Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-13
LEAVE POLITICS
OUT Of SCHOOLS
Advocated by Supe-
rintendent Hiram
Hadley.
nrur n,,1 n,nnII An irrrrn
SENT OUT CIRCULAR LETTER
To People of Territory Urg-
ing Them to Secure non.
Partisan Men.

Believing that to attain the best re
suits in the educational work of the
Territory, County Superintendent!
should be chosen on their merits rath
er than for political reasons. Professor
Hiram Hadley, Superintendent of pub
lie instruction is making an effort tc
better conditions. With view tc
reaching as many of the people In
terested in educational matters, in the
Territory as possible, he recently Is
sued the following letter, 1000 copies
OF which are being sent to all parts
OF New Mexico:
To the Friends of Education in New
Mexico:
IL Is impossible for me to meet
many of you personally. | believe
feel an honest interest in the educa.
tlon of the youth of New Mexico.
nave some things to say that think
are worth saying, and know of M
way to present them except by the
printed letter This is my apology for
addressing you in this manner. shall
attempt to be brief.
Shows Advantages of Education.
were 1t necessary | could convince
you that no other interest in New
Mexico is equal in Importance to that
OF education. The genuine success
your children will attain in life,
will depend upon the amount
and kind Of education thew re.
celve. The ignorant man is the ser.
want OF those who are better ed,lca.
TED than he is. He initiates nothing
From imitation alone he does what he
is told to do and there his powers end
with little trouble I could introduce
you TO several native young men who
are filling responsible and honorable
positions and are receiving from ST..
oo0.0O to $2,50000 per year, simply
because of the education they possess
Iheir boyhood companions who are
not educated, are working at haro
manual labor (when they find omploy.
nent) at about one dollar per day.
How do you wish it to bes with your
noy when he becomes d man? You
must choose, Nobody will dictate to
you.
AS election time is near at hand |
wish to speak to you about the County
Superintendent and | wish it distinct.
iy understood that I am not CRITICS.
ing anything of the past. or finding
'pny fault with the services of any
county superintendent. For small
compensation, they have much work
TO do, and many of them have been
very faithful. | am simply looking to
the future and hoping that in every
respect our educational interests shall
not only hold their present status but
steadily advance.
County Superintendent important
Factor.
IN my opinion, the county superin.
tendent is the most important factor
In the administration of our school af.
falrs. Now, a Superintendent -wheth.
er IT be of a machine shop, a farm.
assheep ranch, or system of schools.
should be one who so thoroughly un.
derstands that particular line of bust.
ness that he can in reality superin.
tend it.
All superintendenrs, except the
school superintendent, get their posi-
lions because they have practical
knowledge of all the details of the
business, and are competent to direct
all subordinate employees. Real sup
erintendents are none too numerous.
Great business enterprises are Sc
Ing such. They want persons who
understand their special lines of busi
ness.
II we expect our educational IN
terests to advance we much employ
the same principles. There Is no dodg-
ing this issue against the interests of
your own children. Therefore. ad-
wise you to throw every other consid.
Grafton to one side. and, applying all
reasonable tests, select the best avail
able person for superintendent. say
available" because we cannot always
get the ones we believe to be best
| say "person," because / know Of no
law that debars women from accept
ing this Office; and l do know that
many women are better qualified for
this Office than most available men
are
Now, what are some Of the tests OF
availability and qualification?
First. The person should possess
moral character, and
know a school and the school business
SO well that he is at home in the
school room, and could personally take
hold and do well most of the work re-
quired of teachers.
Second He should not be SO en-.
crossed in other business that he
cannot and will not give the work Of
the superintendent the attention nee.
essary to secure success An ignorant
man who gives his whole heart and
service to the work secures better re.
suits than the better qualified one who
simply signs receipts for his salar
Third. The superintendent should
be person Of such interest and en-
thusiasm that he will give the work
necessary attention.
Fourth. He should have good busi
ness judgment and experience, as such
are required.