The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-12-28

K. j. Hoke announced. that he
would not 60 away to do wah
wo Ink, despite his intention of
so doing, as announced to several
members of the board some time
before the influenza ban closed
the schools for 81 days.
The announcement was greeted
in deep silence by the assembled
principals. A cloud of gloom
slowly settled down on the
assembled educators.
That fatal announcement failed
to arouse enthusiasm or to kindie
a divine spark. But that was not
the first experience of the kind
on the part of the kindly, cultur-
ed product of deah old Columbia
u.
1t takes mighty warm stuff to
enthuse and heat up these practi-
cal, hard-headed, slow-blooded
Northerners.
As tipped off some time ago
by this great family journal,
Supt. Hoke decided to either ask
a leave Of absence or to quit the
job cold to engage in educational
work among the soldier boys. He
and some Of his most loyal sup
porters are credited with hatch
ing a quiet little scheme to select
and put across successor, either
pro tenn or permanently, satisfac-
tory to the retiring superintend-
ent. Being jagged with the sign
manual of Columbia university,
Mr.. j. A. Starkweather, then
principal Of the Lincoln junior
high school, was picked for the
place.
But the plan did not please all
the members Of the school board.
Public exposure Of the scheme
also played smash with things.
Principal Starkweather had as
sumed that. no objection would
be made to him, either as temp
orary or permanent superintend-
ent of schools. When he found
out that only a part Of the men,
bers of the board, and that part
minority, favored the Hokian
plan, he decided to side-step
everything and 60 into war work
himself.
It is a dollar to a doughnut,
therefore, that Mr.. Starkweather
took the place that Supt. Hoke
expected to take.
Not single member of the
school board Mad any fault to
find with Mr.. Starkweather
Decentralization to put him in Supt.
Hoke's easy chair. with a hand
painted cuspidor hard by, was
due to ideas Of what was a pro-
per policy, a strong inclination
to recognize the idea of seniority,
a feeling that Leonard Young,
principal of the Central high
school, should have the place be-
cause of superior position in the
schools and longer term of SER
vice.
The time is rapidly rolling
around when the school board
will have to decide Supt. Hoke's
fate for another year. He is
credited with stating some time
ago that he would not stay
another year unless given con-
tract for two years. A polling of
the directors indicates that, at
present, there is not a majority
in favor of a two-year contract.
The present situation, in fact, is
strongly indicative Of a refusal
to give a contract for one year,
which would mean, if, brought to
a focus, the rejection of Supt.
Hoke for longer service and
the election of another man.
At this particular time. the in
dications are that Leonard
Young would be a majority
choice for superintendent of
schools, should Supt. Hoke
leave, refuse to be a candidate
for election or secure a leave OF
absence for war work.
There are those who believe
tht Supt. Hoke will not be cam
didate for reelection.
Time will tell the tale fully
and finally.
Sup+ Hoke left Duluth for
the holiday season the middle OF
last week. He informed the
board. of education that he ex-
pected to be back when the
schools opened on January 2.
T,,e& 1xyb oro lo 1roc c.oinnr ar w q 7