The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-12-20
PUBLIC SERVICE

THE announcement from Pueblo last week that Jonathan II. Wag.
ner had been elected superintendent Of the schools Of that city, did
through the operation Of a foolish law limiting the succession in Office
Of competent officers, II was q matter of course that Mr.. Wagner
would be called to one Of the more responsible educational positions
Of the west. Men Of Wagners ability and training are in keen de-
mand these days. We can i'll afford to lose Mh men from the eduea-
tional work Of this state.
The most notable educational progress in New Mexicos history
has been made during the four years of Wagners service as state SUI
perintendent of schools. II may be said that we had some years Of
preparation for this advancement, in the way Of increased expendi-
ture for schools, demand for better teaching standards and a public
sentiment more awake to the necessity for better schools, better teach
ers and better administrative methods. The fact remains that none
Of these vitality important ends would have been achieved without
thoroughly competent administrative direction in the state superins
tendent's office This kind of direction Mr.. Wagner has supplied. His
md faddism. II has been without unnecessary experimentation. IL
has becn notably sound in its commons sense. The administration has
been as free from politics in the partisan sense as any elective state
office can be free; and at no time has partisan political Influence IN
terfered with efficiency and high devotion to duty. This has been.
true Of Mr.. Wagner himself and also Of his assistants More than
that, and even more important, he has been able to extend this spirit
OF educational service TO county school superintendent, to county
boards of education and in a very broad way, to the teacher force Of
the entire state.
Mr.. wagner's administration has been active, vigorous and ag
9Tessive. lie has taken an active, personal part in the affairs oil the
New Mexico Educational association which he served last year as
president. When Legislation in the interest Of better education has
been required, he has not hesitated TO enter into the difficult field Of
legislative lobbying, and he has almost always emerged successful
1t is in no way a reflection upon his successor and present asso-
eiate in the superintendent office to say that il is unfortunate that
Mr.. Wagner must go out of the state educational service now. He
is just reaching maximum efficiency and his continuance at the head
Of the state school system would have been for the public good, be-
yond any question.
As matters stand we not only lose this particularly capable
school administrator from the states school service, but lose him
from the state as well is unfortunate that the constitutional lin
itation upon service in this Office was ever imposed. II is fortunate
that the republican party is pledged TO submit Immediately an
amendment which viii remove the limitation and permit the state to
retain competent men and women in the school administration, when
such have been found. No time should be lost in carrying out that
pledge.
progress notably under the new administration, for it will be under
the direction Of a thoroughly trained and experienced man. It is no
this state and its service with a record Of performance which entities
him to the largest measure of public appreciation and commendation