The Donaldsonville chief., 1908-06-27
Parish Superintendent shOwalter Likely to
Leave Ascension.

Prof. D. B. Showalter, superintend-
ent of the public schools of this parish,
has been rendered similar position
in the parish of Rapides at a salary
Of S2500 a year and expenses, which
is very material increase over his
present compensation. He has not
yet signifed his acceptance, deeming
it just to first notify the local board
in order that an opportunity may be
given them to retain his services if
they desire to do so, but it is almost
certain that the tempting offer will be
accepted and that the appointee will
leave for his new field of labors in
October next.
Prof. Showalter has been in Ascen-
sion since the fall of 1904 and has
done a great deal to build up and i'm
prove the public school system Of this
parish. He was born in Huntingdon
county, Pennsylvania, Nov. %, 1862,
and was reared on his parents farm.
He attended country school and in
1884 entered Juniata College at Hunt
ingdon, graduating four years later.
After teaching five years in the pub
lie schools of Pennsylvania under the
supervision of DR.. NJ. G. Brumbaugh,
Prof. Showalter came to Louisiana in
1890 to accept the position OF princi-
pal of the Cheneyville high school,
serving in that capacity until 1898,
when he was elected principal of the
|, high school at Bastrop. His tenure
of this Office extended from 1893 to
1898, after which he served as princi-
pal of the city high school in Monroe
from 1898 to 1903, and as principal OF
the Jennings high school from 1908 to
1904. In October of the latter year he
was elected superintendent Of public
education in this parish, since when
he has made his residence in Donald
sonville.
In 1893 Prof. Showalter assisted DR..
Brumbaugh in holding state teachers
institutes at Thibodaux, Plaquemine,
Mansfield and Jena. He conducted
state institutes himself as follows: 1895
and 1897, at Donalds onville; 1904 at
Abbeville, Napoleonville, Crowley,
Bastrop and Campti. He served as
instructor in the following summer
normal schools: Lake Charles, 1894
aod 1898; Amite City, 1896; Winnsboro,
1896: Boyce, 1897; Franklin, 1900. He
conducted summer normal schools at
Lees burg in 1899 and Donaldsonville
in 1905. He officiated as manager of
the Northeast Louisiana Summer
School and Chautauqua at Monroe in
1909 and 1903. The organization COM
prised the fifth congressional district.
or fifteen parishes.
Prof Showalter is charter mem
Der of the State Teachers Associa-
ton, and is the only charter member
living who has not missed meeting
of the association since it's organiza-
ton at Alexandria in December, 1892.
in 1897 and 1893, and has filed the
responsible position of treasurer since
1902. He is also an active member of
the National Education Association.
While regretting Prof. ShoWalter's
probable transfer to another field of
labor, The Chief takes pleasure in
| Recommendations h; o1 bic ,,uoDoot;on
and feels assured that in the perform
ance of his larger and more arduous
duties he will acquit himself with the
same degree of ability and faithful
ness which has characterized his SER
vice in this parish. The great loss to
be sustained by Donaldsonville and
Ascension IN his departure will be q
corresponding gain to Alexandria and
| Rapides.
| NJ