The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-07-04
New Sunerintendenr.

kNCW OuRCl lutCu0Shes
i Calvin N. Kendall, Commissioner o
Education Of the State of New Jersey
imported from Indiana by then Cover
nor Wilson, with "great responsibility
thrust upon him, has finally appointed
q successor to Herman A. Stees, county
superintendent Of Burlington county
Following the action Of the distinguish
ed gentleman who placed Kendall in
power the latter seemed to think there
was nothing good enough for the
position in Burlington county SO he
tried his hand at Interpretation scheme
and selected Lewis ]. Kayser, whose
residence is given as Toms River and
Tuckerton, but whichever it may be be
is not of Burlington county. Mr. Kay
ser at one time taught school at Tucker
ton, and then went to Trenton, where
he became an instructor and agent for q
business college. For the last year he
has been teaching at South River. 1t is
presumed that he complies with the law
and holds the highest certificate the
state can grant"
In going out of Burlington county to
select man for this position Calvin N.
Kendall has put an affront on our people
that will be and should be resented.
Without any reflection upon the ability
Of Mr.. Kayser it is safe to say that there
is just as good material right here as in
another county. Possibly Mr.. Kayser is
a Democrat. The subject of successor
to Professor Stees has interested the
people of Burlington county for long
time. Mr.. Kendall has had letters on
the subject and he could not have been
blind to the wishes of our people, but IL
is certain that he ignored them. If there
are any persons more interested on the
subject than the residents Of Burlington
county we would like to have them
brought forth. But Commissioner Ken
dali has felt the great weight Of this
matter was entirely on him-possibly he
lost sleep over it. A letter to him on
the subject brought forth reply which
contained some statements that might
be pertinent. One was: 1.-THE legislature
has placed the responsibility of appoint
ing county superintendents on the COM
missioner of education, subject to con-
firmation by the state board of educa-
ton. This action was taken neither
through my initiative nor my efforts. F"
Nobody will question that the
great responsibility" of appointment
rested on Kendall but did the
legislature make him supreme Are
not the people who help to bear the ex-
pense of county superintendent and
who have ordinary intelligence, even if
not on par with that of the people of
Indiana, to have any say as to what is
to be done for them? We certainly
know of many good men in this county
who are fully able to say who
shall fill the Office as is the
man at the head who is a compare
tive stranger. II the matter had been
left to a popular vote the majority
against imported talent" would have
been overwhelming. With this terrible
responsibility thrust upon him one
would suppose the state commissioner
would have courted consultation and
advice.
Another paragraph of his letter says:
81 realize that you and other good citi-
Gems of Burlington county are interested
in the appointment Of the superinten.
dent of your schools but l doubt if you
can be more interested than l am.
What buncombe. AS if we, who live
right here, and know our locality and
our needs are not more interested than
the gentleman from Indiana" and at
the same time possibly better able to
Judge Of the fitness of some of the appli-
cants than he seems to have been. We
are glad the terrific strain has been lift
ed from the shoulders of the man in
power and all that seems left for the
people of Burlington county is to ac-
knowledge his supremacy and bow the
knee, but the feeling that we have been
absolutely ignored and have had served
upon us notice that there is not man in
Burlington county capable of filling the
Office of county superintendent of schools
still exists. If the system of education
advances any faster in the county than
it has in the state since the Indiana inn
portation took place we can see where
there will be special benefit conferred.
But the great responsibility" had to be
observed.