Seven Are Considered

SEVEN ARE CONSIDERED

For the Presidency of State normal School System

Who They Are and What They Have Been Doing--Some Prominent Educators Are on the List Considered for the Position.

The Daily Argus understands that the state board of education has several men under consideration for the presidency of the state normal schools of the state.  This position is one of such importance that the compensation can be placed at such a figure as to attract first class ability.  For the right man a salary of $5,000 a year will probably be paid.

Various names have been mentioned in connection with the place.  Among these names is one from Ann Arbor, that of Dr. B.A. Hinsdale, of the chair  of the Science and Art of Teaching, in  the university.  Dr. Hinsdale is one of the brainiest men in the teachers' profession in this country.  There are few, if any, who are better acquainted with the psychology of the teachers work than he and he has had wide experience in the class room and in executive work.  He would make an admirable head for the whole system of normal schools of the state.  It is not known whether the place has any attractions to him or not.  Another name that has been mentioned for the place is that of Dr. David Eugene Smith, president of the Brockport state normal school of New York.  He was formerly professor of mathematics at Ypsilanti and before that at the Court land normal school in New York.  He is a ripe scholar, an experienced normal school man and in all ways fitted for the position.  But it is thought that he would be unable to get away from his present position.  There has been some correspondence with him but his inclinations are not known to the Argus.

Supt. A.S. Whitney, of Saginaw, e.s. who was recently made inspector of high schools and assistant professor of pedagogy in the university, has also been talked of, but his election to the above mentioned position removes him from the list.

Supt. David McKenzie, of Muskegon is another.  Mr. McKenzie is a graduate of the university and has been a very successful high school principal and superintendent of city school.  He is an able man and has a high reputation as a successful teacher and executive.

L.C. Jones, superintendent of schools at Cleveland, and formerly at Indianapolis is also talked of.  Mr. Jones is a trained normal school man and an able educator.  He was superintendent of the Indianapolis schools at the time Dr. Rice wrote his famous articles for the Forum in which he said the Indianapolis schools were the best in the country.  He is practically an autocrat at Cleveland where he has been successful as at Indianapolis.

Another man toward whom there is said to be some leaning is Dr. Arnold Tompkins, of the University of Illinois, at Champaign.  Dr. Tompkins is a man of broad scholarship, a delightful public speaker and an all around successful educator. he was formerly connected for a number of years with the state normal school at Terre Haute, Indiana.

Supt. C.N. Kendall of the New Haven, Conn., public schools has also been mentioned for the place.  Mr. Kendall is a graduate of Hamilton college, and was for a number of years Superintendent of schools at Jackson and East Saginaw.  Mr. Kendall is known as a popular and highly successful superintendent, a student and a man of broad culture.  He is a man of fine presence and equal to any position he would accept.

Dr. Leonard, of the Syracuse university as also mentioned.  He is said to be an able man and well fitted for the position.

From among this array of prominent educators it ought not to be difficult to select a man who will fill the place in all respects.  A salary of $5,000 would probably attract any of them provided the position is to their taste.  The position is easily the second in Michigan in the educational line and should command first class ability.