Imperial Valley press., 1936-05-13
SCHOOL BOARDS AND GUY
WEAKLEY ARE TO BE
CONGRATULATED

intendent of El Centro's elementary
school system, to act also as Supern-
tendent of the Central Union high school
and Junior college next year should
prove most worthy and progressive
choice.
Under the new plan, Mr. Weakley,
responsible to the Ell Centre board, will
give part time to the grade schools and,
responsible to the high school board
will give part time to the high school
and junior college Both boards have
agreed to this plan, though because of
the already perfected organization in
the elementary schools. Mr. Weakley
doubtless will devote the majority of
attention in the immediate future, TO the
high school and college
In making the appointment, the high
school board did a courageous thing by
departing from precedent and doing
what they feel will most benefit the
community. We not only commend
them for the selection, but for having
the courage of their convictions.
The board was faced with many
problems in selecting successor to the
much beloved John House Of the many
applicants, the one chosen might prove
to be the least acceptable either by teach
ing staff, students or the board itself,
and year might be lost by thus bring
ing in an outsider On the other hand,
in Mr. Weakley, exceptional talent is
apparently already at hand. He is a
known quantity Coming here three
years ago, he has shown the community
what he is and what he can do No less
an authority than Vierling Kersey, state
superintendent of public instruction de-
clared, on a recent visit here, that Weak
ley was attracting statewide attention.
1t is generally well-known that he has
been singularly honOred by inclusion in
lists of selected, Acknowledgement edu-
Gators to address various aStute educa-
tional conclaveS. Because there are but
five schools in the Ell Centro elementary
school system there has been some fear
that Mr. Weakley might be called to
bigger and more remunerative fields,
and thus Ell Centre would lose an asset
in a man who is accepted as a capable
leader and who can work happily and
stimulatingly with his teachers and pu-
pills alike.
Furthermore, there has been a grow
ing local sentiment in favor of placing
both school systems under one executive,
in accord with the majority of educa-
tional systems which encompass element
airy and secondary schools. Children
will be better served by maintaining,
throughout high school, the same super
vision they enjoyed in the grades By
such means, the special methods which
proved most successful in early years,
may be easily maintained throughout
the adolescent years.
Although the districts are complete
ly separated, the benefits of the united
plan should be realized under one super
vision without impairing the operation
of our separate district division.
By Mr.. Weakley's appointment, he
is being given a vote of confidence by
the members of both school boards and,
indirectly, by the parents of present and
future high school and college students.
We believe this confidence is we'll found
ed and that the boards have made a wise
decision. We congratulate the boards,
the parents, the children and Mr. Weak
ley 1t is now up to everyone, including
the personnel of both organizations to
cooperate in making the program COM
pletely successful.
-O