Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-17
DR.. DAVIDSON PRAISES
WASHINGTON SCHOOLS
Newly Elected Superintendent
Writes Long Letter to
President Oyster.

grams from Or. William NJ DAVIDSON OF
Omaha. newly elected superintendent or
schools OF this city. was received by
Capt James +. Oyster. president Of the
board of education, today.
DR.. Davidson pays a splendid tribute to
the schools of Washington and to the
work done by A. r. Stuart, who has just
resigned as head of public instruction OF
the District Of Columbia Just when Dr.
Davidson will be In Washington is not
stated in the letter. but he may be here
for a few days at the end OF the present
month.
Letter Contains Tribute.
The letter received by Capt. Oyster this
morning reads follows:
I'm accepting your call to the superin-
tendency of the Washington schools,
beg to thank you and your associates on
the board of education for the high honor
You have done me in making me your
choice for SO responsible a position. The
cordial and unanimous way in which your
call comes appeals to me and touches me
deeply. 1t will but serve to call forth the
best that is in me. and | pledge you now
that l shall put forth every effort to
prove myself worthy OF the confidence
you have shown me. 1t shall be my high
est purpose to give TO your schools the
best service OF which l am capable.
Il regret that DR.. Stuart has felt that
he must retire from the headship of the
schools of the nations capital. l know
how he holds the affection of the school
children Of your city and how he Is be-
loved by the splendid body of men and
women who constitute Its supervisory
how he is respected and admired by his
fellow superintendent throughout the
country. To be associated with him and
his assistants and teachers in a great
educational work is high privilege. IN
deed. and Is one of the factors which
induces me to accept your call. have
priced his friendship through all the
years. and / am happy at the thought
OF becoming a co-worker with him.
1.-The schools of Washington rank with
the best schools in the republic-made SO
by the cultured men and women VINO
have served them as teachers. Their one
dominant and persistent thought mas
been the love of the child and sympathy
for all that childhood means. To have q
school system whose keynote Is sym
pathy, dominated by an abiding love for
little children, and whose aim and pur-
pose is the building OF high character is
an ideal that appeals to me nightly.
That ideal l found in Washington when
first visited your schools seventeen
years ago. That ideal find is still In
your schools today. and that is why like
Washington, and why | accept your call
Thanks for Assurances.
Il thank you for your assurance that
shall have from the very beginning the
cordial support and the hearty co-opera-
ton Of your honorable board OF educa-
ton. and all OF those intimately connect
ed with the educational work OF your
school system.
Il hope to be able to be in Washington
for a few days the last week In June. but
at this date l cannot tell whether IL
will be possible for me TO enter odcially
upon my duties there until August l, on
here. The change OF headship of our
schools has come SO Unexpectedly that
/ feel. that / am IN honor bound TO so
complete the years WORK here that the
board Ct education and the people OF
/, this city, who have treated me with
such cordislity and Kindness during all
the wears OF my service in Omaha shall
no. feel that ] am IL any way unfair
20 them or the work here on account OF
TIE manner o. my laying down my work
IN this progressive western city.
The teachers OF Omaha have just given
a farewell demonstration 10 DR.. David
| board Of education Of Washington, d. {.
Capt. Oyster telegraphed his answer:
Greetings 10 the officers and teachers
| Of your schools. Congratulate Omaha
upon the honor OF preparing superin-
tendent for Washington Congratulate
YOU and your teachers on the honor OF
| having been managed by one SO gracious
| and go expert an educator as Davidson.
Omaha's past is as brilliant as Wash
| ington's future. So here's to Omaha from
| the capital of the nation