Prof. Alton T. Dewitt

JNext Moüdav the people of Washteduw connty will be cailed upon to make cboice betweeu two gentleman as to who fiball be school commtuissioner for the next two years and there sbonld be very little trouble for them to decide whioh one to vote for, and tbat one is Alton D. DeWitt, the nominee of the demooratio party. Mr. DeWitt would briDg to the ser vice of the people in tbis capaoity a 20 ytars' experience in tbeseveral branche of teaching that are usnally found in distirct and city schools. He woulc also bring into that service a oarefnl painstaking, conscientions conrse o action wbioh could but resnlt in tb improvernent and goof management o the schools, and further, he woulc remove to Ann Arbor and devote the whole of bis time and energie ?o the duties of tbe office. The follow ing is taken frcm the columns of the Dexter Leader, a paper independen iu politics and therefore supposedly unbiased iu its ntterances: "Supt. A. D. DeWitt, tbe snbjec of this sketch, was born of Gerruan paientage, on a fairn near the city of Flint, Mich., in 185V. He is thus 40 years of age. He received bis early edncation in a distriot Hcbool. At the age of 14 he was left to support a ■widowed ruother and make bis way in the world alone. By hard work, energy and great economy he was able to complete the course in the Flint His-h School in 1875. Tbe year of 1876 was spent in Hutsoa's Commercial College, at Cleveland, Ohio, from wbich he graduated witb high nonors. "In 1877 he began bis course in Michigan State Normal, but was cotnpelled to qnit school before graduatiug for want of funds. The next six years be spent in teaching at Sand Beach, Horon county, Mich., and while tbere was elected for two terma school exatniner. In 1884 he retnrned to the Normal and cornpleted the Latin-Scientific course iu 1885. The yeats that have followed he spent in teaching aud work at the State Normal for bis degree, B. Pd , which was oonferied upon hirn by the Michigan State Board of Education in 1892. He has also credit for three years' work in the University of Michigan. Jtie ñas nad ib years expenence at the bead of village candity schools and several terms in district sohools. He is a mernber in good standing in the Lodges K. ofP., S1. and A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. O. T. M. He has a wife and two children. Mrs. DeWitt is a studeut in the junicr medical class aud assistant deruonstrator of anatomy of the U. of M. "Mr. DeWitt has been a resident of this eounty for eight years, and has been for some time the president of the Washtenaw Teachers' Assooiation, enjoyiug the entir confidence aud respect of the teachers of the connty. He is now completicg his third year as super iutendent of the Dexter schools, and i is bat justice to bim to say that the schools have never been in a better nor more proáperous condition than at the present time. "The life interests of the 15,000 cbildren of this eounty depend upon the commissioner of schools. The children and teachers of the eounty have a right to his entire time and euergies. Tbis Mr. DeWitt pledges himself to give. "Prof. DeWitt is a man who has made his way in the world by bis own unaided efforffe and is an example of what a boy, be he ever so poor, may do and become by patiënt industry, frugality, pluck and economy. A man that has been faithful to every position of trust (and Prof. DeWitt has been plaoed in man.v such position), wil], if elected, prove faithful to the children and schools of the eounty. "The followiug recominendatioiis speak for themselves. "Departmeut of Public. Instruction. "Lansing, 12-1, 1896. "To whom it may concern : "Snpt. A. D. DeWitt, now in charge of the Dexter schools has for rnány years superintended schools in various parts of this state and I have had the opportunity of visiting him iu his work many times. He has been nniformly successful both in teaching and superintending. I do not believe he has ever left a place where he conld not have remained longer had he so wished. He is a progressive teacher, keeping a carefnl watch of the educational disoussione and yet conservativo euongh not to be cangbt by any useless fads or new-tangled ideas. In this, my home county, Ingham, he was president for three years of onr Teachers' Association, and now holds a similar position in Washtenaw oounty. I am very free to recornmend Mr. DeWitt.. H. R. PATTENGILL, "Supt. of Pnblic Instruction. "Prof. D. Pntnam, for üü years past at the head of thedepartment of mental and moral philosophy in the Miohigau State Normal School, says of Mr. DeWitt: "Ypsilanti, Mich., Jan. 16, 1897. "Dear Sir:- Prof. A. D. DeWitt ïraduated from the Michigan State formal School with an excellent record, both as a student and as a mau. 3e afterwards pnrsued advanced studies, practically equivalent to a college course, and zeoeived from the Normal School the degree of Bachelor of Pèdagogy. He bas been, for several years, iuperinteudent of schools in this state with very good success. A considerable number of stndents have entered the STormal School from the schools under lis charge and sach students have given evidence of baving received thoro' intrnction and training. From wbat I know of his scbolarship and of his sucessful experience in school work and of bis oharacter as a man, can very cordially and confidently recommend Mr. DeWitt. "DANIEL PÜTNAM, "Vice Principal." Therefore, i f you want a good county chool commissiouer and oae who will o his work wel!, vote for Alton D. DeWitt next Mouday.