Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1909-05-22
DESTINY 0F SAN
JUAN COUNTY
Super inten d ent
Clark Tells of His
Recent Trip
GOOD SCHOOL system
bundance Of Water and
Promise Of Fine Crops
This Year.

This Year.
Superintendent Of Public Instruction
J. E. Clark in speaking of his recent
Visit to San Juan county, said:
san Juan county is safe education.
ally. The strength of personnel of the
people is marked. One cannot make a
trip to that county without feeling
absolutely sure that the entire body
OF staunch pioneers who are making
the valleys of that county very sue.
cessfully with the far famed fruit and
grain districts OF California in the ex-
cellency Of the product is very thor.
oughly imbued with the fact that the
education in New Mexico is the para
mount issue. These people are insist
ing upon good schools. They have ex.
cellent school buildings, excellent
teachers and long terms of school,
comparatively. Factional differences
are few and all join in advancing pub
lie school interests. The Spanish-Amer-
lean people who are located in the
eastern part of the county are equally
anxious for the best school advantages
and employ the very best teachers
available.
"Farmington Is justly proud of its
local school which Is managed by a
corps of six efficient teachers under
the leadership of Superintendent l.. NJ.
Garrett. 1t was my privilege to attend
the commencement exercises of the
Pennington schools when four young
men and two young women completed
the full four years high school course.
Each member Of the class gave on
Grafton, well prepared and well de-
livered. The exercises were of such
a type as to do credit to the largest
system of schools in the Territory.
The ability of the young people was
clearly shown by their orations, and
the case of the teachers with the as.
sistance of Mrs. Roaseman. who was
formerly principal Of the Pennington
schools, was shown in the efficient pre-.
paration on delivery in each case. The
large hall was crowded to the doors by
minded on very strongly Of commence
ment exercises witnessed in old and
we'll established communities in the
East.
"One of the striking things noted
in connection with my visit in the var.
ious rooms at the Pennington public
school was the unusually large attend
ance in every room. including the high
school room. This certainly speaks
volumes for the strength of public SEN
timent and the efficiency of the teach
ing crops.
Frank Staplin. local enterprising
merchant, some months ago offered a
prize to each pupil whose attendance
throughout the school year of eight
months might be perfect and who
would not he tardy once during the
year. 1t became Mr.. Staplin's pleasant
duty to present twenty-five prizes on
commencement night, not withstand
ing, however. that these prizes were
offered to pupils in the grammar
grades and high school only.
THE enthusiasm and efficiency of
County Superintendent Fifield are an
inspiration to all people Of the county
who are interested in public schools
and to also who visit the county with
a view to determine the educational
statues Of San Juan. Mr.. Fif1eld was
teaching public school at Bloomfield
the last Of December and was within
three weeks of the close of his term
on January first when his term of Of
fice as county superintendent began.
As evidence Of his conscientious spirit,
his intense !. interest in the public
school supervision, he resigned at
once and took up the duties Of county
superintendent with view to visiting
every school of his county before tAe
close Of the present school term in or
der that he might more thoroughly
know educational conditions and more
effectively organize his work for the
coming year and make his term Of two
years count for most In advancing
school conditions of his county. While
the salary Of the county superintend-
ent in this county is low, Mr.. Fifield is
fully aware Of the fact that a county
even with SO small population as
that Of San Juan cannot receive ef-
ficient supervision Unless the county
superintendent gives his entire time
to that work. Mr.. Fifield hews to the
line and administers the duties of his
office In a thoroughly impartial way.
Any county favored with such school
supervision Is to be congratulated.
Water is certainly king in San
Juan county, It seems that as a re-
suit Of careful stream measurements
Continued on Page Eighty