Charlevoix county herald., 1915-01-16
FOR COMMISSIONER
OF SCHOOLS
Nav l.. Stewart Announces Her
Candidacy for Nomination.

be a candidate Tor the county commlS-
sionership of schools in CharlevoiX
county on the Republican ticket at the
primaries on the third day of March,
1915.
That this is ambitious, | do not deny
but have postponed making the an
nouncement in order to find out
whether a goodly number of citizens in
this county considered me worthy and
qualified to fill this responsible position
and now feel that | have somewhat
determined that sentiment. My can
didacy is now receiving support
throughout the entire county from
laboring men, farmers, merchants
business men and professional men
who have pledged their confidence and
support over their own signatures.
therefore feel justified in submitting to
the electors of Charlevoix county my
candidacy.
In political announcements it is Gus
tomary for the candidate to pledge his
faithfulness in the performance of his
duties in the office to which he aspires
No office should be further removed
from all temporary political unrest than
the commissionership and the person.
atty and character of the candidate are
of vital importance. To what degree
of faithfulness he is pledging himself
depends upon his native interest in
educational matters and believe the
voters of the county have right to in
quire with what breadth OF view he is
interpreting those indefinite provisions
of our state law which deal with the
possible uplifting of our rural schools
through ways and means left solely to
the ingenuity of the commissioner and
designed as food for thought in his
leisure moments.
The commissioner holds teachers
examinations, grants certificates, keeps
the same on file, makes list of quail.
fled teachers, receives institute fees
and pays the same into the county
treasury each quarter-but these duties
are required of him by law He is
expected to visit each school room
under his jurisdiction at least once in
the school year but the simple perform
ance of this duty would reflect nc
special credit upon his office for his re-
ports must show that he has done this
or his salary would be discontinued
Pledging the performance of required
duties would mean little indeed and
wish to call attention to the specia
powers of the commissioner which
hope to exercise with ambition anc
judgment
Section Z of Act 1S6 of the complied
school laws of Michigan instructs the
commissioner to counsel with teacher.
and school boards concerning improve
ments in the discipline, instruction and
management of the school.
Section of the same act says it shall
be the duty of the commissioner tC
promote by such means as he or she
may desire. the Improvement of the
schools in the county and the elevation
of the character and qualifications Of
the teachers and officers thereof.
These are the duties which require OF
every aspirant for this office a heart
loyal to the public school and belief in
the strength and grandeur of our public
school system. These are the duties
which hope to make reality, not g
misnomer, remembering ever that the
centralized school is ideal and that we
should work toward this goal, but that
in this county our most immediate and
most practicable plan is the STANDARD
School, and that we should strive tc
attain this goal by improving conditions
in sanitation and health, in organiza.
ton, both in discipline and attendance,
in library supplies and the use thereof
in the qualifications of the teacher en-.
couraging an active not passive atti
tude toward her work. We must first
of all arouse desire for STANDARD
School, plate in every district of the
county. Teachers, boards of education
and commissioner must all unite with
this one aim,--to have our rural schools
win public recognition from the state
authorities. This will be my aim in
the office which seek.
! have always lived in the public