Nicholson, member from Nortf
Topeka. said: "If Mr.. Davidson is
worth So, 900 a year to Omaha, where he
has never been engaged in school work
| then he is certainly worth no less thar
that to Topeka where he has worked fol
years, where he has raised the standard
| of the schools above even his hopes
when he began, where he has given the
best part of his, life to the work. Oma-
ha, much larger city than Topeka
sees his value. AS a. member of the
board Of education I would vote to keel
Mr. Davidson here if he will stay. We
have buildings going up and work con
/ templated which Mr.. Davidson is thor
| oughly familiar with. We need hin
here The reputation OF the Topeka
schools extends all over the country
Many people move to Topeka to max.
their homes and send their children t.
school here. Not long ago a commits
4 sion from England visited the Topeka
schools and praised the system as be
ing one of the best they had seen il
| the country. Topeka wishes to be al
| educational center even more than a
present The high standard of the pub
lIic schools has much to do with To