New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-18

Jonathan H. Wagner who wa!
elected to the important office ot
state superintendent of public ms
truction two years ago, has agair
been presented by the republican
party for that important position.
No greater recommendation could
be offered on behalf of any man in
any line of endcavor than that dis
played at the convention by his CO.
workers in the cause of education
He was placed in nomination by a
county superintendent of schools
and the nomination was seconded by
five other county superintendent
most all of whom sought to be on
their several delegations and came to
the convention for the express pur-
pose of forwarding the interests OF
education in New Mexico by retain
ing at its head the man who has
made a signal success in his general
direction of that most important
branch OF the states duty to the ris-
ing generation during the past two
years.
The work OF the public schools of
New Mexico has been so extended
and the progress so rapidly increased
during his short term that there is
no basis of comparison.
The average length Of the common
school term has been increased from
"a months to 83 months.
The number of public school pupils
has increased from 7S,2O4 in 1916 to
1862 in 1917 and to 79.48l in 1918.
The number of teachers has in
creased to 3.lS8.
The number OF eighth grade gra-
duates has increased from about 100
to l.63S. not counting those in the
seven incorporated cities and towns
There has been developed an ade-
quate system OF vocational educa-
ton. which means the development
OF the resources of New Mexico in
agriculture and industry. In four Of
the high schools, there has been es-
tablished vocational agricultural de-
partments Six high school have
established vocational home making
departments Three general indus
trial all day schools have been auth
oriZed. In twelve mining camps.
part time and evening classes have
been established for the men en-
ployed in the mines. These classes
will enroll several hundred men. High
schools located in mining conimuni-
ties have introduced one and two
year mining courses to meet the
needs of young men who will b em-
ployed in the mines after leaving
school. Also domestic science, manual
training and agriculture, along pract-
ical arts lines. have shown rapid
growth. Many of the rural schools
have introduced this work
In addition to all OF this the state
has been called on to
direct many of the war work activi-
ties through the teachers and schools
and was also placed at the head of
United States Public Service Reserve.
the department of the government
that drafts and distributes the avail
able labor to the various government
and productive industries OF the
country In this capacity Mr. Wag
ner has met every request for labor
and has apportioned the withdrawal
Of sos skilled mechanics and ll%
common laborers who have left the
state for those purposes in such a
way that the shortage has not been
A serious menace to any home indus
try.
Mr.. Wagner has shown notably
good judgment in the selection of
his assistants. all of whom are ad-
we'll qualified for and are
successfully administering the diff
ierent branches of the work under
heir individual charge. His super
vision of the schools throughout the
state has also been notably free. from
my kind of political influence or
and many of the most
.rdent commendatory critics of his
work are not of his political faith.
Not to retain Mr.. Wagner in the
,ffice of state superintendent. would
,e a grave. error and a drawback
70 the educational welfare of the
tate