Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-20
KEEP THE cRANks OFF;
BUILD A NEW SCHOOL
Superintendent the Engineer Of tho
Train and He Not Only Should Be a
Careful One But Should Not Be In
terfered With While the Train is
Running.

fepiieu 10 an inquiry as to whether he
intended 10 run for school director
again by saying that he had no in1en-
0ion or being candidate again. He
has served two full terms and while
everything had been very agreeable to
him on the board and he had appre-
ciated the honor he was willing to
/ give way to some one else.
| Because of this long service and be-
cause OF Mr.. Carney's special fitness
by education and training for school
board work he was asked to make a
statement to the public regarding the
duties and needs of a school director.
that our voters might have some in
formation before them in the coming
election which would be entirely dis
interested and free from campaign in
Huence. He said In substance as fol-
lows:
No QuarreIs-No Machine.
w men I became a member OF the
school board of this city. Mr.. E. L.
Cofeen. very efficient school man.
was then superintendent. f. T. Aus
tin was elected at the same time that I
was. and the board consisted of A. E.
- u. X, r,
Austin. and myself In September, Mr..
was elected to Ali the vacancy and has
served since that time. There have
| been other changes. as Mr.. Click re-
! tired. Mr.. A. z. Wilbur moved away.
and Mr.. Austin, after serving three
years. declined reelection. w NJ
Clark was also a member until elected
tuted Of c. c. ST. Clair. T. I. WATSON r.
{. Abbott, B. F. Cummings, and myself.
l can not speak too highly of the broad
minded character of the members as
shown in their dealings with the
schools and the finances of the public,
entrusted to these associates o. mine,
during the six years. There has not
been suspicion OF graft on the part
OF any one that am aware Of There
has been no hell-wether in the school
meetings whose voice and vote the
others habitually followed Every
member has expressed his opinion fully
and fairly on any question arising. AM
when the question was settled II was
settled for good, with no criticism Of
any kind. The meetings Of the board
/ have been in every case, agreeable to
II,
on account of the courtesy and defer
ence shown by each Of the members
TO the others. There has been no dis
agreement in regard to the office of
president the oldest in service in turn
being elected.
| Responsibility Of Superintendent,
Mr.. Cofeen served as superin1end-
ent until in December. 1906. when he
/ -:
simply deluged with applications tc
succeed him. We realized the import
ance OF getting an efficient superin-
tendent. and after considerable DELHI
GRAFTON. we determined not to rely up
on petitions. letters o. recommends
ton, or anything Of that kind, but to
send out the committee on teachers
composed Of WATSON and myself, tc
find the man needed. We took time as
we could, getting away from our bust
ness, and travelled to different places
from Denison to a city near Ctica go
Investigating the applicants thru the
leading men Of the town. bankers, law
yers. members OF the board. and final
~ selected Mr.. A. Palmer, then OF Ma
ouoketa. who was duly elected by the
board and we have never had occasion
to regret the selection.
The superintendent Of schools is
really the engineer Of the educational
train. II his head is level! his fore
sight steady, readily responsive tc
danger signals. and Judgment good
these qualif1ca tons. Of course united tc
educational and disciplinary qualifica.
lions, will overcome the ordinary blum
ders Of common rate board. Being
/ &1,-
school board. such as have been as
ISOLATED with, can not fail to make a
great success OF the schools.
Schools Of National Reputation.
"Mr. Harlan Updegraff an officer o.
with headquarters at Washington, D
C.. called upon me last year to inquire
as to our methods of conducting the
schools of this city. He stated that
they had attracted attention outside Of
Iowa by their progressiveness. har-
mony, and high rank. and he was de-
sirous of knowing something OF the
methods of business Of the board, In
would finally take book form. gave
Mr.. Updegraff such Information as
| thought would be useful to the public
!
| him that the success here in ecloo
management was attributable. in my
| judgment, not only to the high qualifi
cations Of our superintendent, but t.
the united action Of the members Of
| the board, who invariably took broad
| views Of their duties, leaving all mat
| tiers properly within the Jurisdiction o
| the superintendent, to his manage
ment; that in the years Of my connec.
ton with the board, did not remem
Der a single instance Of heated discus
sion; that we did not permit matters o
discipline to be brought direct to tn
board: such matters taking their prop
er course thru the principal Of tn
school to the superintendent, thence, i
necessary, to the board. It is only fai
to state that very few Of the applica
tons for hearing in such matters hav
been made to the board. as the fair
ness and good common sense Of Super
intendent Palmer have generally bee
sufficient for the need. Mr.. Updegraf
was very complimentary in regard t
our schools.
Tn my first year as a member Of tn
board we built the manual traininl