The Washington herald., 1911-06-05

When the board Of education meets this
afternoon II will accept the resignation
of Alexander T. Stuart superintendent of
public schools, which will be handed in
by him to-day. and will name William
Mehard Davidson, superintendent Of the
Omaha, Nebr., public schools, as his sue
cessor.
No word had been received from Mr..
Davidson late last night in answer to
telegram sent him recently. Reason for
this is given that he is at present in
Pennsylvania on business.
At his own request, Supt. Stuart will
be appointed director Of intermediate in
struction, an office he filed before he
was appointed superintendent.
Supt. Stuart will also name the sue
cessor to former Asst Supt. Percy NJ.
Hughes at the board meeting this after
noon. Although Supt. Stuart has in mind
stephen Kramer, acting superintendent;
Emory Wilson, principal of Central High
School. and Ernest L. Thurston, SUPER
visor of the third division. neither Mr..
Wilson nor Mr.. Kramer desire the posi-
ton if il is extended to them.
This dwindles the list down to Mr.
Thurston. who is looked upon as Hughes
probable successor. although Supt. Stuart
said last night hat he could not tell
whom he would choose until he had q
final conference with the board members
before the meeting this afternoon
The position OF assistant superintend-
ent is one Of constant contact with the
high-school work. and one that needs a
man Thoroughly experienced in that par
ticular school work
Board Faces Problem.
If Mr.. Thurston should not be chosen
as is expected. the board of education will
find itself in a difficult position. The
matter will be thrashed out definitely to-
day.
There are sevarel other names under
consideration by the board OF education
in case Mr.. Davidson does not accept
the offer Of superintendent of the Wash
ington schools to succeed Mr.. Stuart
These names were not made public yes
terday by any of the board members,
but 1t is understood that one Of the men
is an officer of the Washington schools.
Mr.. Davidson was offered the position
OF superintendent Friday, but as he was
in Pennsylvania on school business, II
was not possible to get an early reply
from him.
When seen at his home last night,
Supt. Stuart admitted freely that he
was going to announce to the board of
education this afternoon his resignation,
and he said that he understands he will
De made instructor of intermediate in
struction.
Mr.. Stuart said that ever since last
November his resignation had been prac-
tically before the board. for IL was un-
derstood that when he reelected
superintendent the last time he would
take the position only temporarily
III health and a desire TO resume his old
duties as director of intermediate in
struction, which prompted his resigna-
tion as superintendent in 1906 are the
reasons that Mr.. Stuart gave last night
for his resignation.
Health Is Failing
Mr.. Stuart's health has not been such
in late years 10 stand the vigorous du-
ties imposed upon him as superintendent,
and he has constantly appealed to the
board to accept his resignation and ap-
point his successor.
The position of director of intermedi-
ate instruction. which Mr. Stuart gave
up in 1900 to become superintendent, Mr.
Stuart said, appealed 10 him more than
any other position that he could have
IN the educational system of the District
Members of the board of education
expressed regret that Mr. Stuart had
made up his mind definitely to resign
and say that his duties as superintendent
have been filled in a manner satisfactory
to the board.
Mr.. Stuart first began his connection
with Washington public schools in 1870.
when he was teacher Pnd at the Frank
lin School. Except for brief period when
he served in the Young Mems Christian
Association. he has served in the Wash
ington public schools continuously since
1877. when he was made supervising
principal of Capitol Hill division In
1900 he was appointed superintendent of
illEliP school inc
resigned TO resume his duties in inter-
mediate instruction.
After the Chancellor episide'' in 1906,
Mr.. Stuart was appealed to by the board
of education and regretfully accepted
the position Of superintendent IN 1905
serving the term OF three years. He was
reelected this year and has only served
few months of his term
Sketch of Davidson.
William Mehard Davidson. lecturer, au-
thor, educator, was born in jamestown,
Pa. May S. 1863. and moved with his
parents to Kansas in 1866 He received
his elementary education in the public
schools of that State, and is a graduate
of the University of Kansas
In 1909, the University Of Nebraska
conferred the degree of LII. D., as did
also Miami University. of Oxford, Ohio
He married Miss Nettie Adams in Quincy.
Ill, in 1885, and has one daughter. Helen,
now attending Vassar He taught in
rural and graded schools of Kansas and
was principal and superintendent at To-
peka from 1887 to 1904. Mr.. Davidson has
been superintendent of the Omaha schools
since 1904 He is a lectUrere on education
al, historical and kindred themes and
is editor OF a series OF historic classics |
He was president Of the department of
superintendence of the National Educa- |
ton Association at the Mobile meeting In
1911, president of State Teachers Asso- |
citation of Kansas in 1893, president of
Kansas Association, 1910 to 1911; vice
president Of the National Council Of Edu- |
cation in 1911, treasurer Of the National |
Education Association at its Boston meet |
ing in 1903, member Of American Histori- |
cal Association. and the National Society !
for Scientific Study Of Education.
He has had wide experience in all |
phases Of public school work, and is |
recognized as one of the leading educa-