Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1904-03-16
OUR SCHOOL ELECTION.

The election for school trustee is drawing near, and the selection of a good level headed citizen to fill the position, one who will follow out the same conservative policy and business system which has been pursued by the board for the past several years is i'm portant. Never in the twenty one years that the writer has resided here have the schools been so successful as during the past five or six years under the administration of Messrs. Norris, Claypool and Andrews, and during the past year with Mir. Baebr in the place formerly filled by Mir. Norris. The financial business of the school has been conducted on eco homie business principles and in the interests of the tax payers. There has been no scandal of any kind whatever attached to the business, while the corps of instructors has been kept up 10 the highest standard. No personal favoritism has been shown in the se- lection of teachers but competency and ability has been the motto of the board in making it's selections. Where teacher has been found not quite up to the high standard of proficiency re- quired, she has been allowed to drop out and new one selected no matter how popular she may have been in so- cIety.
 This is exactly as it should be and as it should continue to be. The time was when there was more or less fric- tion between the corps of teachers, or some particular teacher, and patrons of the school During the past five or six years there has been a marked ab. sence of this, and harmony has prevail ed between teachers and patrons and there has been a hearty co operation of the patrons with the corps of teach CTS.
 Of course an important factor in the success of the schools during this period of time, has been the efficiency and excellent executive ability exer- cised by Prof. B. D. Billinghurst, principal of the schools.
 No matter how brave and well drill ed an army may be, it would be in efficient in battle unless its move ments were ordered by one skilled in such matters. The same is true ol public schools. To reach the highest state of efficiency they must have at their head one who is possessed of great executive ability, no matter how skilled the teachers.
 Prescott has been extremely for tunate in this respect as Prof. Bill inghurst fills the bill to perfection, and it is important that he should be retained in the position.
 Voters who have the interests of the public schools at heart should vote for no man who is liable to disturb the present harmony existing or who would prove a trouble breeder, with the schools.
 Prescott's public schools have gain ed an excellent reputation abroad for their efficiency and thoroughness, and it would be i'll advised to elect any one who could make it possible to lower them in the estimation of the public.
 While nothing has yet appeared on the surface, there is an under current of rumor to the effect that an effort will be made to secure the election of some one who will be willing to try to overturn much of the good accom- plished during past years.
 While as stated, there are no com plaints of the efficiency of the princI- pal or teachers of the schools, or with the trustees, so far as their honesty or competency are concerned. there are those in the community who have private personal grievances, and who would be willing to sacrifice the high standard of the schools in order to avenge them. Every voter who has the welfare of the schools at heart should carefully consider this ques- tion before committing himself to any new candidate, or any one who is not willing to give 8 pledge to continue the conservative, wise and safe policy that has obtained for the past several years.