The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-15

- S~AACSA AAloAg vi III
worthy of this position, would for a
moment consider such proposition
wherein the present incumbent was
not aware of the intended change, yet
the majority openly admits that prior
to the January meeting this was done.
This is What the minority terms star
chamber, undemocratic and un-Amer-
lean methods. No right minded citi-
Zen Will approve of such a course.
The January Meeting.
Allusion is made to the fact that all
or the board, at the January meeting
had agreed that a change in the head
Of the schools should be made. Let us
analyze for a moment. After the mat
ter had been discussed at some length,
and it was plainly seen that there
were six members of the board for a.
change, Mr.. Smith said, You appear
to have the whole thing framed up,"
and at this point DR.. Carpenter said.
IF that is SO, we'll, go ahead with it."
This puts a new phase on the matter.
... All Voted for Hoover,
In February each year it has been
the custom to elect a city superin-
tendent, and each year ever since the
present superintendent has been here,
he has been reelected with an increase
of salary until the present, and Mr..
Holt n Mrs. Bolley were each regis
tered as casting a vote in favor of the
increase, despite the fact that Mr.. Holt
stated that for two years he had been
looking for q successor to Mr.. Hoover.
We know the public schools of Far
go were in such good condition
as at h present time. We know that
the corps of teachers and the superin-
tendent are in perfect harmony. We
know that the large majority of the
people OF the city, who have children
IN the schools, are perfectly satisfied
with the n in which the schools
are conducted, III that they do not
hke the way in which the majority of
the board have gone to work to dis
pose of Mr.. Hoover. The petition
signed by practically $500 voters is
sufficient evidence concerning the atti-
tude Of the people. These petitions
were so simple that nc one could mis-
understand them, and in spite of the
frantic efforts of the majority mem
bers of the board and their friends
they We're enthusiastically signed, and
would have been signed by hundreds
of others could opportunity have been
given them.
Standards.
The statement of the majority indi-
Gates that they are possessed of SUI
perior wisdom, and that the average
father and mother in Fargo have no
ANS~ w SOOu oC1lOOlSs lIl6y
infer that people should be directed
and told what is for their good. This
is the same attitude which men take
when they refer to popular government
as mob rule" We suggest that they
ponder pom what Pres. WOODROW
Wilson has to say upon this:
When I hear a popular vote
spoken of as mob government, I
feel like telling the man who dares
SO to speak that he has no right to
call himself an American. You
cannot make a reckless, passion
ate force out of a body of sober
people earning their bread in a
free country. Just picture to
yourself the voting population Of
this great land, froms the sea to
the far borders of the mountains
going calmly, man by man, to the
polls, expressing It's Judgment
Q public affairs; is that your
idea of a mob?"
The educational standards of the
people of Fargo are high. They know
what good schools are. They know
that they have good schools now, and
what they do not want is a change
which will ~disorganize and disrupt the
schools,
Supervision.
The efficiency of a school system is
involved in the problem Of organiza-
ton and management. In any enter
prises where large numbers are en-
gagged in the same work. supervision is
an important factor. In school work
1T is very important as a problem or
organization and management. SUI
pervision in the Fargo schools begins
in the selection of the teachers, who,
in each case, is a trained teacher
trained through education and expe-
~rierce; and then in organizing the
teachers into a company Of enthusiasts
tic workers, and encouraging contin-
uance in service through fair treat
ment, and assistance in carrying out
the plans and aims OF the schools.
The average time of service of the
present corps is about five years, per-
hitting that necessary familiarity
with the traditions of the schools
which makes their work satisfactory
to most of the people Of Fargo, not
withdrawing the very unjust criticism
of their work.
The leading features Of the super
svising work Of the superintendent Of