The Washington herald., 1911-08-26

DR.. William NJ. Davidson, recently
appointed superintendent of Washington
schools, is facing a serious problem
that of finding a successor to DR..
George E. Myers, resigned, because of
the small salaries paid principals in
Washington. A local teacher will be
advanced, according to DR.. Davidson.
The vacancy is the principalship Of
the Mckinley Manual Training School,
caused by the resignation yesterday of
DR. George E. Myers, who has been Sc
lected to fill a similar position in con-
nection with the Normal School of
Pittsburg, Kans.
INGALLS, SOUGHT DIR. MYERS.
This positi IN came to DR.. Myers with
out solicitation and was the outcome Of
an interview between him and a COM
mittee of the State board OF regents or
Kansas, headed by Sheffield Ingalls,. son
of the late Senator, after making a tour
er for the position.
Strangely enough, DIR. Myers was Of
fered a similar position in the schools Of
Wisconsin by State Superintendent Of
Schools Charles P. Cary, who came to
Washington 20 meet DR.. Myers on the
Recommendation of Supt. Davidson.
DR.. Myers has been in office as the
principal of the Mckinley Manual Train
ing School for five years, coming here
from Clark University, Worcester. Mass,
after completing his work in course for
his doctorate of philosophy.
Speaking of the policy of the board Of
education in filling such a vacancy, DIR.
Davidson put himself strongly on record
as favoring promotion from the ranks IN
all such cases where possible.
Il believe FIRMLY" said DR.. Davidson.
that there should be held out to every
teacher the strongest incentive to reach
the greatest heights possible in his pro-
fession. and to feel that his best efforts
in his professional work are certain to be
recognized whenever an opportunity Of
fers.
This policy should be adhered to in all
cases where the efficiency of the service
will not suffer by following it. Fill all
vacancies possible from within, and teach
ers have something to work for. There
are fewer prizes to hold to teachers than
is the case in any other profession"
DR.. Davidson had in mind the number
of judgeships TO which lawyers might di-
rect their energies and ambitions, and
the lucrative practice that falls to the lot
of many physicians.
Principals Poorly Paid.
But" continued the superintendent, Il
want to see it remembered that the princi-
pals in the city of Washington are not so
we'll paid as they are in all other cities
of its size anywhere in the West. When
a man is appointed a principal here he
is paid 600 year to start and rises by
slow steps to a maximum of $500.
1T is hard to find the principal of
schools in Western cities of any size
meeting with such small monetary rec
cgnition of his services. can name
principals in much smaller cities than
Washington who are getting more money
than the best-paid principal in Washing
ton.
This is not as it should be in a city
where the school system Is as good as it
is here, and where the demands of schol-
arship and ability on the part of the
men chosen for these positions are as
exacting as they are here"
AS a result of the inspection Of school
buildings which DR.. Davidson began
yesterday with Municipal Architect
Snowden Ashford, he has made several
practical suggestions. One relates to the
use of the Phelps building as the busi-
ness department of the Armstrong (col-
ored) Manual Training School. The pres
ent building used for this purpose, the
old Mott building, has been condemned.