The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-08-24


crintendent Unqualifedly. Others
Would Not.
Believing that the voters of the city
of Marion are Interested in schoo'
affairs probably more than any other
department Of the government and
that naturally they seek to know just
what kind of men are elected to the
board of education, the Mirror has
taken the pains to secure from each
Republican and Democratic candidate
fer board membership a statement of
his platform. These platforms or
statements showing how the candl-
dates stand in regard to various edu-
cational questions, are given below:
DIR. A. Is. lawson. uilg
DR. Lawson, one of the four Repub-
lican candidates. outlined his platform
as follows. H u.afC ell9I III
"A candidate for any office should
lie willing to tell the people whose
votes he desires ana why he wishes to
ho elected.
Naturally. a great many people
wonder why | desire to be mem
ber of the board of education, and in
turn ] am glad of the opportunity To
Crnfide IN the voters of our city. .t
However. before i relate my rea
sons let me gay that | have no selfish
motives In seeking the position. |
would not take undue advantage OF
my membership to secure positions in
the schools for my friends or relatives.
Neither would | allow personal mo-
tives to- influence my action In any
Sc Chool matter, believing that every
case should be decided on its merits
alone.
"As to what ! stand for in school
matters:
First. ] believe that the superin-
tendent being duly qualified Is the re-
sponsible head OF our schools and that
rs such his recommendation should
he approved by unanimous board,
lotherwise he cannot attain TO his
greatest efficiency. | believe that our
su perlntendent, DR. Hartman, Is one
| Of the best In the state and as long
as II so think shall confirm his rec
| concentrations and if at any time
| can not do so, to be consistent | Will
tycte for a new head for our schools
| Also. believe that great economy
lshould be practiced in the expendi'
fturef of all school moneys To thai
end the supplies for each year should
be submitted to the closest compete
tive bidding. The same thought should
apply to the alteration or construction
Of school properties, although nevel
at the expense of efficiency.
From the above, trust that
have made plain to the people OF oul
| oity that my one and only motive II
lGesiring to be member of the boart
of education is for the betterment o
lour public schools"
VI. B. Dickcrson.
When seen, Wednesday. Mr.. Dicler
son, Republican. who is candi
date for reelection to the board. a
arst said that ne had nothing tina
could be called a platform. However
ne made the following statement:
"If | had a platform 1t would con
sist merely of this-just as 1t alway
has during my membership on tn
board-ito work for the betterment o
the schools insofar as the funds avail
able will permit, by adding new an'
up- to-date features and paying tn
teachers increased salaries as the
may deserve It, Our teachers ar
paid probably the lowest salaries o
: lany in the state. The trouble Is tina
fhe Marion school board has neve
had sufficient money to work with
I'm regard to supporting the super
, ihtendent of schools / will say tina
| al
Tor the appointment of all new teach
| ers recommended by that official be
t cause 1t should be his business
5 ascertain the qualifications of thes
applicants. However. he, like an
n other man. might make mistake
be misinformed by those who hay
o recommended applicants and after hay
= ing observed a teachers work fc
a year II am convinced that tn
a teacher is not competent ! VIII vol
= against his or her reappointme'
y despite the superintendcnts recon
rnendation to the contrary. The la
is framed so and it is the intentio
of the law to give board members u
# privilege of using their judgment
superintendent of schools Is huma
y land 1t is entirely possible for hi
: to refuse to recommend a teach
against whom he has a grudge. HoN
. ever. as / have said, | always vo
a Ito appoint all new teachers recon
mended by the superintendent
!. "When It comes TO saying that
q superlntcndent should be discharg'
- whenever the board members haveI
enough confidence in him to endor
;, his recommendations that Is som
/" thing more easily said than dor
Naturally those board members WI
LelIeve his recommendation are I
= right will vote to retain him and 4
4. others would vote TO remove him"
. George IL. Dutton.
Mr.. Dutton. Republican candida
70 said that he had no formal platfor
:" "Of course | can say that II elect
will use all of my efforts to bu
70 up the schools and keep them on
= high standard. Outsioe of that
don't wish TO make any promises
[. pledges
a. II do think. however, that the :
40 perintendent of schools should be