The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-20
BEEDE TURNS
HACKETT DOWN
Tells Local High School Teach
er He Is Not Qualified
for a Supervising
Principal.
BOARD MAY ACT HASTILY
superintendent Declares That, SO Far
us lie Is Concerned. It's
Matter of the Best
BOARD MAY ACT HASTILY

The question as to who viii succeed
John 6. Lewis, as supervising princi-
pal of the Webster school district Is
creating a great deal more interest
than any such appointment In this city
in years. The apparent determination
Of the school authorities 10 go outside
New Haven for man Is causing
widespread comment and movement
Is cryetali2ing which may bring unex-
pected pressure To bear on the board of
education to give some reasonable con-
sIderation Of applicants for the posi-
ton. who have lived and taught In the
city for years. There IL a report that
the board TO curb criticism and talk
may hastily make the appointment at
It's meeting Friday evening,
Superintendent Reede stated last
night that to him II was a question oi
the hest man. and that the local men
would have the same chance as the
rest, so far as he Is concerned. The
appointment, he added, was up to the
loard of education, and not himself
His duties were elmply to consider the
work Of the school and the qualities OF
the candidates TO carry II on. The
fact that he might be a local man was
TO be put behind his efficiency ant
should not count in getting, the ap
pointment. Al any rate. his home be-
Ing here should not entltle him TO n
preference " better man could be Sc
cured from somewhere else.
Interesting Correspondence.
The statement by Mr.. Beede yester
day to the effect that the appointment
OF supervising principal is In tn
hands of the board Of education and
local candidate has the same chance a!
tion Of w. II. Hackett, a teacher 20
fourteen years IN the high school and
candidate for supervising principal II
the Webster district In answer I,
this statement Mr.. Hackett allowed IN
reporter to see the following CORE
spondence:
New Haven. May (, 1898.
Mr.. Frank u. Beede Supt OF Schools,
New Haven. Conn
My dear Sir-in the event of va
oancy in the prlncipulship of the Web
ster district the coming year wish .
be considered AS candidate for thl
position.
Very truly yours,
| WILLIAM II. HACKETT
Mr.. Beede's reply is as follows:
New Haven, Conn. May 8, 1903
Mr. william II. Hackett.
2S bynwood Place,
New Haven. Conn.
Ny dear Slr.-l have received yo,
letter OF May 4. In which you ask TO |
considered for the prlncipalship of II
Webster district. In the event OF VI
cancy In that position
In reply ] will say that while ! a
always ready to take under consider
tion any request or suggestion white
school work, It is my opinion that sc
neither have had the experience n,
possess the qualifications necessary (,
this position. ! cannot. therefore, r
gard your application favorably.
Yours very truly.
+. H. BEEDE.
supt. of Schools
Mr.. Hackett refused to make furtht
comment.
A Pertinent Letter.
As an example of the interest take
In the matter the following Is self-e,
planatory:
To the Editor of The Journal-Courier
As one interested In the work of O.
schools and one who believes In givir
call attention to a peculiar state of q
fairs.
In all walks of life the principle
, promotion from the ranks seems to
police served his apprenticeship as
policeman. sergeant and captain; o
fire chief made his way from I
, ranks; our judges were formerly lay
yers. This is as It should he. Prom
tion from the ranks has a good effe
upon the department or profession;
serves as an incentive to good wo
, and as a reward for faithful perforl
4 ance of duty.
: But what incentive to faithful wo
: has a school teacher when he never
4 given the chance to prove his titne
(. or unfitness for higher position? r
& chief of police, the fire chief and t
J. Judges are not brought from other G
q les to manage our affairs In their I
= spective departments and for a 60